Engine problems outside Depoe Bay ...

fish assassin · 06-02-2003, 09:02 AM

Huh, started out as an OK morning Saturday. Went through the "Hole" at Depoe Bay
into some really nasty slop, but nothing that Pacific Mistress couldn't handle. Motored
out to the second bouy in "slow" mode. Ocean looked a *lot* better outside the bouy ...

So I pour the power to the mighty 250hp MerCruiser diesels and the starboard engine
starts to surge! The tack is bouncing up and down and then all of a sudden the "idiot
lights" ALL come on and all the guages drop to ZERO. I quickly switched the engine
off and continued to motor West on the Port engine.

Hmm, what the heck is going on? Opened up the engine hatch and took a look ...
everything looked Okey Dokey. No signs of overheating. Belts are tight. Let's
try to start the engine and see what happens, shall we? No problem. Starboard
engine is purring like a kitten. Start to pour the fuel to her and notice that as
I'm dropping off the back side of the swells that I'm getting the surging business
again! Hmmm, lets check the fuel filters ...

Fuel filters are fine. Tried to start the engine again and she'd fire and then die
after only a couple of Revs. Hmmm, kinda sounds and feels electrical. So we start
checking wires. Everything is tight and in place.

On a whim I pushed the "kill button" on the back deck a couple of times and tried
to start her again. She fires right up. Aha!! We have found the culprit! NOT!!
The boy (my 19yo son) says "wait a minute, Dad, let me trace the wires from the
kill switch". He traces the wires from the switch on the back deck to the engine
and then forward to the back of the dash in the front of the wheel house ... and there
was the problem. A screw had backed out of the ignition switch and was making intermitant
contact. Problem solved.

Good thing I have a 19 year old that still knows everything! Don't know WHAT I'm
going to do after he joins the Coasties in August!

-assAssin-

Miss B Haven · 06-02-2003, 09:12 AM

And the Feeshing report???? :grin:

seasquid · 06-02-2003, 09:25 AM

FA,

I had a somewhat similar episode a few years back ...

I'm flying in from halibut grounds off of Garibaldi on a flat ocean, about three miles from the bar the engine just flat stops -- it goes from flat running fine to dead stop -- no cough, no nothing -- tried to start it, no go. I spend an hour or so looking at everything, it all looks good -- next step -- "Seasquid to Coast Guard Tillamook Bay."

So, after getting a tow from the CG back to port: I'm putting away the life vests, when all of sudden here is this wire hanging loose -- what the heck is that? Take a closer look -- hmm, looks like it connects to the kill switch -- looks like it was connected here -- reconnect -- she fires up and away I go. Crazy.

ss

fish assassin · 06-02-2003, 10:33 AM

Mel,

Fishing report for Saturday: 5 fish caught out at around 61 fathoms just
after the tide change (about 2

m). Was a LONG day up to that point!

SeaSquid:

First thing I would ask another doryman at Pacific City when they were
calling for help because of a dead engine: Is the wire to the "dead-man"
switch plugged in? It was amazing how many times that asking that question
saved somebody from having to be towed back to the beach!!

-assAssin-

RatherBFishn · 06-02-2003, 02:38 PM

Good lesson. I have been bitten by the "Kill Switch" bug a few times. Why won't this *&%(& motor start? Scratch head several times with few more selective words...look at kill switch. Same story on a buddies boat with an intermittant similiar to your story.....Common problem.

Another one to look for when a boat fails to start after running fine is the solenoid. Will likely just hear a single click when turning the key. Sometimes tapping on solenoid will get it fire. Replace it when get back to dock. Has happened at least twice in 20 years of boating.

Have less problems with cars. Why can't marine engines be more reliable?? Could it be the constant pounding, salt air, long term storage, etc etc????

sherry marie · 06-02-2003, 02:41 PM

Glad that you got something, we only put one in the boat on Sat... we ended up at 70 fa

Ray

Fishmstr · 06-02-2003, 09:44 PM

How deep on the downrigger are you guys getting those salmon? The 9 foot swell forecast on saturday scared me off, so I didn't make it out. Plan on next weekend though...weather permitting!!!

fish assassin · 06-03-2003, 06:17 AM

I was running my downriggers right down to the bottom (until I could feel
the cannon ball bounce) and then pulling 'em back up 2 fathoms. We didn't get
any bites until just before the tide change ... with the exception of a half
dozen silvers ... and caught 4 of our 5 fish within the last 15 minutes we were
out. I would liked to have stayed longer, but I was already 8 hours past my
oil change time and had to get in and take care of the maintanence thingy! :grin: :grin: :grin:

When I left port early Saturday morning ... between 5:30 and 6:00 ... it was right
at the ebb tide and it was NASTY out to the first bouy. The bar was closed breifly
to 22' and under.

-assAssin-