Finally launched

[vthardhatdiver]

After waiting nearly a month to get my outboard back from the shop I finally launched Tranquil Waters. But.........the outboard still doesn't work. So I got it to the mooring and took the motor to a new guy. I think we have it sorted and should have it back by the end of the week. Carb plugged up thanks to the old ethanol. Any tricks for beating the ethanol woes??

Also had a suggestion from a sailor on the lake to start out sailing with the mainsail only. I have done a fair amount of dinghy sailing but nothing this large so want to start out on the right foot. How does the Oday 22 handle with mainsail only? Hoping to get some lessons from an instructor in the sailing club but haven't lined up an actual date. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[caguy]

AV ll100, aviation fuel. I used it in my BF100 Honda and it solved the problem. Also running the carburetor out of gas is supposed work. I have seen guys at the landing run their motors off the fuel line while they flush the motor. They run it until it runs out of gas. The water in the ethanol causes the aluminum carburetor bowl to oxidize and produce a white powder. That used to plug the Honda carburetor every 6 months or so.

BTW your boat looks great.

 

[agprice22]

Yes, I had the same problems. Specifically, the idle jet gets clogged. The motor won't idle, won't stay running, won't start.

1. Use Startron in your gas.
2. Run your motor dry after each use, unless you use it daily.
3. Don't keep too much gas on hand. I used about 1 gallon over an entire season with my 4 hp Mariner.

If your motor acts up again, a quick technique to fix it is to open the throttle, start it, and put your hand over the carb while the engine is revving. Let it almost die, then remove your hand. The process sucks fuel forceably through the carb, sometimes clearing dried fuel residue from the jets. It has worked a few times for me.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[SchwarckT]

http://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[Brian S]

I know guys who SWEAR by Sea Foam.

I'm lucky, I have a place that sells 87 ethanol free, and I gladly pay whatever it costs. (And still add Sea Foam.)

There is debate about running the carb bowl dry at the end of a session. Some mechanics maintain that there is a little bit of gas left over that will vaporize and CONTRIBUTE to varnish. Doh!

Since I run every weekend, and sometimes once during the week, I have NOT been running dry, and I have been ok for a season and a half. Fingers crossed...

 

[agprice22]

I know guys who SWEAR by Sea Foam. I'm lucky, I have a place that sells 87 ethanol free, and I gladly pay whatever it costs. (And still add Sea Foam.) There is debate about running the carb bowl dry at the end of a session. Some mechanics maintain that there is a little bit of gas left over that will vaporize and CONTRIBUTE to varnish. Doh! Since I run every weekend, and sometimes once during the week, I have NOT been running dry, and I have been ok for a season and a half. Fingers crossed...

That makes sense, plus, some motors are not easy to run dry. I actually refurbished the little internal tank on my motor, so I could run it dry more easily. It did work for me. I would run it til it stopped. Then I would open the throttle and start it again. It would start and run for another 5-10 seconds. Then I would open the choke and throttle and start it again. It would crank, rev, and then die in 2-3 seconds. I would close the choke, open the throttle, and start it again. It would crank and die in 1 second. All done. I figured it was DRY at this point.

If you really want to dry it, I suppose you could spray a starter aerosol into the carb and run ot til that clears.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Brian S]

On my 2 hp Suzuki 2 stroke, I HAVE to run the bowl out every time I use it. Like, running out from the launch ramp to go sailing? Yeah, shut off the petcock and keep that sucker going 'till it quits. AND then rotate it around once you tilt it so the front faces up. Otherwise, gas will leak out of the carb and stink the whole day up!

 

[Brian S]

Note that due to emissions requirements and such, they make the low speed idle jet on 4 strokes very small, which contributes to the varnish problems. Sometimes the only way to make them run at idle is to drill out the low speed idle jet. I've heard this especially on Mercurys, but it's the same powerhead on Tohatsu and Nissan, sooooo...

 

[Daydreamer]

Congratulations ! Your 22 looks great.
Lots of good suggestions here for outboard issues. I try to use good fuel and stabilizer, and plan on having to disassemble and clean the carburetor at least once a year.

In heavy air (25+) I have tried jib only and main only and prefer main only. At the time I did not have the main set up for a reef and main only gave me the best control.

Currently I have one reef for the main and with this tucked in and with a 100% jib sails well in 20 kts. Yes it is a handfull.

I also have mid boom sheeting with a short traveller on the cockpit sole that is quite effective for spilling a gust or relieving weather helm.

On the lighter end of things with 6-7 kts she'll move with main only but won't go to windward very well. A jib helps immensely.

I use a 150% jib up to 8-10 kts, she goes to windward better. Beyond that I go to the 100.

Have FUN !

 

[Ward H]

Congrats on splashing. Waiting on a motor really sucks. I did that last year for three weeks.
If your 22 is anything like my 25, it should sail fine with just the main. I frequently will sail with just the jib because it is easier to set the furling jib than raising the main.

SeaFoam and Stibil are the additives I keep hearing about but last year I found a sources for AV gas. Solved my fuel problems.

 

[vthardhatdiver]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I do have a local small airport nearby so will look in to the avgas. Don't know why I hadn't thought of that! The mechanic was going to start with fresh gas so we will see how it goes. Hoping to get out and actually sail this weekend. The weather so far looks great with 8-10knots expected.

Thanks also for the kind words on my boat. Even with all the motor hassle it still feels like a steal for the $900.00 I paid for the whole package. Right now she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, although you all probably feel the same about your boats. I will post some on the water shots this weekend.

Final question. My main sheet is set up with blocks on each gunwale just forward of the transom and a double block that attaches to the boom. Pigtail on the back stay to support the boom while main is down. Any pointers or tricks to making the most of this setup? I know many have converted to traveler in the cockpit but with a 5 year old and 18 month old, for now I plan to keep the rig as is and far from little fingers.

 

[caguy]

If you add a boom vang you will not need a traveler. With the set up you have now it is the same as my old Mac 25, and the boom will tend to raise when going down wind and will sometime pump up and down. The boom vang will prevent that from happening.
Never thought about it but the setup as is would be safer for little fingers.

 

[LordNelson]

Do not use ethanol gas period. Find a station, or marina, that sells ethanol free gas. Most of the marina's here sell it. We also have fast track station whose 93 octane is ethanol free. Use any left over gas in the snow blower. Avgas has lead so not sure you should use that unless manufacturer says it ok.

Run the outboard once a week and that helps reduce problems.

My oday doesn't want to come about with out a jib. I would recommend reefing the main and using a jib. I bought a smaller used jib for windy days so I can reef the main and use my "storm" jib and it handles great.

 

[Bill1565]

Note that due to emissions requirements and such, they make the low speed idle jet on 4 strokes very small, which contributes to the varnish problems. Sometimes the only way to make them run at idle is to drill out the low speed idle jet. I've heard this especially on Mercurys, but it's the same powerhead on Tohatsu and Nissan, sooooo...

Carb. Bowl is deeper on these small motors. You need to open the drain screw to get carb truly empty. I wound up leavening
bowl full not trying to run it dry.between uses.

 

[Ward H]

New Jersey has banned all non ethanol gas, even for marine use. AV gas is the only non ethanol you can get.
Funny, the guys at the airport say that some pilots bring in cans of pump gas, with ethanol, because they don't want to pay the premium for AV gas.
Think I would rather be on the water than in the air when my motor quits.