Engine stall

[donniebaird]

Good evening. I have a Catalina 28, over Labor Day Weekend, I took my fiancee and her sister and a friend sailing. Needless to say I was the only sailor in the group. AS we were heading out of the marina the furling line for the jib got fouled in the prop and the engine seized and stopped. We still got the jib and main up and sailed around for awhile. Eventually we dropped anchor once the traffic on the lake died a bit and my future brother in law and I took turns diving under the boat and trying to unfoul the jib furling line. We thought we had gotten all of it and managed to restart the engine and motored for about 20 minutes before we took the boat back into the marina.
Well today, my dad and I went to take the boat out for the first time since that happened. As my dad backed the boat out of our slip (it went into reverse just fine) he straightened out and then shifted into forward. Well the engine immediatly shut off. Luckly there was an empty slip accross from us and we were able to glide in there. Needless to say the engine will run in nuetral but dies when you put it in gear. Any suggestions on how to trouble shoot this?

 

[garymalmgren]

Hi Donnie
Trouble shooting involves laying out a sequence of events or systems and eliminating that which are not causing the problem,
You have a sequence of events, so lets look at the system.
From forward moving back.
1, engine
2, gearbox (containing clutch, forward gear and reverse gear)
3. propeller shaft ( containing coupling, shaft, stuffing box or shaft seal, bearing,m propeller.)
Your problem is somewhere in the chain of systems.
You said the engine starts and idles so we can give that a miss for now.

I would start from the stern. Put the gear selector in neutral. Access the rear of the engine, grasp the coupling or shaft and try to rotate it in both directions by hand. It should rotate freely.
If not, it is over the side with a knife and pliers to remove any remaining line.
If it rotates you can move to the gearbox.

Start the engine and select forward and then reverse. If it stalls in both directions, the problem is clutch or gear train.
It it stalls in either forward or reverse , it is a problem with that gear or internal selector for that gear.
That means moving the engine into the cabin, removing the gearbox and having it reconditioned.
I hope that you can't rotate the shaft and therefore the problem is that there is still some line wrapped around the shaft, prop or bearing,
Will add a pic of my shaft set up to illustrate.
Best of luck.
Gary

 

[jssailem]

On @garymalmgren suggestion troubleshooting. Attempt to manually rotate the shaft. Suspect you will find that an issue. If so diving back under may discover a bit of line at the shaft strut or shaft log still trapped. Also while under the boat you can try to turn the prop by hand. This may yield a clue.

 

[dziedzicmj]

Try to remember where the line wrapped around the shaft. Is it possible that the strut was bent (twisted?)? Do you even have the strut?

I would suggest trying the simple stuff first (leaving the transmission rebuilt to the last).

 

[donniebaird]

Thank yall. I tried to turn the prop shaft by hand and it would not budge. This morning I had the boat hauled out and found the issue. After this mess was cut loose and had the bottom power washed the engine is running just fine. Thank yall again for the guidance and suggestions.

 

[JamesG161]

Who tied that knot?
You might think of an Aluminum Galvanic shaft protections too. Looks like your "Zinc" is NOT.
Jim...

PS :Lake Texoma is fresh water, if my memory is correct.
PSS: Maybe "Gyp water"?

 

[donniebaird]

You are correct, it is "fresh water" normally it is very murky but with the recent floods it is even murkier. With goggles visibility is about 6-8 inches. As for the knot I guess you could say it was me, lol. I thought about trying to "untie" it but after a min or so we said to hell with it and just cut it off.

 

[JamesG161]

You have serious overall Galvanic corrosion per your last picture.
You should switch to Magnesium or Aluminum sacrificial Anodes for fresh water.

I think I see 'pitting" of the strut, but I am not there.
Jim...

 

[donniebaird]

I use the term "fresh" kinda loosely. Per the Water Quality studies the lake is pretty high in Sulfide & Chloride and has a salinity level that is elevated. Its technically considered "brakish"

 

[JamesG161]

I did download your picture and ZOOMed in.
It looks like a Calcium Sulfate deposit or what we called "Gyp water" or Gypsum.
I lived near Altus OK, growing up.
Chlorides are not the issue, but the Total Dissolved Minerals or Softness/Hardness of the water.
Jim...

 

[donniebaird]

I thought I saw pitting as well on the strut at first glance but once the bottom was power washed off it was pretty smooth and I didn't see any. I honestly have no idea what material the strut is made out of. I know its factory. This is a 1991 Catalina 28. I will email the serial # to Catalina and see if I can get an answer.

 

[donniebaird]

Thank you for the suggestion my friend. All of yall have been great.

 

[JamesG161]

For Galvanic corrosion to take place, it does need dissolved minerals in the water to support electrical flow.
I will bet you a beer, it is.
Catalina will not help you. Ask other in Lake Texoma what they use for Cathodic protection.
Jim...

 

[JamesG161]

My guess is...
Stainless Shaft
Bronze Propeller
Mild Steel for strut
Jim...

 

[garymalmgren]

Well, Donnie.
This event is again proof of the first law on boating (actually I think there are more than one first law).
If it can, tangle, jam, become disconnected or wrap, IT WILL.

Happy sailing

gary

 

[jssailem]

Well well well.. A SWAG from out west and I came way closer then I expected... “discover a bit of line at the shaft strut”. I thin I should buy a lottery ticket.

Glad you were able to solve the problem with out too much trouble or dollars.

I am concerned about your metal. The picture looks like corrosion. Maybe, it is just mud and will wash off. If not like @JamesG161 suggests aluminum not zinc in non saline water.

Happy sailing.

 

[Tally Ho]

I am not sure that is corrosion. The hull is covered with the same “stuff”.

Mine comes out of the water looking pretty bad too, until the bottom is cleaned. I am in fresh water too.

Too bad we don’t have an “after” picture after she was power washed.

Greg