WHat a day - but I guess we've learnt something!!

[9D280]

There is of course the other small point that on the South coast you're statistically more likely to find someone out there at this time of year to drag you home. I can just see the likes of Alystra / BruceB sitting off the west coast of Islay waiting for a tow in the middle of December!

If you need >20Hp to get in / out of Chichester, then twin 30/40s are the only way to go..... But I bet there's plenty of small displacement fishing tubs do it regularly with 4-6Hp. I had a shortshaft 2 on the back of mine for a while. Chronically slow, and since been replaced by a 4, but not once have I needed a tow following 2 major engine failures.

Statistically, what happened to the KY's is probably verging on a lottery win chances - I've used tanks that are 20+ years old, and never had a problem. Then 2 fail mechanically in the space of an afternoon.

If nothing else, it goes to show that although we may take extreme care of our engines, there are lots of other things can grind your day to a halt.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by 9D280

If you need >20Hp to get in / out of Chichester, then twin 30/40s are the only way to go.

[9D280]

The mere fact you're here to tell us about it and are using it as a learning experience is probably worth as much as an Aux!

[9D280]

Originally Posted by malthouse

Not going to bite........

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Not going to bite........

'Sallright, there is no hook under worm.

[Knot Yet]

I'm beginning to appreciate there are many ways to float a boat - not sure I want to start an aux argument though - but I'm sitting on the not have camp

J

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

Help I feel like I'm in the RIBnet Court for not having fitted my aux engine

sorry if it felt bad - whilst its great that everyone pats you on the back and says 'not to worry', and 'it could happen to any of us' etc. what actually matters is that we all learn how to make it not happen to us - and a constructive debate rather than 'you did nothing wrong' is probably helpful.

Your learned Clerk we did indeed try to fit an aux engine - however having rung a few local chandlers the responses we got were along the lines of: it's not possible on your transom due to the shape of the a frame, it won't push your boat along (we already have a 4hp or thereabouts and of course the 25hp from the SIB), it will cause massive vibration and unbalance the boat.

what this really meant is - we don't have a product available off the shelf to sell to you! It may require some special fabrication to make it happen - or at least to make it happen in a nice way. The rule of thumb is 1HP per m of boat - so technically 4HP is a bit on the limited side, but it will move you - although Chichester Bar is not the place to be testing it. Mine is only 2HP (bigger won't fit) on a 4m boat and it does move it - although not spectacularly. I don't see it as 'get me home' more 'get me to a better place, to work out how to get home'. 9D280 used to use it on a bigger boat. I used to use a 2HP on a 5m ish boat and it would move it even in a quite a blow. In fact on my 'day from hell afloat' a few years ago my 5m boat was towed (very slowly) by a 4m dory whose main engine had conked out and was using his 2HP aux. It wasn't spectacular, and although it wasn't gale force it was a F3 at least.

We have therefore not progressed a solution - having it inside the RIB, apart from the risk of it coming loose, didn't seem sensible as with three adults and two large fuel cans rooms is limited.

agreed - its not the best place for it - when you really need it you don't have 5 minutes to unlash it, get it on the transom etc.

1. I still don't think an aux engine is the answer for us - regardless of wether you can fit them to our RIB - why .... because it would'nt have helped at all - how do I know that, when we conked out the third time (!!) we managed to get the engine running at throttle forward to a gentle 6hp (the idea to conserve fuel and hand pumping) - we went no where - in fact according to the GPS slightly backwards - I personally think an aux engine (again on reflection) offers a comfort zone that when needed will fail.

Not sure how you know you were puting out 6HP - but even if you were the prop speed would be completely different from an aux at full tilt. I'm not suggesting you try to cross the bar with it though. But if you had the aux as an option then you may have considered going ashore / seeking shelter elsewhere. You already have the aux - I'd be inclined to find a way to give it a try in controlled conditions and see how you get on.

In an ideal world we should have:

1. Not left via Chichester Harbour - I knew it could be grotty but lack of preparation meant I had no idea how grotty
2. Radioed the coastguard at the first sign of trouble
3. Made for the nearest safe haven and asked Darren's Dad to collect us, returned to the trailer and then collected the RIB. - So angry at myself for this oversight!!

agreed. Its also easy to forget that 50 quid gets you quite far in a taxi - and at that point of the day is probably not a lot of money!

4. Been members of Sea Start - allowing us to moor up and wait for the breakdown service whilst not placing other people or ourselves a risk.

KY2 would still have been sick so that might not have been an option. Sea Start might become a bit of an excuse for going to sea with a sick engine (its OK I can call out the breakdown service) - a bit like setting off from southampton to edinburgh in a dodgy car with the reassurance that the AA will get you there anyway... except that a broken down car is an inconvenience, a broken outboard could be much more serious. So whilst I can understand the temptation to rush out and join Sea Start I would just sit on the cheque book for a week or so and see if you still feel the same once the adreniline calms down.

[bedajim]

Where there is a strong enough will there is away
4 m Searider

[jambo]

(quote) I can just see the likes of Alystra / BruceB sitting off the west coast of Islay waiting for a tow in the middle of December!

I remember well Tony's tale of his engine misshap this summer crossing to the 'Corry' and how he finished up 'camping' out in Carsaig for the night before limping home to Ardfern in the morning.

Jean as many have said it happens to us all! it happened to me two years ago in the sound of Jura complete engine failure lucky I had aux and I managed to call my mate and got towed in, and I had done all the checks. I think what i am trying to say is that it is what you do and how you react to the issues that matters and that you did and got home safely.
We are always learning, I have been boating now for fifty years and I am still learning, and I am still enjoy myself while I am learning.

J

[BruceB]

I have only once so far, and hopefully never again, broken down.
It was on the way back from Coll which is about 50miles from Oban.
We motored back on the aux while I tried to get the main outboard going, after about an hour I did and we got home on the main motor.
It would have been a long trip home on the aux but would have made it, eventually!
I had a trip last night round Kerrera, never saw another boat the whole ten miles or so round. You do get used to it and try and be prepared.
Incidentally I agree that if you need 20hp + to get home over a bar etc then I would have twins fitted rather than a single and aux. An aux is a get you to shore device and if it is critical that you need reasonable power or speed to be safe or get home then the risk dictates twins despite the disadvantages.
I use a small aux cos I may operate in remote areas but never too far from shore and apart from a few areas, not in huge currents.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

4. Been members of Sea Start - allowing us to moor up and wait for the breakdown service whilst not placing other people or ourselves a risk.



J

My feeling exactly !

Sorry - I didn't meant to start a debate about Aux / no Aux etc , but my thinking is Seastart is £145 for me compared to the cost of a decent Aux of at least several hundred.

Seastart will turn up while I'm still on my mooring , if I'm at sea will turn up a big(ish) powerful boat that has gear , knowledge & if needed a tow line.

If the engine stops I am (usually) in water that will allow me to anchor & wait - if its too rough for that then the RNLI get the call & shoudl not be out anyway !

I used to sail over the Chichester bar and it can be a right sod ( thats a technical sailing term) - but hey so can Mudeford in a RIB !

Pete

[Channel Ribs]

Let us not obsess about Chi Bar, knot yet is trailer launched and while Chi is handy it is not the best access to the Solent.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by malthouse

3. Made for the nearest safe haven and asked Darren's Dad to collect us, returned to the trailer and then collected the RIB. - So angry at myself for this oversight!!

In my opinion yes. Unless of course you could put your finger on the exact cause of the engine stalling first time around. If for example the fuel tank wasn't vented, you could put that down to a simple error, restart the engine and continue. But if you're at a loss as to why it's not working you have to make an informed judgement, based on your own experience, weather conditions, distances you're wishing to cover, number of boats in area, etc.

The only reason I fitted an auxilliary (although Zodiac don't recommend one on the Pro 7) is the boat is used in the Moray Firth and west coast of Lewis (Atlantic), both fairly inhospitable areas and there are some days when we never see another boat. I got the usual ''it can't be done'', but pressed ahead, custom fitted a Plastimo stainless-steel bracket and then found the smallest width outboard (Tohatsu 3.5hp - only 17kg), so the main engine wouldn't knock it on full turn. It's not a perfect set-up, but it's given me peace of mind. That's my tuppence worth!

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

Put a bit of video on Youtube - it seems a bit small but that might be because its in HD or I've no idea what I'm doing

It's very boring (unless you were there in which case it is nowhere near exciting enough) and the music is terrible - so I hope you really enjoy it

J

Well girlie, I'm impressed. First major cruise, fairly new rig (to you), unsure of the boats capabilities and your own (from what I read), and unfamiliar launching area (I assume), and you still find time and presence of mind to video it That takes real b___s, even if you weren't actually holding the camera

[Knot Yet]

Once again thanks for all the replies and pictures - very useful

I was only joking re the RIBnet court comment - and I think frank debate on how to improve/avoid such an adventure again is very important - good point re others also benefiting as I forget I'm not the only novice

Bedajim - how does you aux fit to the A-frame - looks like the solution we are after - do you need to drop it down in order for it to work and how does it steer?

Polwart - whoops I meant 6knots not 6hp - again my lack of experience means I had no idea different sized propellers and engines make a difference to the speed attained at the same horse power (if that makes sense)

Jambo - did you decide not to use your aux as your mate was nearer and a better option or had that also failed?

Pete - I do like the idea of Sea Start and having read through all of this I think my belt and braces approach will be kicking in - aux and Sea Start - we already have an aux so no need to splash out on the extra engine but £145 for breakdown cover just sounds a real blessing

Malthouse - absolutely there are plenty of other places to launch - we naively launched at Chichester as the launch and recovery is really easy, lovely and flat, lots of space, no strong tide, blah blah blah and it's the closest point to home - as an aside - regardless of weather where is the best place to launch for Solent access - as we haven't yet found it

Spartacus - I don''t think we could fit our aux next to the main outboard - can you still steer you aux okay

Ian - lol - the video was the easy bit - just press record - shame boating doesn't have the same level of simplicity - but then would it be as fun !!

Thanks again to everyone

Jxx

[jambo]

Hi Jean I use the aux to get me nearer the shore and safer waters, but also towards my mate who was coming from the direction I was ultimately aiming for or home port!
Lucky it all ended well and instead of having lunch on Gigha we had to settle for late lunch back at Tayvallich.

J

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

Bedajim - how does you aux fit to the A-frame - looks like the solution we are after - do you need to drop it down in order for it to work and how does it steer?

- regardless of weather where is the best place to launch for Solent access - as we haven't yet found it

The Aux was fitted using pipe clamps to the Aframe and you used the main to steer like a rudder. Yes it went up and down and was tied up with straps + outboard bracket

We normally use Calshot to launch in Southampton

Plenty of room for parking
Toilets
Security cameras
Big slipway + small one when the tide it in
Right on the end of Southampton water

Downside no Pontoon + a few Jet ski’s at the weekends

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

... regardless of weather where is the best place to launch for Solent access - as we haven't yet found it.

Have a look at Boat Launch, if you have not already got the book:

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/

There are so many choices around the Solent that I doubt there is a single best spot, it all depends where you are heading and far you want to drive on any given day.

Launching at the top of Chi Harbour, or up one of the rivers means you then have a slow potter to get to open water - some days it might be better to drive an extra 20 minutes and be straight out. Other days the potter and shelter might be an advantage.

As has already been mentioned - if you do use an aux then it is generally easier to use the main engine as a rudder and keep steering from the wheel. That way the aux engine can be fixed in place with only a need to tilt and or rise/fall on it's bracket.

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by bedajim

Downside a few Jet ski’s at the weekends

Not a fan of the jetskis?

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

Spartacus - I don't think we could fit our aux next to the main outboard - can you still steer you aux okay

The main engine can still turn hard lock to hard lock without touching the auxilliary. Regards steering, it's not important that you can obtain full steering lock on the auxilliary, rather general propulsion in a forward or reverse direction. The auxilliary can be fixed straight, and use the main engine to steer as a rudder. For more precise handling you would need to steer with the auxilliary.