Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness

[Martin DeYoung via CnC-List]

Transitory engine issues can create drama quickly.  Back in 1992 we had just 
taken possession of a 1981 C&C 36 and departed Seattle's Lake Union heading out 
to our saltwater moorage at Shilshole Bay Marina. This trip takes us west 
through the Lake Washington Ship Canal, under the Fremont and Ballard Bridges 
(needed to open them), and through the Ballard locks. The Ship Canal is narrow 
enough that it is rare to sail through it. It was also calm that day.  The 
engine ran just fine through the transit to and into the locks (approx. first 
hour of ownership). It is common to shut down the engine while locking through 
as it can take enough time to expose a few people to the exhaust fumes.

So, the lock gates open, the C&C 36's Yanmar 3-cylinder diesel fires up and 
aided by the outgoing current we departed the lock. Now it worth noting there 
is an opening single leafed Bascule train bridge with a clearance of +-48' at 
that moment's tide height a short distance west of the lock. Our 36's air draft 
was a little over 50'.
Given how the gods watching over errant sailors enjoy a good laugh from time to 
time the engine chooses that moment to shut down. It shut down in that way that 
indicates a restart is unlikely. The train bridge is also down. The current 
coming out of the locks is relentlessly pushing us towards the closed bridge. I 
am suddenly very concerned for the top few feet of the mast.

I immediately sounded the signal asking for an opening. I asked the boat's new 
co-owner to make ready to anchor.  I hit the starter to see if the engine would 
restart. It sputtered and died again.  I sounded for an opening again. Nothing 
promising was happening up on the bow in way of an anchor being deployed. I 
attempted another restart this time with the reduction gear in reverse to make 
use of any rotation of the prop.  I get maybe 15 to 20 seconds of run time 
which slowed our progress slightly. The bridge operator made the horn signal 
indicating he was able to open the bridge, no trains were in route.  I headed 
for the side of the bridge that opens first and hit the starter again hoping 
for another few seconds of reverse.

Fortunately, the bridge opened just enough and our path close to the opening 
end of the bridge equaled just enough clearance the mast remained intact, and 
we avoided an embarrassing episode where we would have needed to "strike the 
burgee", obscure the boat's name, and wear bags over our heads to avoid being 
identified.

The cause of all this entertainment was debris in the fuel tank blocking the 
fuel pick-up.  We hired a fuel tank cleaner/polisher who cut a inspection port 
removed the debris, cleaned the tank, polished the fuel and voila, no more fuel 
pick up issues.

Fast forward to 1999 and I am motoring our recently acquired C&C 43 along the 
same route.  When the truck from Chicago arrived, we had her unloaded at a Lake 
Union boat yard.  After 3 months of repair and upgrade work the boat was ready 
to leave but the mast was still in the paint shed so we motored off without a 
mast.  Didn't need to open any bridges and was relaxed about restarting in the 
locks and heading west. (The anchoring gear was ready to go this time.)  When 
we got to our Shilshole Bay Marina slip I contacted the fuel cleaning guy and 
had the tank thoroughly cleaned and the fuel polished to be ready for my next 
trip with the mast up and its 70' air draft.

Martin DeYoung
Calypso
1971 C&C 43
Port Ludlow/Seattle

Greta
1956 Matthews 42
Port Ludlow

From: David Knecht via CnC-List 
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2023 12:47 PM
To: Stus-List 
Cc: davidakne...@gmail.com 
Subject: Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness

So the problem has not recurred in several hours of motoring over a few days so 
i am going to write it off as launch day blues. No water in separator. Fuel 
pressure gauge normal.  I cant see that i can do anything about it unless it 
keeps happening. Thanks for the ideas. Dave

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:41 AM, Dreuge via CnC-List  wrote:

I once had a similar engine issue.  It would run fine one day (or half) and 
constant stall upon or shortly after restarts.  It turned out that my Racor was 
not full tightened.  Easy fix once found.

-
Paul E.
1981 C&C Landfall 38
S/V Johanna Rose
Fort Walton Beach, FL

http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/

On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:27 AM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List  
wrote:


On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 7:22 AM David Knecht via CnC-List 
mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
I am out for the first time this season. Engine started right up. Motored out 
of harbor for two hours. Turned engine off for a while waiting for wind. 
Started back up. Ran for 15-30 sec and died. Started up and ran for a bit 
longer then died. Pulled bed to get access and fuel pressure and level in racor 
look fine. Started up and ran fine for 40 min. WTF?  Dave

Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
me pay 

Stus-List Re: Therapy’s in Buffalo

[Andrew Burton via CnC-List]

Glad you made it safely and enjoyed the trip. I thought you might!

Andy

Andrew Burton
26 Beacon Hill
Newport, RI 
USA02840

http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/
+401 965-5260

> On Jun 10, 2023, at 21:29, Thomas Perison via CnC-List 
>  wrote:
> 
> Greetings all - 
> 
> I completed the 720nm trip at 1230 today, pulling into my slip at RCR Marina 
> in Buffalo. 
> 
> Many thanks to everyone for the encouragement.   It also was extra cool 
> meeting Todd at Lock 17!  I had 5 different crewmates (ballast?!) during the 
> 23 day passage. 
> 
> It was a bucket list trip. ⛵️
> 
> Tom Perison
> Therapy 
> 29 Mk 2
> RCR Marina 
> Buffalo, NY
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
> me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
> https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
> Thanks for your help.
> Stu
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Thanks for your help.
Stu

Stus-List Therapy’s in Buffalo

[Thomas Perison via CnC-List]

Greetings all - 

I completed the 720nm trip at 1230 today, pulling into my slip at RCR Marina in 
Buffalo. 

Many thanks to everyone for the encouragement.   It also was extra cool meeting 
Todd at Lock 17!  I had 5 different crewmates (ballast?!) during the 23 day 
passage. 

It was a bucket list trip. ⛵️

Tom Perison
Therapy 
29 Mk 2
RCR Marina 
Buffalo, NY


Sent from my iPhone
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Thanks for your help.
Stu

Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness king of drama

[Dave S via CnC-List]

Lol….  Chuck - Drama Is the stuff of queens not kings!
Dave - Was going to join in but there was already enough help.  I will say 
though that ‘getting intimate’ with the engine is always worthwhile.  There was 
obviously a problem and (imo) it’s worth working through the fuel system to 
make it bulletprooof, and to fully understand it, prior to having the next 
problem.  
Dave 


Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 10, 2023, at 3:56 PM, CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hey Dave,
> Thanks for the drama.  It was a fun thread.  You are definitely the "king of 
> drama" based on so many earlier threads.
>  
> Thanks,
> Chuck S
>  
>  
>>> On 06/10/2023 3:47 PM EDT David Knecht via CnC-List  
>>> wrote:
>>>  
>>>  
>>> So the problem has not recurred in several hours of motoring over a few 
>>> days so i am going to write it off as launch day blues. No water in 
>>> separator. Fuel pressure gauge normal.  I cant see that i can do anything 
>>> about it unless it keeps happening. Thanks for the ideas. Dave 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>> On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:41 AM, Dreuge via CnC-List  
>>> wrote: 
>>> 
>>> I once had a similar engine issue.  It would run fine one day (or half) and 
>>> constant stall upon or shortly after restarts.  It turned out that my Racor 
>>> was not full tightened.  Easy fix once found.
>>> 
>>> - 
>>> Paul E.
>>> 1981 C&C Landfall 38  
>>> S/V Johanna Rose 
>>> Fort Walton Beach, FL
>>>  
>>> http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/
>>> 
 On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:27 AM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List 
  wrote:
 
 
 On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 7:22 AM David Knecht via CnC-List 
  wrote:
 I am out for the first time this season. Engine started right up. Motored 
 out of harbor for two hours. Turned engine off for a while waiting for 
 wind. Started back up. Ran for 15-30 sec and died. Started up and ran for 
 a bit longer then died. Pulled bed to get access and fuel pressure and 
 level in racor look fine. Started up and ran fine for 40 min. WTF?  Dave
>>> Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and 
>>> help me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at: 
>>> https://www.paypal.me/stumurray 
>>> Thanks for your help. 
>>> Stu
>> Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and 
>> help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: 
>> https://www.paypal.me/stumurray 
>> Thanks for your help. 
>> Stu
> Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
> me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
> https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
> Thanks for your help.
> Stu
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Thanks for your help.
Stu

Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness king of drama

[CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List]

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the drama.  It was a fun thread.  You are definitely the "king of 
drama" based on so many earlier threads.
 
Thanks,
Chuck S
 
 

> On 06/10/2023 3:47 PM EDT David Knecht via CnC-List  
> wrote:
>  
>  
> So the problem has not recurred in several hours of motoring over a few days 
> so i am going to write it off as launch day blues. No water in separator. 
> Fuel pressure gauge normal.  I cant see that i can do anything about it 
> unless it keeps happening. Thanks for the ideas. Dave
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
> > On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:41 AM, Dreuge via CnC-List  
> > wrote:
> > 
> > 
> 
> > I once had a similar engine issue.  It would run fine one day (or half) and 
> > constant stall upon or shortly after restarts.  It turned out that my Racor 
> > was not full tightened.  Easy fix once found.
> > 
> > -
> > Paul E.
> > 1981 C&C Landfall 38 
> > S/V Johanna Rose
> > Fort Walton Beach, FL
> >  
> > http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/
> > 
> > 
> > > On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:27 AM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List 
> > >  wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > > On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 7:22 AM David Knecht via CnC-List 
> > > mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > I am out for the first time this season. Engine started right up. 
> > > > Motored out of harbor for two hours. Turned engine off for a while 
> > > > waiting for wind. Started back up. Ran for 15-30 sec and died. Started 
> > > > up and ran for a bit longer then died. Pulled bed to get access and 
> > > > fuel pressure and level in racor look fine. Started up and ran fine for 
> > > > 40 min. WTF?  Dave
> > > > 
> > > 
> > Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and 
> > help me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
> > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
> > Thanks for your help.
> > Stu
> > 
> Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
> me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at:
> https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
> Thanks for your help.
> Stu
> 
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Thanks for your help.
Stu

Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness

[David Knecht via CnC-List]

So the problem has not recurred in several hours of motoring over a few days so i am going to write it off as launch day blues. No water in separator. Fuel pressure gauge normal.  I cant see that i can do anything about it unless it keeps happening. Thanks for the ideas. DaveSent from my iPhoneOn Jun 9, 2023, at 11:41 AM, Dreuge via CnC-List  wrote:I once had a similar engine issue.  It would run fine one day (or half) and constant stall upon or shortly after restarts.  It turned out that my Racor was not full tightened.  Easy fix once found.
-Paul E.1981 C&C Landfall 38 S/V Johanna RoseFort Walton Beach, FLhttp://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/

On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:27 AM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List  wrote:On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 7:22 AM David Knecht via CnC-List  wrote:I am out for the first time this season. Engine started right up. Motored out of harbor for two hours. Turned engine off for a while waiting for wind. Started back up. Ran for 15-30 sec and died. Started up and ran for a bit longer then died. Pulled bed to get access and fuel pressure and level in racor look fine. Started up and ran fine for 40 min. WTF?  DavePlease show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:https://www.paypal.me/stumurrayThanks for your help.StuPlease show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help 
me pay the associated bills.  Make a contribution at:
https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Thanks for your help.
Stu