Shakedown Cruise is a success, but needed a tow!

[Wayne J]

Wouldn't you know it!  First time I put my new old CP19 in the water, I needed a tow!  She sailed just fine 'til the wind died to complete utter calm.  So we started the nifty 2002 Honda 8 hp outboard to get us back to the West Point VA boat ramp. 

The outboard engine ran fine for 5 minutes and sputtered out on us.  She would re-start once she cooled off only to cut off again and again when she heated up.  So we anchored and started looking for other boaters--   and realized we were the only boat out on the York River.

Long story short, we got a tow the next morning!  Have many of you experience the perfect combination of the elements that leave you totally helpless?

Next item on my checklist----  Get the Honda outboard to a repair shop for  complete diagnostic review and repair.

Wayne

[Mas]

Hey Wayne, glad you picked yesterday as today would have been zero fun!

A lot of folks drain the engine at end of season by letting it run out of fuel while running, but this always leaves a bit in the bottom of the carb bowl where it does a great job of varnishing it over the off season. When you put new fuel in it it dissolves all of the yuck and will run for a little bit then sputter and die. Don't know if this might be your scenario.

Gunna have to get you down to our little marina sometime and we'll go out! Goggle Regent Point Marina. West Point is only 15-20 minutes from us here on the Rappahannock. If you plan to attend CBMWG 2.0 will be glad to show you our cruising grounds. OBTW, did you pay Bob23 the requisite fees? If not that may explain the engine not working.

[Salty19]

Wayne,

This happens to all us at one time or another.  I think it was three seasons ago when I launched and just backed away from the ramp when the engine died. This was the only time our trusty Yamaha 8hp failed me.  Bad fuel line bulb, it must have cracked over the winter, and I didn't have a spare with me.  It had managed to pump enough gas to start the motor and run for a few minutes, then I squeezed it more and the crack must have opened up because it would not pump any more fuel.  I didn't have any sails or the boom rigged either, I was "just motoring to the slip".  Famous last words!

Thankfully the wind blew me right into the closely marina and the admiral and I were able to move the boat along the docks to the correct slip without incident.

After this happened, I vowed to always launch the boat fully rigged as I had no sails or boom mounted to easily sail to where I needed to go.  And I carry a spare fuel line that is kept UV protected.

I don't count the time that the bow line had fallen off the boat and the line got caught in the prop.  That was not easy to untangle while onboard!   
Note:  Cut your bow line to be just shy of the length to foul the prop! 

As for your motor, most of the time the carb just needs to be cleaned.  It won't hurt to change the spark plug and rebuild the fuel pump either. 
If you have any skills working on stuff, these are all pretty easy DIY tasks...

[thomeng55]

-  Get the Honda outboard to a repair shop for  complete diagnostic review and repair.

Hi Wayne

Sounds like a problme I had with my outboard once.  Took me a while to figure out but I ended up changing the Fuel filter, drained the fuel lines, and getting rid of some skunk gas.  Solved the entire issue and she ran great after that.

Just a "cheaper" thought

Tom

[Finbar Beagle]

Wayne,

I have lived that, and now I am a Torqeedo electric convert.  I use a 1003 long shaft, and carry a spare battery.  It was expensive, but it hasn't left me stranded yet.  It moves my CP 19mk 2 well so far, but still untested in heavy weather. 

Good advice above on the Honda maintence.

For me the minimal maintenance for the Torqeeo is the key.  I am a killer of gas outboards.

Regards and good luck with your 19.

[philb Junkie19]

A mostly clogged fuel tank vent could cause that kind of problem. You my want to run it with a loosened cap or bring the tank along with the motor for the check out.

[rogerschwake]

  One other idea would be to change the spark plug, a cheep fix if it works. I try to change the plug every year, a couple bucks and your ready for another year with no problems. Always put leftover gas in the truck and start with new fuel in the spring.

ROGER

[Citroen/Dave]

Wait a minute.  Does you gas can have a vent valve?  If it does, be certain to open it before pulling the string.  Otherwise, a vacuum will form stopping the flow of fuel.

[Wayne J]

Thanks for all the tips and good ideas..   I will bring my gas tank along with the outboard to the repair shop!

Wayne

[Wayne J]

Just got the Honda 8 hp back from the repair shop.  Turned out to be the impeller (all fins gone), thermostat stuck open and heat sensor broken.  He also changed the gear lube.

Next time I'm gonna tackle this maintenance myself!!!   $$$$$$$$$

[moonlight]

I'm late to the dance again, work has kept me way too busy.
I was surprised to see the number of sailors talking about your fuel system, when it was clear that it restarted every time and ran until it got hot.
I hope your mechanic did a cold and hot compression test too; because you did repeatedly run that poor sucker til it got so hot it swelled up and lost compression or some other factor tof cause it to quit.  A very close and careful inspection of the head gasket is in order.
Impellers are annual items folks, unless you enjoy unscheduled overnights on the water. I let some customers go to three years but none more than that.  It also makes it harder to change and bolts that should be free tend to size.
Find and follow Moonlight Marine Inc on Facebook; I'm trying to be better at posting some of the stoopid stuff we find.  Like the oil filter that took 2 hours to release yesterday  (and ate a $200 oil pressure sending unit in the process)...