The joys of boating.......

[carlton]

I'm sure the vast majority of forumites know exactly what I'm talking about, and will hopefully share this sentiment. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Couple of weeks ago I was grinning like the proverbial as my boat wassed along at 35 knots in the company of SWMBO and two good friends, another couple. The sun shone as though someone had told it that the Humber was actually in the med. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif My mate lost his baseball cap as we blazed along ! There were huge grins all round. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Back in the marina we dined on a wonderful smoked salmon and ham salad prepared by SWMBO, and enjoyed three bottles of ice-cold Cava. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The weather was marvellous, our guests were charming, the conversation scintillating, the mood was joyful. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Later we basked in the sun's warm glow in the cockpit. It was truly one of those rare moments in life when one realises how fortunate one really is. Halcyon days indeed.


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Today my hairy arse waved up and down in the engine room as I struggled, in nothing but my underpants 'cos any clothing tends to snag, to squeeze my "slender" frame between the engines and then turn myself upside down in order to clean the oil from the recent f^$*!^g leak that has sprung from my port engine timing cover out of the bilge. It pissed it down outside. The wind howled. I was sweating like a fat bird at a disco.

I then spent three and a half hours (somehow) changing the "up" solenoid on one of the riser pumps - fruitlessly. Then, when I try it with a triumphant, yet oily, grin on my chops I discover that the bleeding thing still doesn't work !

Still, it's the contrast makes it all worthwhile and enjoyable I s'pose. After all, we only really appreciate a roaring log fire after coming in from the freezing cold...........

Anyone know if it's possible to get a (brand new) duff solenoid ?

(Really looking forward to doing the job again.......... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif )

 

[SoulFireMage]

I'm confused-you want another duff solenoid but new this time? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

 

[Sixpence]

Know the feeling , but it's worth it in the end

 

[chuckaduck]

We were due for a trip yesterday

but one battery dead was not a big problem so off we went and had a trouble free trip

seems though that mobo owners should have some mechanical knowledge but so many dont ! ?

 

[peterandjeanette]

I am much relieved that after meeting several other MOBOs with various difficulties on our run round the Channel Islands and French coast to discover that it is not just me that experiences mechanical failures.

eg. 1. Having arrived at Beaucette a fellow forumite announced that his boat was running fine. When time came to move to the fuel berth his bowhtruster failed.
2. In St Helier we berthed alongside a boat based in our own home marina. He was waiting for a new exhaust manifold to arrive from the UK.
3. In Granville another vessel was bemoaning his need to clean his cockpit after every run of the black oily deposit that covered his stern. It was so bad that he could not allow his kids to leave the saloon until the cleaning was done.
4. Returning to the Solent on Friday we intercepted a "Mayday" from a vessel with a fire in the engine room.

Is it the salty environment we enjoy that has such catastrophic effect on any moving part or anything connected to engines? Is it "end of season" (look at the weather!) blues? All of the above incidents were on boats that were well maintained and serviced. Or is it just " the joys of boating" ?

 

[muckypup]

We bought harlequin late last year. She was a near finished project by a marine engineer. What he had done was pretty good, but there were quite a few things that were not finished. I have spent more time 'engineering' and less time 'boating' this year so far then I had hoped.

Harlequin is starting to look more seaworthy, but now SWMBO is expecting due in december (that's my fault so I can hardly complain). Even the thought of being out on the water makes her feel sick (and she can't take sea-sickness tablets either) so it looks like our first year's log isn't going to have many entries in it!!

Steve

 

[carlton]

Thanks for the replies, guys, but............back to my question.

Has anyone any idea whether or not it's possible to receive a brand new solenoid (genuine mercruiser part) and it be completely duff, or are they tested and confirmed good before being despatched ? I need to know the answer before I start looking for something else as the likely cause.

I'd ask the mechanic who supplied it, but he's on his jollies.

Cheers.

 

[itsonlymoney]

From an engineers perspective (non marine) it is perfectly feasable to receive a new duff part. We get it occasionally with our parts.

 

[JKay]

Dave PM"spannerman" He is the Man

cheers Joe

 

[penfold]

Yes, very easy to be bamboozled by a duff but shiney newoutthebox part which should work but doesn't. Solenoids are particularly prone to this in my experience. It is very unlikely that your part was tested before it left the factory; mass production means random/statistical sampling is the only practicable test regime, so bad apples can escape sometimes.

cheers,
David

 

[carlton]

Ta Joe - and everyone else. It looks like itsonlymoney and penfold have confirmed what I suspected.

Thing is, I've run the tests from the manual, which say the solenoid is duff. That's why I changed it. And now I find - looks like the solenoid's duff..... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Ah well. I reckon I should be able to change it in about two hours or so, with my previous "experience"......

Thanks again, chaps. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif