Maiden voyage .... Big thanks to Cheshire fire and rescue

[thestig1973]

Well today was the first opportunity to get my honwave t32 wet, so launched in to the river dee at sandy lane, Chester

Trundled Up to the weir then turned around towards farndon, got to Churton and decided to turn back as wind was getting stronger

Very impressed with sib and outboard was running sweet..... Suddenly the motor spluttered then 3 seconds later cut out.... Couldn't start it again so prepared for the very long slow row back to slipway

Cheshire fire and rescue boat came past and stopped, towed us back..... Great bunch of lads, very helpful .... Very grateful..... Thank you 👍

Now I just need to diagnose engine problem (fuel related I suspect)

[Max...]

Happens to us all, better luck next time!

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by Max...

Happens to us all, better luck next time!

Thanks Max..... at least my misses was impressed being rescued by a load of firemen :-)

[spartacus]

All good experience. Hope you get the motor going!

Being a 2-stroke, then check the obvious, fuel-connection. Not unknown for the connection 'o' ring to dislodge cutting off fuel supply from tank. Not sure about Mercury, but Tohatsu ends are temperamental, especially if not genuine OE kit.

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by spartacus

All good experience. Hope you get the motor going!



Being a 2-stroke, then check the obvious, fuel-connection. Not unknown for the connection 'o' ring to dislodge cutting off fuel supply from tank. Not sure about Mercury, but Tohatsu ends are temperamental, especially if not genuine OE kit.

Thanks Spartacus

Thanks for the tip... I will check 'o' rings before I dig too deep

I think it's something simple like that or dirt in carb, fuel pump diaphragm etc

Just hope it's not too difficult to diagnose/expensive to fix

Important thing is it was still a good day out and felt fantastic to be out on the water after a 2 year break

[Fenlander]

As you say always good to get out on the water again. Blooming shame about the engine but get it in a tank and go through the basic checks starting with fuel supply as said above.

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

As you say always good to get out on the water again. Blooming shame about the engine but get it in a tank and go through the basic checks starting with fuel supply as said above.

Thanks Fenlander

I was impressed with overall set up until it died, honwaves are great boats for the money.... Especially if you get a substantial discounted RRP [ATTACH]111799[/ATTACH

[willk]

That's the great thing about a river - you're never far from the shore.

Engine - I'm sure it's not a closed tank vent?

Unlikely to be dirt in fuel - hopefully not a blocked water intake. Anyway - you'll figure it out but it's not gonna improve Mrs Stig's humour or confidence levels...

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by willk

That's the great thing about a river - you're never far from the shore.

Engine - I'm sure it's not a closed tank vent?

Unlikely to be dirt in fuel - hopefully not a blocked water intake. Anyway - you'll figure it out but it's not gonna improve Mrs Stig's humour or confidence levels...

Absolutely... Different situation if I was out at sea

Fuel tank vent seems ok, also opened fuel filler cap

Hopefully not blocked water intake, I'm thinking/ hoping simple fix.... Wish me luck 🙄

Humour is a necessity in the boating world.... And deep pockets 👍

[willk]

Were you pootling about at low revs. Maybe fouled plugs.

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by willk

Were you pootling about at low revs. Maybe fouled plugs.

Errr 6mph speed limit

So possibly 🤔🤔🙄🙄

Let's just say it was a smoother ride whilst planning 😜

[willk]

Originally Posted by thestig1973

Errr 6mph speed limit

I didn't mean that to sound like an accusation. I've crossed the Irish Sea at 3 knots and was extremely aware of the risks of prolonged low revs. With a 2 stroke it's a possibility which was why I asked. TBH, while it could be almost anything, it's likely to be one of the "usual suspects". On RIBnet it's difficult to know what the OPs boating/engine experience is and members can be reluctant to mention the obvious stuff for fear of causing offense (or sounding stupid themselves). I'm unconcerned by either possibility as I have lots of practice at doing both

If I pootled up a river for an hours and experienced your issue - faltering engine that stopped and failed to proceed - I'd suspect:

1. Fuel supply - lack thereof. Check vent, check connectors, check primer bulb, check carb
2. Spark - fouled spark plugs - check and clean/swap out.
3. Possible overheat for initial failure - but your motor stills turns over?
4. What I call "double trouble" - like your plugs were a bit fouled, the motor stopped and you flooded it trying to restart. I've seen people use choke on warm starts!

It will be a lot clearer once you try to run it at home and report back!

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by willk

I didn't mean that to sound like an accusation. I've crossed the Irish Sea at 3 knots and was extremely aware of the risks of prolonged low revs. With a 2 stroke it's a possibility which was why I asked. TBH, while it could be almost anything, it's likely to be one of the "usual suspects". On RIBnet it's difficult to know what the OPs boating/engine experience is and members can be reluctant to mention the obvious stuff for fear of causing offense (or sounding stupid themselves). I'm unconcerned by either possibility as I have lots of practice at doing both

If I pootled up a river for an hours and experienced your issue - faltering engine that stopped and failed to proceed - I'd suspect:

1. Fuel supply - lack thereof. Check vent, check connectors, check primer bulb, check carb
2. Spark - fouled spark plugs - check and clean/swap out.
3. Possible overheat for initial failure - but your motor stills turns over?
4. What I call "double trouble" - like your plugs were a bit fouled, the motor stopped and you flooded it trying to restart. I've seen people use choke on warm starts!

It will be a lot clearer once you try to run it at home and report back!

Thanks for your advice wilk 👍

Oh sorry, I didn't take it as an accusation...... Just can't admit to excess speed on a public forum... 😀

[willk]

My three "no-gos" while at sea in the SIB have been:

1. Fuel line disconnected under way (twice). Failed a mile or so offshore - bit of a scare!
2. Tank vent not opened - failed a couple of miles from launch site - bit of a scare!
3. While using SIB as a tender, loaded up with gear (big pile) for return to shore, started O/B and did a lap of the RIB, all good on the mooring so headed back to land (a decent row with a good cross tide) - engine died. Pull - nothing. Hmmm - check fuel connection - no fuel line!! (it's taped to the tank) Look forward for fuel tank - just a big pile of crap and a few scary moments while I dig for the fuel tank...

It's amazing how long a wee engine runs on a carb full of fuel

[jeffstevens763@g]

worth £7.50 reeds outboard motor troubleshooting hand book from wordery online book shop by Barry pickthall.

cheers

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by willk

My three "no-gos" while at sea in the SIB have been:

1. Fuel line disconnected under way (twice). Failed a mile or so offshore - bit of a scare!
2. Tank vent not opened - failed a couple of miles from launch site - bit of a scare!
3. While using SIB as a tender, loaded up with gear (big pile) for return to shore, started O/B and did a lap of the RIB, all good on the mooring so headed back to land (a decent row with a good cross tide) - engine died. Pull - nothing. Hmmm - check fuel connection - no fuel line!! (it's taped to the tank) Look forward for fuel tank - just a big pile of crap and a few scary moments while I dig for the fuel tank...

It's amazing how long a wee engine runs on a carb full of fuel

Thanks for the tips wilk, I will follow your "check list" at the weekend and I'll be posting on here with the cause (hopefully)

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

worth £7.50 reeds outboard motor troubleshooting hand book from wordery online book shop by Barry pickthall.

cheers

Thanks jeffstevens.... I'll have a look 👍

[HUMBER P4VWL]

At least if you were forced to row you were upstream!!! ;-)

Harder to row from the weir to sandy lane.

Lucky the boat was out, never normally is, just coaching tenders to the oarsmen buzzing everywhere in the flat bottomed aluminium boats. They fly!

Though they probably wouldn't help you if you planed past them 30mins earlier!!!! ;-)

[thestig1973]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

At least if you were forced to row you were upstream!!! ;-)

Harder to row from the weir to sandy lane.

Lucky the boat was out, never normally is, just coaching tenders to the oarsmen buzzing everywhere in the flat bottomed aluminium boats. They fly!

Though they probably wouldn't help you if you planed past them 30mins earlier!!!! ;-)

Humber p4vwl..... As you say the current was taking us towards the weir... Would have taken hours at that speed though

The boat that helped us was Cheshire fire and rescue, but the wardens boat wasn't out..... So I saved 20 quid (day license) 😀

The ally boats were out earlier but they had all disappeared.... Too windy for the canoes I suspect

[thestig1973]

I have just had had a quick look at the engine, it seems that fuel is getting through as engine is flooding after trying to start a few times. Removed spark plugs but can't find a spark on either plug/coil
How likely is it that both ignition coils have malfunctioned simultaneously?
Is it likely to be something more serious (e.g. CDI unit)