Bad day on the Bay
 

My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing. Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20 worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts to
come in and get installed.

Crap!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:18:19 -0400, HarryKrause wrote:

John H wrote:
My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing. Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20 worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts to
come in and get installed.

Crap!

You sure seem to have your share of problems with that I/O setup. Will
you be getting an I/O on your next boat?

no
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Im glad you made it back to the dock. Just was wondering, how costly is it
to have a tow done? I know it depends on the range but was wondering how
they charge. Also, whats the largest size boat you can power with an
outboard or set of outboards ?
Thanks
Ed
"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"John H" wrote in message
...
My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a
bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing
some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a
fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab
pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing.
Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped
off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut
the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20
worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go
entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to
the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power
steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump
wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts
to
come in and get installed.

Crap!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."


Glad you got in safe and without needing a tow ($$$Ka-Ching!)

"ed" wrote in message
...
Im glad you made it back to the dock. Just was wondering, how costly is it
to have a tow done? I know it depends on the range but was wondering how
they charge. Also, whats the largest size boat you can power with an
outboard or set of outboards ?
Thanks
Ed

Cost? That is what tow insurance is for. ;-)

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"John H" wrote in message
...
My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a
bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around
doing some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a
fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab
pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing.
Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped
off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut
the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20
worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go
entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to
the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power
steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump
wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for
parts to
come in and get installed.

Crap!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."


Glad you got in safe and without needing a tow ($$$Ka-Ching!)

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:03:20 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"ed" wrote in message
...
Im glad you made it back to the dock. Just was wondering, how costly is
it to have a tow done? I know it depends on the range but was wondering
how they charge. Also, whats the largest size boat you can power with an
outboard or set of outboards ?
Thanks
Ed

$200 on up, depending on how far out you are. $1,000 tow bills are not
unheard of.

Get some tow insurance. It is fairly cheap.

http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/salvage/towsal.asp


BTW: Before you sign up for a towing service contract, make sure it
operates close to your boating area.

SeaTow and BoatUS are the 2 largest.

I've had Sea//Tow since Sea//Tow came into existence. I've never had
to use it - not once.

A relative of mine uses it at least once per year, often twice.

There is a guy who is a member of the same fishing club I belong to
who poo-pooed the whole idea of Sea//Tow or BoatUS and got caught off
Block Island at the far end of the SW Ledge.

$280/hr for a four hour minimum back to the launch ramp - you figure
it out.

Later,

Tom

"John H" wrote in message
...
My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a
bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing
some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a
fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab
pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing.
Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped
off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut the
piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20
worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go
entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to
the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power
steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump
wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts
to
come in and get installed.

Crap!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."


Glad you got in safe and without needing a tow ($$$Ka-Ching!)

John H wrote:
On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:18:19 -0400, HarryKrause wrote:

John H wrote:
My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing. Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20 worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts to
come in and get installed.

Crap!

You sure seem to have your share of problems with that I/O setup. Will
you be getting an I/O on your next boat?

no
--
John H

Really? I've never owned an I/O, but I'd have thought they'd be less
troublesome than an outboard, all though two cycles have less moving
parts! As for the belt, sounds like perhaps the circulating pump was to
fault. First one on my Jeep was replaced at 80,000 miles and still
looked pretty good.

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 07:46:39 -0700, "ed" wrote:

Im glad you made it back to the dock. Just was wondering, how costly is it
to have a tow done? I know it depends on the range but was wondering how
they charge. Also, whats the largest size boat you can power with an
outboard or set of outboards ?
Thanks
Ed
"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"John H" wrote in message
...
My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a
bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing
some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a
fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab
pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing.
Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped
off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut
the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20
worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go
entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to
the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power
steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump
wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts
to
come in and get installed.

Crap!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."


Glad you got in safe and without needing a tow ($$$Ka-Ching!)


I got towed once last year. It cost about $550 for a distance of about 12 - 15
miles. Insurance covered it. Thirty-six foot Grady Whites come with outboards,
so I guess you can get pretty big.
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

"ed" wrote in message
...
Im glad you made it back to the dock. Just was wondering, how costly is it
to have a tow done? I know it depends on the range but was wondering how
they charge. Also, whats the largest size boat you can power with an
outboard or set of outboards ?
Thanks
Ed

$200 on up, depending on how far out you are. $1,000 tow bills are not
unheard of.

Get some tow insurance. It is fairly cheap.

http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/salvage/towsal.asp

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"ed" wrote in message
...
Im glad you made it back to the dock. Just was wondering, how costly is
it to have a tow done? I know it depends on the range but was wondering
how they charge. Also, whats the largest size boat you can power with an
outboard or set of outboards ?
Thanks
Ed

$200 on up, depending on how far out you are. $1,000 tow bills are not
unheard of.

Get some tow insurance. It is fairly cheap.

http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/salvage/towsal.asp


BTW: Before you sign up for a towing service contract, make sure it
operates close to your boating area.

SeaTow and BoatUS are the 2 largest.