engine stopped

[dlewis812]

while motoring down the east river at around 9kn in a strong current with a barge in front and behind the engine just quit. luckily before my heart stopped i started it back up and was fine. was on edge for the rest of the trip. thoughts on what would have caused that? has never happened before.

(was first day moving from winter storage to seasonal mooring)

 

[tommays]

With so much information about what motor you have

 

[dlewis812]

engine model

universal M-18

 

[Merlin Clark]

Unlike a gasoline engine, as long as a diesel has compression, fuel, air and cooling it'll keep going until one of these is removed. I'd check the fuel system.
If it overheated and stopped it would have taken a while to cool before it would restart.

edit: I should have added that a foriegn object that could stop the prop from turning can also shut the engine down.

 

[Ross]

Air bubble in the line.

 

[sailaway78]

I'm pretty much in agreement with the air bubble theory. Especially if the fuel tank was a little low on fuel, or the water was rough.

 

[Scotty C-M]

Check filters also.

 

[kloudie1]

Electric fuel pump? Look for an "iffy" connection in its electrical side.. but air bubble is most likely..

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Divine intervention, or Murphy? ... just messing with you or getting your attention?