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wrote:
Cindy Ballreich wrote:
wrote:
FINALLY, after taking an extra week to finish my nesting dinghy
and
a
weeks worth of bronchitis and two days of waiting on weather, I
set
off
on my coasthopping cruise down the west coast of Florida by
myself.
It
nearly took an act of God to get my wife to not freak at my going
alone. I had to buy a Personal Locator Beacon, then she got my
kids
and my employees to conspire to try to convince me not to sail at
night
alone. Finally, I agreed, ok, ok, I'll TRY to get to shore at
night
and agreed that my first leg would be a measly 40 miles from
Carabelle
to St. Marks, FL.

Set out, nearly no wind, engine running well, going 5.5 kts, no
probs.
Had to go out around a shoal south of Alligator Pt about 7 miles.
Rounded the buoy (#26) and the engine RPM dropped, i went below
and
heard an odd mechanical noise then engine quit. Suddenly wind
picked
up out of SW, Great, I sail, what a novel idea.
Wind picks up to 18 kts and I wonder if I should check my new
reefing
system that I had just modified. Good thing I tried cuz it took
me
15
minutes to get it done with jammed stoppers, etc. By then I was
glad
to be reefed. Suddenly JIBE as the autopilot is overwhelmed.
Get
back
on course realizing I really cannot trust my old AutoHelm 800 too
much
in any real wind.
Finally realize that sailing into St. Marks may not be a good
idea
because I want to call my wife to come get me so I can do
something
about the engine. The Channel into St. Marks is 6 miles up river
and
probably has flukey winds so I decide to sail into Shell Pt, my
home
port 10 yrs ago.
Wind tapers off as I get deeper into Apalachee Bay with wind out
of
west. It is nearly 20 miles from #26 due north to Shell Pt so it
was a
good sail with wind abeam. Finally sight the channel marker and
also
get a cell phone signal. I call my wife and tell her I'll call
back in
a half hour telling her what I am doing. I get into channel just
as
sun
hits horizon. I try to tack to go down an east-west canal to get
to
some vacant docks but it cannot happen. Wind is too light in
here
and
tide is rushing out like crazy. Finally, I say screw this and
put
the
nesting dinghy in water, assemble it, and row while pulling
"Ragtime"
(28' S2 weighs 7800 lbs) against the tide. Damned difficult. A
local
guy standing on his dock offers to let me use it so I tie up
there.
I tie up, call home only to find my wife has panicked cuz I
didn't
call
back in the half hour (I was rowing then). She has called the
marine
patrol. She calls them back to tell them I am fine.
Fortunately,
they
had realized from what she told them that she is simply a worrier
over
nothing.
She comes to get me and we go home, i get a good nights sleep and
then
drive back to "Ragtime" and meet the dock owner. He is a retired
engineer who is into boat building. He has built a beautiful
Maine
Lobster Boat with beautiful varnished trim. His work is truly
beautiful whereas my homebuilt dinghy is merely utilitarian. We
go
have lunch and talk engineering. This just what I want out of
cruising, meeting interesting people.
Unfortunately, I am not able to fix the engine. SO, I humbly ask
knowledgeable people (JAX) on this subject for help. The only
available mechanic says he is booked for 5 weeks.
So, here is the info. Yanmar 2GM13
Prop is clear, I know cuz the tide was so low it was out of the
water
and I checked. Prop turns freely in neutral.
Plenty of oil. changed a month ago.
Coolant looks good.
Belts look good.
Fuel filters look good
I have an electrical fuel pump in series with the mechanical one
on
the
engine so it is easy to prime the fuel system.
Batteries fully charged.
Engine turns over well, runs for 5 seconds and then dies.
I verified low pressure fuel up to the filter assembly but did
NOT
check at the high pressure pump.
I now think the mechanical noise I heard when RPM dropped was the
electrical pump.
Is it possible that the fuel return line is bad in some way? I
am
not
sure of its function.
Tomorrow, i will go back and check for fuel pumping up to the
injectors. Is it possible to easily verify that the injectors
are
spraying?

When the rpm dropped, I had only used about 4 gallons out of a 20
gal
tank.

Any ideas?

possibly a dumb question
Did you try bleeding the engine?

Finally did bleed the system and took off the return line. Blew
through the return line to clear any blockage. She then started and
ran fine. I dunno. It just took me a day to remember how simple the
diesel fuel system is and how to do it. Maybe I got an air bubble in
the fuel line somehow. I am sure it will recurr.
Plan to leave on Saturday for next leg.

This cruise has been postponed by:

My daughter getting melanoma and then getting treatment (apparently
cured)
Buuilding a new dinghy to replace hurricane damaged one.
My bronchitis

NOW, my 14 yr old son gets arrested for possession of marijuana. I
knew 3 months ago he had smoked some but thought it was just a little
and grounded him and took other action. We had no indication of any
great use and have even made sure had no access to money, phone,
computer, etc. We find out he has a serious problem and has been
helping set up buys in exchange for a little. He hid it in the woods
near our house. Of course, he was charged with possession with intent
to sell (although he actually did not sell) so it means automatic
expulsion and mandatory treatment. This was a real shock to us.
So, now he will accompany me on ALL legs of the trip but I may have to
delay some of them for various complications arising from this. We
even have to find a school for him.
KIDS!, They give you so much happiness and then so much grief.