Crappy Way to End Season

B

Bryank

Member
Jul 3, 2008
455
Catawba Island, OH
Boat Info
2001 410DA
Engines
Mercruiser 8.1S Horizons
So I lost my port engine yesterday while returning back to my marina from our final cruise of the year. I was heading into the marina channel and saw another boat coming out. I decided to let him have plenty of room so I put the engines in reverse to back put of his way... I gave them a touch of throttle and when I want back into forward, the port engine quit. Tried restarting several times, but no luck. I limped into the marina on one engine and the service guys came alongside me with a little Whaler to guide me to my dock. They are going to look at the engine tomorrow. I guess better now than in the middle of July!

One thing I did learn... Driving with a single engine is a challenge. In 11 years of owning twin engine boats, this never happened to me before yesterday. If you've never done it, I recommend practicing in a safe area just in case it ever happens to you. Going at speed isn't so bad, but maneuvering takes a lot of finesse. I'm sure I am preaching to the choir on this one...


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Ken sorry to hear man. Yes, I agree trying to handle these gals on one engine is definitely a challenge. Hope it comes out ok for you.
 
So far it's only happened once, 18 miles on one wasn't fun. I am sorry it's happened and wish you the best of luck, but think of it this way....your not going to missing several days of the season working to figure this out
 
Your not alone had to limp home on one engine twice this year. Slow and steady gets ya home. You are right trying to dock is a lot harder on a single lol
 
Good advice regarding practicing on 1 engine for tight maneuvering - i need to do that. How about if you loose an engine and need to run a good distance back to the dock on one engine? Anyone know of any issues with free wheeling one prop in neutral, while running the other? I would think as long as you go slow it would be ok?
 
It has happend to me twice. If you aim the boat when landing, put it in nutreal it will contine strait. Both times there was no wind. In an off dock side wind it would be difficult. Had fuel pump go in 4 foot waves. I kept the boat at 6 knots for an hour with one engine and it did not seem to damage things.
 
You probably already checked this but have you checked to make sure the gear shifter was in neutral when you tried to restart it? I was out last week and bumped the rocker switch that starts the port engine. Naturally I bumped it down (to "off") and it quit. It took me a moment to figure out what I'd done and when I realized it and tried to start it the shifter was still in gear. DOH!!!
 
I was lucky enough to not have to go much distance on the engine... I was right outside the harbor.

I was in neutral so I know that isn't the issue. I am hoping it is something stupid and simple and a cheap fix. Yeah, right.

I will report back when I hear from my mechanic.
 
Bryank said:
I was lucky enough to not have to go much distance on the engine... I was right outside the harbor.

I was in neutral so I know that isn't the issue. I am hoping it is something stupid and simple and a cheap fix. Yeah, right.

I will report back when I hear from my mechanic.
Click to expand...


Nothing is is a cheap fix it is a boat. Good luck and hope it is cheap
 
Feel your pain! We have had this happen twice recently and had to go back in on one engine and it's not easy, especially if the wind is blowing you the wrong way. Two weeks ago we had a devil of a job entering our yacht basin and narrowly missed a boat tied alongside a wall that is usually vacant. It was quite scary as we had lost the stdb engine and the wind was really blowing from that direction. Hope the fix is not too expensive for you, ours is a hose so not too bad.
 
Another easy check. Do you have the lanyard engine stop switches? The red coil cord thingy? I have pulled it on accident before, and it took awhile before I realized what I did.
 
Great advice about practicing running on a single screw.
Jason (aka Pyojodge of Aftica fame) got to do this on my boat when the starboard engine would not restart.
I had literately just gotten the boat and would have been calling Tow Boat US if I was on my own. (Thanks Again Jas!)
 
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