Has your engine failed to start? Were you able to overcome the problem yourself, were you forced to call for help, or did you sail away without it? What was the trouble, and (if you did) how did you fix it? Get your story started here, then vote in Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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Jeff Walker
Each time a different problem
So far I've had an engine fail to start because: 1. no fuel (gauge still said half full) 2. bad starter switch 3. stuffing gland un-screwed and wedged into transmission coupling, water was pouring in and a tanker was heading for me blowing his horn (that was fun) 4. fouled injectors (sludge) 5. dead batteries 6. compression release stuck open 7. broken belt on water pump (had to shut down engine). In every case, it was at a critical moment, I was alone, it was blowing 20 knots, and I had to try to sail back to the slip. I would not have had time to call for a tow so I sailed back on the jib and stopped the boat with my "suicide" spring line on the winch. I don't know how my engine knows when it's the worst time to fail but it does. None of these problems was hard to fix when I got to the slip but the timing was terrible.
So far I've had an engine fail to start because: 1. no fuel (gauge still said half full) 2. bad starter switch 3. stuffing gland un-screwed and wedged into transmission coupling, water was pouring in and a tanker was heading for me blowing his horn (that was fun) 4. fouled injectors (sludge) 5. dead batteries 6. compression release stuck open 7. broken belt on water pump (had to shut down engine). In every case, it was at a critical moment, I was alone, it was blowing 20 knots, and I had to try to sail back to the slip. I would not have had time to call for a tow so I sailed back on the jib and stopped the boat with my "suicide" spring line on the winch. I don't know how my engine knows when it's the worst time to fail but it does. None of these problems was hard to fix when I got to the slip but the timing was terrible.
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Chuck Graser
Engine failed to start
We tied COLUMBINE up at a pumpout dock, and then the engine wouldn't start when we were ready to leave. With the engine switch on, we couldn't hear the fuel pump click, so we did the necessary trouble shooting and found a loose wire behind the instrument panel. It was good not to have to sail back into our slip. This sure reminds you to check all those electrical connections so that this type of problem doesn't occur in a much worse place.
We tied COLUMBINE up at a pumpout dock, and then the engine wouldn't start when we were ready to leave. With the engine switch on, we couldn't hear the fuel pump click, so we did the necessary trouble shooting and found a loose wire behind the instrument panel. It was good not to have to sail back into our slip. This sure reminds you to check all those electrical connections so that this type of problem doesn't occur in a much worse place.
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Peter Clancy
How About This?
My Perkins M30 is a reliable workhorse of an engine. Only once it failed to start. We checked everything we knew could be a problem with no success. Was about to call BoatUS for a tow and noticed that the diesel cut-off lever was raised just slightly above its closed position (to run engine). I pushed it down about a half-inch and the engine cranked right up. Felt a little stupid but I suspect it's happened to others!
My Perkins M30 is a reliable workhorse of an engine. Only once it failed to start. We checked everything we knew could be a problem with no success. Was about to call BoatUS for a tow and noticed that the diesel cut-off lever was raised just slightly above its closed position (to run engine). I pushed it down about a half-inch and the engine cranked right up. Felt a little stupid but I suspect it's happened to others!
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Bob Sawyer
My 1973 Atomic 4 engine failed to start. I assumed that it had to be either no spark or no fuel. Took a spare plug, pulled off a wire off a plug on the engine and attached it to the spare plug. Holding the spare plug with plyers, and making sure there is no gas odor, I tried starting the engine. There was spark. I reattached the wire and assumed that it had to be fuel. There's a small bowl just prior to the carborator that's supposed to collect contaminates before they get to the carb. I put a rag under the bowl and unscrewed the bowl. I emptied the gas into a container and noticed a lot of white power at the bottom of the bowl. I figured that the carb was contaminated and blocked. I removed the carb and had my mechanic clean and check it out. I reinstalled the carb, cleaned and reinstalled the bowl, and started the engine. It worked!!!! I just purchased a water separator filter to install in my gas line hopefully to prevent this from happening again. I didn't know too much about Atomic 4 engines before since I just bought the boat, but I sure am having fun learning.
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Bob Robeson
Its dead Jim!
Yes, we have had our currnet engine die 3 times, do to cooling problems and was not able to re start and sailed back to our slip. One time it was the freash water pump that failed. Once home, just relpaced with a new one. Once it was the antifreeze hose that blew, replaced once at home, once the raw water empeller died and I had no replacement (I have 2 spares Now). But hey, it is fun sailing a 14000 lb boat into a slip without reverse. Bob Emerald Odyssea C-36 #586
Yes, we have had our currnet engine die 3 times, do to cooling problems and was not able to re start and sailed back to our slip. One time it was the freash water pump that failed. Once home, just relpaced with a new one. Once it was the antifreeze hose that blew, replaced once at home, once the raw water empeller died and I had no replacement (I have 2 spares Now). But hey, it is fun sailing a 14000 lb boat into a slip without reverse. Bob Emerald Odyssea C-36 #586
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Bob Camarena
Broken Wire
The one time mine failed to start (1981 C-30, 5411), I was able to trace it to a broken wire at the ignition switch. The wire had corroded at the connection to the switch. i don't recall which wire it was, but I was able to find it by visual inspection.
The one time mine failed to start (1981 C-30, 5411), I was able to trace it to a broken wire at the ignition switch. The wire had corroded at the connection to the switch. i don't recall which wire it was, but I was able to find it by visual inspection.
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Carlos Toledo
Learning from my engine
Being a total novice at sailing and diesel engines I've spent many weekends tied up at my slip because of engine trouble. Finally I got my courge up and let my 4 year-old 18hp Yanmar give me a few lessons. When I first got the boat (1977 Catalina 30) I had a diesel mechanic change the starter motor and it cranked right up. Then it over-heated on me, but tackled the problem myself. It turned out to be a simple water hose leak. Then it decided to stop taking in fuel. Put in a new separator filter and that did the trick. Last time it decided not to crank over I thought I the batteries were dead. The starter motor sounded weak. Wrong! The engine had stuck from lack of use (I hadn't been to the marina for more than 3 weeks). After normal trouble shooting, I decided to open the compression releases and gave it a crank. That loosened the engine. Closed the compression releases, canked it again and off it went. Kinda long... but hope this helped someone!!
Being a total novice at sailing and diesel engines I've spent many weekends tied up at my slip because of engine trouble. Finally I got my courge up and let my 4 year-old 18hp Yanmar give me a few lessons. When I first got the boat (1977 Catalina 30) I had a diesel mechanic change the starter motor and it cranked right up. Then it over-heated on me, but tackled the problem myself. It turned out to be a simple water hose leak. Then it decided to stop taking in fuel. Put in a new separator filter and that did the trick. Last time it decided not to crank over I thought I the batteries were dead. The starter motor sounded weak. Wrong! The engine had stuck from lack of use (I hadn't been to the marina for more than 3 weeks). After normal trouble shooting, I decided to open the compression releases and gave it a crank. That loosened the engine. Closed the compression releases, canked it again and off it went. Kinda long... but hope this helped someone!!
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Gary Jensen
Sailing without a motor
When I had my 27 O day, many times my outboard would not start. I was forced to know how to sail all the way in to my berth. It was fun and made me really learn to sail. My 36, was a different story. Twice I had to take in to the dock without power. Once I sailed her in and the other time I was towed. The towing was a result of a two fold problem. My jib halyard was fouled and I had an impeller failure. (I realy had no choice with 20 knots of wind at the dock) My 380 is not going to be that flexible. She is too heavy to try such a manuever. I'll have to rely on a tow service or sail her into an easy berth (like an end tie).
When I had my 27 O day, many times my outboard would not start. I was forced to know how to sail all the way in to my berth. It was fun and made me really learn to sail. My 36, was a different story. Twice I had to take in to the dock without power. Once I sailed her in and the other time I was towed. The towing was a result of a two fold problem. My jib halyard was fouled and I had an impeller failure. (I realy had no choice with 20 knots of wind at the dock) My 380 is not going to be that flexible. She is too heavy to try such a manuever. I'll have to rely on a tow service or sail her into an easy berth (like an end tie).
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CO Editorial
Final results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 7/24/00: Has your engine failed to start? 41% No 36% Yes; I fixed it 12% Yes; called help 07% Yes; did without
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 7/24/00: Has your engine failed to start? 41% No 36% Yes; I fixed it 12% Yes; called help 07% Yes; did without
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