You know what they say...

pilot2fly

New Member
Mar 10, 2014
103
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Boat Info
2001 290 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 5.0L Mercruisers with Bravo III drives
A bad day on the water is better than a good day at the office.

So we left Scotts Hill today to get fuel at Wrightsville Beach, which is about a 20-25 minute drive via boat. All was well, we got fuel, and left Wrightsville. Right before I throttled up to get on plane, right engine cuts off. Won't restart. Made sure right throttle was in neutral, still no luck and wouldn't even turn over. Turns out, the right engine gear lube reservoir was empty. We knew there was a leak somewhere in the bilge for a couple of days, and found that it was leaking when we were getting gas. We think its just the reservoir itself leaking and that nothing major is happening (we hope, planning to have the mechanic look at it). So we limped back home on just the left engine. Boy, was it a long ride at 6.5 MPH!

Anyway, snagged a few pictures. Enjoy!

Refueling



A Sundander 260 looking to get gas. Dock was full. He ended up taking our spot after we left.



 
Bad day on the water turned out to be a new motor for us...hope yours is a lot easier than that.
 
Nice boat. Looks like the 3 of us that have one showed up here. I'm surprised it's not a more popular model.
 
I hope for you and your family it isn't something worse. Mine like AFD is a new engine. Splashed the boat in June and a week later it is in dry dock getting a new engine.
 
Well the good news is we got more gear fluid. The engine tried to crank, but never would turn on. Something somewhere is preventing it from actually starting. And on top of that, the up solenoid on the left engine isnt working, so obviously it won't go up! Getting a mechanic to come out this week.
 
The drive not trimming up is usually a trim sender. It's a $50 plastic part on the out drive that will probably cost a couple hundred to have replaced.

Try using the trailer up switch just in front of the throttles. See if that works.
 
The drive not trimming up is usually a trim sender. It's a $50 plastic part on the out drive that will probably cost a couple hundred to have replaced.

Try using the trailer up switch just in front of the throttles. See if that works.

Ah, I see. I'll try the trailer up next time I'm down. We officially don't think the gear lube has anything to do with the right engine not starting. Our marina owner and mechanic are coming down to the boat tomorrow morning to inspect it and figure out what's wrong. Cross your fingers that it's not something major!
 
I keep gear lube and motor oil on board. The bottle leak is quite common, you can normally tell because of the drips and feeling the underside of it.
 
Got the call today. Turns out it's just a bad ignition coil. Very relieved. They said they think it is indeed the up solenoid not working, which is why the left engine won't go up. That might not get fixed until next week. The coil is supposed to be changed out tomorrow.
 

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