I also suffer from engine anxiety after dealing with unreliable diesel operation over about 2 years, during which time it would quit, usually immediately restart, run for several minutes or several hours and then quit, repeat, etc. The most recent fix (electric fuel pump x2, switchable) with the lift pump bypassed entirely has kept it running regularly for 2+ years. As a result of my post diesel failure anxiety (PDFA!), I can’t bring myself to call this fix the ‘last fix’. I consider it only a long pause before the next failure of some system on board. On the plus side, I know my way around my diesel almost as well as my mechanic and have proven to my crew that I am capable of ALL routine engine maintenance while underway or drifting depending on the breeze! Charlie NelsonWater Phantom1995 C&C 36/XL/kcb
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS On Monday, June 12, 2023, 1:47 PM, David Knecht via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Thanks for all the thoughts and stories. The engine has run fine now for many hours since that incident, so I am going to ignore it for now. You can’t fix a problem that happens once and doesn’t repeat. To answer some questions: M4-30 diesel, new Racor unit and filters, some new fuel lines. I have a pressure gauge on top of the Racor, so I know if filters are clogged and they are not. Like Chuck, I have an electric fuel pump which eliminates a bunch of possible causes. If the problem recurs, I will deal with it, but motoring most of the way to Block Island and back with no trouble easies my mind. However, I have to say, I will never be fully comfortable or trusting of engines in general. Whenever I have a long motoring to do, I am never happy or confident in my engine. I guess that’s why I have a sailboat and sail it most of the time. Dave S/V Aries1990 C&C 34+New London, CT On Jun 11, 2023, at 12:24 PM, Bill Coleman via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Let's just be thankful we're not flying airplanes! Bill Coleman On Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 09:42 Korbey Hunt via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: I have a 1980 34 C&C located in Ketchikan, AK. I only use it in the summer. It has a new Yanmar 30 hp engine with 300 hrs. Last year when returning from a long cruise at good speed and running well for many hours the engine suddenly slowed and died. We were in a channel and began drifting towards the beach. After a few minutes I restarted the motor and it ran fine. I suspect a fuel problem but never found the cause. I changed the engine filter but it did not look dirty. Get Outlook for AndroidFrom: Martin DeYoung via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2023 10:24:48 PM To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Martin DeYoung <martin.deyo...@outlook.com> Subject: Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness Transitory engine issues can create drama quickly. Back in 1992 we had just taken possession of a 1981 C&C 36 and departed Seattle's Lake Union heading out to our saltwater moorage at Shilshole Bay Marina. This trip takes us west through the Lake Washington Ship Canal, under the Fremont and Ballard Bridges (needed to open them), and through the Ballard locks. The Ship Canal is narrow enough that it is rare to sail through it. It was also calm that day. The engine ran just fine through the transit to and into the locks (approx. first hour of ownership). It is common to shut down the engine while locking through as it can take enough time to expose a few people to the exhaust fumes. So, the lock gates open, the C&C 36's Yanmar 3-cylinder diesel fires up and aidedby the outgoing current we departed the lock. Now it worth noting there is an opening single leafed Bascule train bridge with a clearance of +-48' at that moment's tide height a short distance west of the lock. Our 36's air draft was a little over 50'.Given how the gods watching over errant sailors enjoy a good laugh from time to time the engine chooses that moment to shut down. It shut down in that way that indicates a restart is unlikely. The train bridge is also down. The current coming out of the locks is relentlessly pushing us towards the closed bridge. I am suddenly very concerned for the top few feet of the mast. I immediately sounded the signal asking for an opening. I asked the boat's new co-owner to make ready to anchor. I hit the starter to see if the engine would restart. It sputtered and died again. I sounded for an opening again. Nothing promising was happening up on the bow in way of an anchor being deployed. I attempted another restart this time with the reduction gear in reverse to make use of any rotation of the prop. I get maybe 15 to 20 seconds of run time which slowed our progress slightly. The bridge operator made the horn signal indicating he was able to open the bridge, no trains were in route. I headed for the side of the bridge that opens first and hit the starter again hoping for another few seconds of reverse. Fortunately, the bridge opened just enough and our path close to the opening end of the bridge equaled just enough clearance the mast remained intact, and we avoided an embarrassing episode where we would have needed to "strike the burgee", obscure the boat's name, and wear bags over our heads to avoid being identified. The cause of all this entertainment was debris in the fuel tank blocking the fuel pick-up. We hired a fuel tank cleaner/polisher who cut a inspection port removed the debris, cleaned the tank, polished the fuel and voila, no more fuel pick up issues. Fast forward to 1999 and I am motoring our recently acquired C&C 43 along the same route. When the truck from Chicago arrived, we had her unloaded at a Lake Union boat yard. After 3 months of repair and upgrade work the boat was ready to leave but the mast was still in the paint shed so we motored off without a mast. Didn't need to open any bridges and was relaxed about restarting in the locks and heading west. (The anchoring gear was ready to go this time.) When we got to our Shilshole Bay Marina slip I contacted the fuel cleaning guy and had the tank thoroughly cleaned and the fuel polished to be ready for my next trip with the mast up and its 70' air draft. Martin DeYoungCalypso1971 C&C 43Port Ludlow/Seattle Greta1956 Matthews 42Port LudlowFrom: David Knecht via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2023 12:47 PM To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: davidakne...@gmail.com <davidakne...@gmail.com> Subject: Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness So the problem has not recurred in several hours of motoring over a few days so i am going to write it off as launch day blues. No water in separator. Fuel pressure gauge normal. I cant see that i can do anything about it unless it keeps happening. Thanks for the ideas. Dave Sent from my iPhone On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:41 AM, Dreuge via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: I once had a similar engine issue. It would run fine one day (or half) and constant stall upon or shortly after restarts. It turned out that my Racor was not full tightened. Easy fix once found. - Paul E.1981 C&C Landfall 38 S/V Johanna Rose Fort Walton Beach, FL http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ On Jun 9, 2023, at 11:27 AM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 7:22 AM David Knecht via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: I am out for the first time this season. Engine started right up. Motored out of harbor for two hours. Turned engine off for a while waiting for wind. Started back up. Ran for 15-30 sec and died. Started up and ran for a bit longer then died. Pulled bed to get access and fuel pressure and level in racor look fine. Started up and ran fine for 40 min. WTF? Dave Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu
