MarcusMan
New member
Picture the scene - Wednesday, 9:30 in the morning - finally, two weeks after putting our brand new Starfisher 780 in the water at Sovereign Harbour the weather was good enough to take her out, herself and I were both free and (being fairly new at all this still and having switched from an outdrive to a "proper" diesel) our instructor was free to make sure we did not make too many c**k-ups, hit anything etc.
All went well intil I uttered the fateful words "Lets just pop up to Beachy Head and back". It was about half a mile south-east of the head and 15 seconds after looking at the guages that the engine alarm went off, the cooling water tempreture warning came on and we shut down. Opening the engine hatch instructor (ex-assistant mechanic of Eastbourne lifeboat) and I instantly noticed the anti-freeze slopping around the bilges and that "hot metal" smell you get when the entire contents of your cooling system has emptied out of the engine - even my diesel for the complete buffoon training told me that it would not work properly there! After much swearing and thanking whoever looks after these things that there was an offshore breeze we admited defeat and called Dover Coastguard.
Many thanks to the crew of the Eastbourne Lifeboat for their help and the tow. They will not let our instructor forget he could not start us for a VERY long time.
Very interesting conversation with the supplying boat yard on Thursday (of the OY! variety) and a hunt in daylight today revealed a draincock that had come loose with the bolt that makes up the valve rattling around the bilges! A visit from their mechanic to double check everything on the engine that might twist, move or otherwise come loose and then watch out for the next exciting installment!!
Mark
All went well intil I uttered the fateful words "Lets just pop up to Beachy Head and back". It was about half a mile south-east of the head and 15 seconds after looking at the guages that the engine alarm went off, the cooling water tempreture warning came on and we shut down. Opening the engine hatch instructor (ex-assistant mechanic of Eastbourne lifeboat) and I instantly noticed the anti-freeze slopping around the bilges and that "hot metal" smell you get when the entire contents of your cooling system has emptied out of the engine - even my diesel for the complete buffoon training told me that it would not work properly there! After much swearing and thanking whoever looks after these things that there was an offshore breeze we admited defeat and called Dover Coastguard.
Many thanks to the crew of the Eastbourne Lifeboat for their help and the tow. They will not let our instructor forget he could not start us for a VERY long time.
Very interesting conversation with the supplying boat yard on Thursday (of the OY! variety) and a hunt in daylight today revealed a draincock that had come loose with the bolt that makes up the valve rattling around the bilges! A visit from their mechanic to double check everything on the engine that might twist, move or otherwise come loose and then watch out for the next exciting installment!!
Mark