Well I sailed (kinda) yesterday

[Frank B.]

Scratched the overnight plan for just a shakedown run, and I guess it was successful in that it revealed a few problems.  Planned to motor the mile to the main lake as the wind was on the nose and I didn't want to beat down a narrow finger, plus wanted to test the motor.  First problem revealed.  The motor, a relatively new (maybe 100 hours over 8 years) Nissan 6HP four stroke sailpro, started on the second pull ran smoothly while I rigged, then ran smoothly at cruise speed for about 20 minutes.  Then it started misssing as in fuel starved, going to full shut down with restart always easy and possible. Fuel is relatively new, ethanol free, and Seafoam treated. At this point I was planning to raise the main anyway, approaching the main lake which would give me a beam reach. Main halyard jammed about a third of the way up, would go no further. I've been having some problems in that area, having to winch up the last third, but not this bad.  So, no motor, only partial sail, and about 200 yards from a stump field.  Come about, used the third of the main on a juryrigged run back to the marina.  About half way there started the motor and it ran fine for the rest of the trip, including low speed tickover to get in my slip.

So the main halyard.  I think it is rigged improperly.  Think the last time I had the mast down I rigged the halyard over the forestay toggle rather than under it, easy to do when rigging on the ground with the toggle off.  Have to take some binocs up to confirm, but if so an easy fix. May rent a tow behind bucket lift for a day so I don't have to drop the mast, have some other high work I need to do at the house.

Motor. Because it is so intermittent with perfect performance in between events, I think it may be fuel line related rather than the motor itself. Much easier to diagnose when the problem is not intermittent. Who knows about these things.

[Riley Smith]

That's what is called "builder's trials" in the industry, where the guy building/ repairing the boat takes it out to make sure it is up to snuff. And it is a good idea. I find that even if I wait a week and have to rig the boat, it takes a little longer than if it has only been a day or two. And if you get the cringles on my sail upside down, you have to take the mast down and start all over. Not fun at all. Yes, I've done it a few times and it isn't hard to do

The motor is a different animal. The best thing to do to a motor is RUN it. That ten minute idle isn't the ticket. Other than that advice, I'm right there with you. I have a need to feel a big fish on the rod so am planning a jaunt somewhere. With that comma tail approaching, no telling what the wind will do. With the lack of rain the saltwater is way up the river, so no telling what I might catch, too. So it may just be a motor boat ride up and down the river.

[noelH]

Your motor likes to stay close to home .

[Captain Kidd]

I feel your pain (and pleasure). Liking my new Honda 2.3. We'll see how long that lasts. As for rigging incorrectly, I once put the boom on upside down and wondered where my fiddle block had gone! Duh!!!!

[Noemi - Ensenada 20]

Intermittent is the worst.

[Frank B.]

Well a good pair of binocs confirmed my fear about the halyard routing, I routed it over the pin that holds the forestay toggle rather than under. Water is way down, so tami lift tracks should be well above that, maybe the marina owner can offer a way to get me up there for ten minutes.  Obviously can't use a bosuns chair, need to reroute the halyards. Worse comes to worse drop the mast which is not terrible except I spent a lot of time fine tuning the rig last time.

BTW, motor has run smooth as glass the last few days AT THE DOCK.

[Wolverine]

BTW, motor has run smooth as glass the last few days AT THE DOCK.

Don't they always?

[Riley Smith]

I believe moisture is the main cause of those hiccups. More specifically, moisture in the fuel. And it doesn't take much. One way I combat this is to keep the tank full, and not leave a vapor space to let moisture laden air in when the temp drops. The Honda has a vent switch to further isolate the motor from the outside air. I also use only non-ethanol and treat it. All to try and eliminate moisture in the soup we breathe.

Another problem can be had with only running the motor for very short durations. Give the thing time to warm up and then run it for a while. I don't like to be awakened when I'm sleeping, either Good luk with it all. God knows I know motor problems and sympathize