Sea Start - superb

[rogerroger]

You may remember me posting here whether it was worth joining Sea Start - and there were a number of good replies for and against.

Anyway I joined and am very glad I did. I have to admit to calling them out twice over the 4 day weekend! Engine problems beyond my knowledge which stretched my sailing skills by being engine-less into Ocean Village marina and Gunwharf Quays.

The point of my post - Sea Start's attitide and service was excellent. My initial call was friendly, slick and professional. I was called back by an engineer within about 5 minutes and after we discussed all the obvious stuff he decided to send someone out - it wasn't like calling a PC help line where you can be on the phone for hours before they'll eventually do something.

On both occasions the engineers arrived promtly, were very friendly and knowledgeable and most important of all got me going.

I dread to think what I would have spent on two separate visits by marine engineers on a bank holiday weekend.

I'm very glad I joined.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[davel]

Sorry you needed them but glad they worked for you.
What was the problem?

Dave L.

 

[WayneS]

ahhh, that's why I did not see you in Lymington.

Hope it got sorted.

 

[rogerroger]

yes indeed - that and the westerly F5 and contrary tide changed our minds when in Southampton.

Sorry we missed you though - another time hopefully.



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[rogerroger]

No exhaust water coming out Sat morning. Sea Start found a small hole in the inlet pipe that was reducing pressure.

Fixed it - it worked Saturday, and Sunday AM and lunch time then failed again outside Ocean Village Sunday eve.

Fixed it myself - replaced some of the inlet pipe I reckoned was kinked. It worked, it was quite happy taking us out of the marina to Southampton Water - then failed again entering Portsmouth!

Sea Start then reckoned it was a blocked thermometer.

Not sure what to do about it really - get it overhauled I guess.


Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[vyv_cox]

I may have the answer, although it doesn't satisfy all your faults. I see you have a single cylinder Yanmar. I had the same engine that developed a strange, similar problem. Initially, we were motoring across Irish Sea in flat calm and the engine cut out almost in the middle of the passage. Although water was coming out of the exhaust the engine was very hot. I suspected a fault with the thermostat and removed it. Engine restarted OK after working on it for perhaps 15 minutes.

Two days later we were again motoring for a protracted period, from Arklow to Dunmore East, when it again cut out. This time we sailed for a while in very light winds and then the engine restarted with no work done on it. A few weeks later we had the same problem, also after a lot of motoring. I picked up a mooring, waited a while, and it restarted.

Taking off the head and poking about, I found a small drilling in the coolant passages in the head, perhaps 5 mm diameter. This was so heavily blocked with salt and carbon that I initially did not realise it was there. I drilled it out and we never had the problem again, despite motoring for 20 hours on one occasion.

I think that the >15 minute breaks allowed the engine to cool enough that it restarted. When very hot the diesel fuel does not auto-ignite at the correct time in the stroke, so the engine won't run.

 

[chas]

I was out in Lyme Bay on Saturday and heard a pan call from a 28 ft motor boat that had run out of petrol (no comment). He was asked if he was a member of sea start by the coastguard and there followed a discussion (all on ch 16!) about whether sea start would come out more than 3 miles from the shore. I did not hear the end of it. Will they come out?

 

[rogerroger]

not sure - I thought 3 miles off shore was the limit which is fine if you have an engine problem and can sail. For a power boat out of fuel it's tough isn't it ?

However, there was an article about Sea Start in YM last year and I'm sure it mentioned an instance of them going 20 miles out into the Channel to help someone.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Oldhand]

Sea Start may be superb but what happens if you have a problem beyond their range of operation? All boat owners should have a working knowledge of their vessel's machinery, carry spares such as filters, belts and hoses and know how to intall them.