Everything happens for a reason?
Some people like to believe that all things happen for a reason. I’m not entirely sure about that but I will admit that having that belief might help us to feel better about all that went on yesterday. It all started while Rebecca and I were enjoying our morning coffee. Our intention was to catch the 8:15 AM bridge opening to take our boat inside the Simpson Bay Lagoon. It was only when I was about to get up to change the VHF radio station to pick up the 7:30 AM radio net that I noticed that the time on my computer did not correspond to the clock which Rebecca and I had been referring to. The clock’s battery was obviously on its last legs, causing it to run slow. It was not 7:30 AM as we had thought but was instead actually 8:15 AM right then!
When I looked outside and saw a couple of boats circling, waiting for the bridge to open, I briefly debated having us try to raise anchor quickly and go for it. With memories of our last bridge issue here still way to fresh in my mind, I quickly dismissed that thought and decided that we should relax and wait for the mid-afternoon opening to move the boat. After all, we’re not in any hurry, right?
A few hours later, after blog posts had been written and workouts completed, I proposed the idea that we not enter the lagoon at all yesterday. Instead, we could motor the couple of miles around the corner to anchor at Grand Case, a place which our logbook indicates we anchored for one night before but yet I have no recollection of. Rebecca, who says she does remember the bay, was all for the idea so we got the boat squared away and proceeded to raise anchor. We had only just started to make our way through the anchorage though when our starboard engine stalled. Stalled and could not be restarted. Groan! While we could have easily made it the short distance to Grand Case on one engine, I did not feel it was prudent to leave a safe anchorage without the boat operating 100%. So, what did we do? We turned around, motored back to the same spot and anchored again.
Notes:
- We experienced an engine anomaly during our trip here that I did not mention in yesterday’s post. During one particular squall we had the engines running, trying to hold a course close to the wind. The starboard engine did not seem to be operating properly and when the squall passed, I simply turned it off with thoughts of checking it during the daylight hours. After all, we were sailing and shouldn’t need it for quite some time. When I did check it just prior to entering the bay at Marigot, it seemed to work fine, as it did when I tested it again after we anchored.
- On Saturday night, we listened to a Mayday situation unfold over the VHF radio. Apparently a powerboat had lost its engines and had been washed up on the rocks somewhere, the location was unclear to us. The captain was subsequently rescued by another boater after jumping in the water, or being washed overboard, I’m not sure which. This reinforces my belief that I would much rather be way out to sea with an engine problem than traversing a rocky coast. Or as I said above, safely at anchor!
After some engine troubleshooting, service manual consultations and internet searches, I am of the mind that the engine’s impeller is screwed and needs to be replaced. This is reportedly not an easy job and is one which I have never completed before. Yes, seriously, I have never changed it! The job will involve disconnecting the throttle/shifter cables and electrical wires, pulling the engine out of the well and somehow removing the lower unit, a task which itself has been reported to be tough. I do have impellers on board, and a service kit for the water pump which is also located in the lower unit. I just need to gain access to it.
So, why did I begin this post with the stuff about things happening for a reason?
- If we hadn’t had good wind and had been required to motor sail here, we might not have made it here with a defective engine, or at least not made it here so quickly.
- If we had awoke on time and tried to transit the bridge as we had intended, we might have had an engine failure at a much less opportune time.
- If you’re going to have an engine problem, or any other boat problem for that matter, there is no better place to have it happen than in St. Martin. Parts, repair technicians and I suspect, even brand new engines can be found here.
Final note: Please, please, please… someone come here and start a company to provide Wi-Fi access. For all the services that St. Martin has here, their internet connectivity is in the stone ages! 🙁
Getting the engine out of the well is no easy task.
This shot is from the last time that we had to do it.
looks like getting the engine back in to the well would be even trickier…
Let’s hope not!
nothing to the water pump its just getting to it that’s fun
Yup.
Agree about the St. Martin Internet. Should we ever return, I am thinking about trying a prepaid, refillable USB stick. Probably from Dauphin Telecom. They are about a block north from the main drag, walking away from the ferry terminal past la vie en rose restaurant.
Sooooo…… At the moment, ZTC, One White Tree and Ainulindale are all down 1 engine.
What would be the reason for that? 🙁
Best of luck with your repairs.
Let’s have a race then. First one to have both engines functioning wins a…?
Well, since we may be looking at a mechanic in the next country over, I think we will tap out on this competition. OWT is still working on their issue.
Sad to say that as of 4:55 PM Monday, we haven’t won yet.
As of 5:00 PM Monday One White Tree has two, count’em two, fully functioning engines!!
Thank you, thank you very much.
I owe you a Ting, my friend. You win!!!
I am going to open a Wi-Fi company here!!!!
Wifi &boulangerie/patisserie?
I hate going to shore for wifi. We are at Barnacles right now.
Count your blessing as you repair on deck instead of contorted in the bilge!
Word!
Well if its just the little black rubber impeller that’s easy, providing you take your time on the lower unit bolts. – I’ve done it many times. Not sure how that made it stall – did the engine overheat? And now when running its not pissing out the side? Hate to say this – but the impeller on the other engine is likely the same age.
It was REALLY overheating! And yes, the other one will get changed too, once this one is done.
Good call re. staying put with the bad engine. I have towed boats off the rocks that made the opposite decision. Engines can’t run on prayer.
The impeller’s not as hard a job as it sounds. You’ve done carbs, right? Those are much more difficult than lower unit removal/reinstallation, which (despite its reputation) is a relatively straightforward procedure. The only hard part, I found, was adjusting the shift linkage after putting it back together. Just don’t forget to mark the driveshaft and shift linkage positions when you pull it off, or you’ll have a very fun time getting it lined up for reassembly.
Your advice is a tad late. 🙁
We are having issues getting it reassembled.
Sorry…..:(
Beer?
Yes, please.