This One Saved the Cruise, (maybe even the marriage)

[stuartsw]

Hunter Association of Puget Sound (HAPS to you, www.hunterpugetsound.com) is sponsoring a thread of stories on what engine spares saved your cruise. The hope is that it will enable us to decide/inspire us to know how crucial it might be to carry a specific engine part aboard.
Stories from any Hunter owner are welcome

 

[Justin_NSA]

A starter. They are easy to change if you have the wrenches.
I had a starter break on me while I was single handing. It was the strangest thing. I was getting ready to motor in to my slip. I tried to start the diesel but it wouldn't kick over. I actually thought it was the batteries. I called in for a tow and waited. Then I tried it once more and it fired up. I cancelled the tow and motored in. Long story short: After a bit of troubleshooting in the slip, I decided to pull the starter. When it came out in pieces I was pretty sure I found the problem. My guardian angel held the starter together for one last time and got me home safely.

 

[stuartsw]

This one didn't save the cruise:
When we bought a brand-new Hunter 36 in 2009, I thought I was being particularly prescient in asking the mechanic who did our 50-hour engine service to spec and order whatever spare parts he thought we needed. Seven years later, my water pump belt broke while we were in a sea lane, with an approching ferry. I spread sail and went below where I struggled to replace the belt, while the Admiral expertly avoided the ferry and sailed us to a temporary dock about 45 min away.
Once we got to the dock, a friend confirmed my suspicion: the mechanic had supplied the wrong-sized belt. I now carry the correct size aboard, for both of my engine belts. And I have a little less trust of parts suppliers. (Other than sailboatownersdotcom, of course. They actually hesitate before they tell you that they know something.)

 

[Rick D]

When I race with knowledgeable crew, they are always surprised that I carry about 50 pounds (at least) of tools and spares in my "garage" under the V-birth (but only 40 feet of anchor chain). Over the years, I have had to change an impeller, rig a patch on a cooling water pipe, replace an oil filter that had a pin hole in it (!), replace a belt, snug up a loose solenoid bolt, bypass a fried battery combiner, replace a missing alternator bolt, clean out a blocked raw water exhaust manifold injection, and probably a bunch of stuff I forgot. Those were all things done underway. I don't go anywhere without my tools and spares! And, that doesn't include the usual head repairs, fresh water pump, etc.

 

[Rick486]

Some years back we had arrived at our destination for the day Gloucester MA. As we maneuvered to pick up our mooring the engine alarm bell sounded. I looked at the instruments and the engine oil pressure read zero (0). Not good. I immediately shut her down as my wife picked up the mooring. I knew what I would find below. 5 quarts of oil in the engine bilge and main bilge. Ugh! What a mess. Know what it was? The oil pressure sender had failed and squirted out 5 quarts of oil. Probably had been going on for hours as we had powered most of the 50 miles from the Cape Cod Canal. So now I carry a complete refill of oil, plus an additional quart for top offs, and an oil pressure sender.

 

[whatfiero]

I looked at the instruments and the engine oil pressure read zero (0). Not good. I immediately shut her down as my wife picked up the mooring. I knew what I would find below. 5 quarts of oil in the engine bilge and main bilge. Ugh! What a mess. Know what it was? The oil pressure sender had failed and squirted out 5 quarts of oil. Probably had been going on for hours [/QUOTE]


I had that happen must be pretty reg. Plastic core just blows out. I just drove a hard wood bung in hole put the 2 quarts I had on board and a quart of diesel.

 

[Hunter Ad Bot]

And now a word from the sponsor...

Hunter throttle and shift cables

Throttle and shift cables pre-spec'd for most Hunter models. In stock for fast shipment.
See the product