Today's lesson learnt and thanks to the mdl guys at OV

[PEJ]

For reasons that may make another thread I had to limp home on just the stbd engine to OV today. I called ahead and asked for an easy berth straight off the river. They were happy to oblige. So with stbd only but bow and stern thrusters I thought I would try for straight forward left turn on to the pontoon and tie up port side too using the thrusters to get me the last few feet.

Seemed like a good plan but the wind was too strong for the thrusters to get me alongside and I was drifting helplessly away across the marina entrance. Tell you what - there is not much you can do with one engine and thrusters when the wind has got you. I wanted to go around again and come in stbd side to but whilst I got it turned thru 180 the wind had pushed me on to the sea wall on the right of the entrance. Franticly tied on to the hand rail, thankfully it was high tide, for a re-think.

The marina staff got their launch and towed me down river and around for another attempt. This time I could let the wind blow me on stbd side to. Being wise after the event I should have done this in the first place. So lesson learnt. Wind 1 Thrusters nil. Let the wind do the work.

Big thanks to the mdl guys for getting me off the sea wall. Didn't fancy staying there until the engine was fixed!

 

[z1ppy]

Sorry to hear of your troubles but great to hear it ended without any damage (hopefully) to the boat!

 

[beejay190]

So what is the problem with the port engine ?

 

[PEJ]

Fuel p*ssing out of the O ring at the top of the filter. Actually more like a waterfall.

Hopefully Volvo Paul will sort it for me tomorrow.

 

[ricky_s]

I must be very good with boat handling, mine only ever has the one engine

 

[Hurricane]

We are probably all like you
Single engine handling is taught on the courses and those of that finish the courses usually crack the exercises we are given.
But how many of us practice it afterwards
I remember that turning the bow through the wind with the wrong engine was the hardest bit to do - without thrusters (as on the courses) the rudders are the main tool - but just think how small they are.
It is so easy to work with the kit when its all working but I wonder how many of us can actually handle it when it matters.

You definitely did the correct thing by calling ahead - maybe the MDL launch could have helped right from the outset.

Well done - maybe after reading this I'll do some more practicing on single engine.

 

[Hurricane]

Fuel p*ssing out of the O ring at the top of the filter. Actually more like a waterfall.

Hopefully Volvo Paul will sort it for me tomorrow.

The prefilters/separators or the secondary engine filters?

 

[PEJ]

The prefilters/separators or the secondary engine filters?

Errr......

The big white cylindrical thingy next to the three identical other big white cylindrical thingies. Being the Port engine it is quite easy to get to in the gap between the engines.

 

[Anders_P42]

£155 pa for some additional piece of mind:

http://www.seastart.co.uk

Anders

 

[volvopaul]

And thanks again to the staff at OV for taking us across in the launch for the car and van , shame peter forgot his keys !!