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#1
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start of cruise
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? |
#2
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#3
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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? Unfortunately, I did not have time this afternoon to bleed the fuel system but will do so tomorrow. Another possible clue is that in the morning, it was very very hard to start. I first thought this was due to the cold weather but I knew that was wrong as it was turning over easily. I am puzzled at why it would suddenly get air in the lines although it has been 3 weeks since I ran it. I vaguely recall something about the return line having something to do with hard starting or stalling. What does the return line do? Although it obviously would seem to return unused fuel from the injectors, why is it needed? |
#4
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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? |
#6
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#7
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Diesel engines have return lines for 2 reasons: Leakoff past the injector pintle has to go somewhere. Cooling Diesels are very reliable. Just ensure they have fuel, oil & water. On some diesels (GM) the air supply is of equal importance. Hope you have a good cruise. Tony Rowlands S/V Ambrosia - currently in Thailand |
#9
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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. |
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