After a whole raft of problems with my old Mariner 30 (fuel pump, gearbox, starter motor, gaskets, etc.,) I simply
do not trust it any more. The last four times I have tried to launch it have ended up being aborted.
1) Starter wouldn't engage
2) Gear linkage broke
3) Exhaust partially blocked by prop
4) Explosions of exhaust through the inlet gaskets.
These are after runs for ten minutes on muffs the evening before.
It is impossible to load it up for a decent amount of time in a dustbin. It will run on muffs but seems to have hydrophobia when it comes to large amounts of water.
I really miss using it but lots of time and lots of money later I still don't trust it (being a pessimist doesn't help!) and SWMBO has given me an ultimatum:
"use it or get rid of it"*.
How do others test engines under load for a decent amount of time, or is it not worth bothering with?
- I don't know of a local dyno
- Throwing good money after bad seems foolish (but part of boating
)
- On the trailer on the slipway is frowned upon (erosion of slipway)
- I've been told 'no' to tying up to a pontoon to test it
- It would need a pretty big container to run it in gear
- It is too heavy to paddle, so even on the river I am stuffed if it breaks down.
It can never be tested to give absolute confidence- it may break the minute after a successful test or the test might wear it out to the point it fails at next use - but it would be nice to be reasonably confident.
After a d******d of an "engineer" set the advance incorrectly I experienced the engine of my last boat seizing. Not an experience I'd wish to repeat!
*On that principal I might be in for a 'Bobitting'.
