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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Outboard engine emergency kit

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5372 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/08/2012 : 18:38:05

What do you keep in your outboard engine (and gas tank & line) emergency kit? Pins, filters, gaskets, bolts, clips, special tools, spark plug?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

Novi
1st Mate

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Canada
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Response Posted - 01/08/2012 : 19:25:42

Now that you mention it - It never occurred to me to have one. The one time I had motor trouble I just used the big white backups attached to the mast (hehe).

Seriously though, I'm not confident enough with the engine to attempt repairs while under way. Last summer my engine went to the doctor for a week and I just sailed on and off the mooring. So my question back to you: what kind of motor repairs can a squarely "non-mechanic" sailor perform under way and what tools/parts are practical to have on board?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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Response Posted - 01/08/2012 : 20:55:17

So, as you guys may know I ended up with a nasty engine problem last season and ended up doing "repair" work on the water. Here's what I carry with me:

Spare spark plugs (2)
Emergency starter rope (1) (came with Tohatsu)
1/4" socket set with 6" extension (had to purchase separately) to be able to remove carburetor. Otherwise you can't get to the bolt behind the air cleaner (learned this the hard way).
Same socket set can be used to remove the three (I think) bolts to get to the emergency pull starter (never had to use it, the regular pull start has never failed).
Small slotted screw driver, small enough to be able to remove all the jets from the carburetor (purchased purely for this reason).
Pair of vise clamps to clamp off hoses if you need to, I use the needle nose type, but I've got several sizes in my tool box.
Standard & Philips screw drivers to operate hose clamps, or what have you.
There's a set of extra pins that came with the outboard, but I also keep stainless steel wire in the tool box so I can make jury rigged pins, keepers, etc.
Spark plug wrench (I think one came with the outboard, but I've used a Crescent wrench on the water, unpleasant, but do-able) A dedicated wrench is much-much better.

That's all I can think of off hand, but I have a lot more stuff in my tool kit that's not specific to working on the engine.

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Sloop Smitten
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 08:56:05

Most of what Dave mentions I keep in my regular on-board tool set so I do not keep a separate set for the outboard. I change my plugs yearly so the old ones go in the tool box as spares. I also keep a a spray can of carburetor cleaner to clean jets if needed or to use as starter fluid. One other thing I keep is a couple of twist-ties with wires like those that come with trash bags. You can use the twist ties for lots of things but outboard specific you can strip the paper off the tie and use the wire to clean a plugged jet. The small diameter of the wire works well for this. I also keep a spare fuel line and bulb int the fuel locker.

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Prospector
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Canada
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 09:08:14

Our engine issues underway have been limited to the pull-start coming apart, the fuel line being pinched, the fuel line being disconnected, and the transmission refusing to go into reverse.

When the pull-start blew up we simply put a line on the flywheel and gave a pull.

For all the others we either fixed the problem by moving the fuel line or sailed into the emergency dock, or got a tow from a friend. Losing the engine is not nearly as critical as losing a rudder or tiller. I keep a spare rudder mounted on the forward wall of the bulkhead (OK, its the table, but could be bolted to the tiller in an emergency. I'm not sure how I would connect it to the gudgeons, or how long it would last.) We keep a spare tiller in the aft berth.

Damages to sails don't really represent an emergency either since we have 7 onboard.

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John Russell
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 09:54:45

My emergency kit is in the form of towing insurance. My mechanical abilities are limited to simple things like fuel filter changes, spark plug replacement, etc. That's coupled with the difficulty of a short guy hanging over the stern attempting to replace a fuel filter on the aft side of the motor.

I also practice the occasional sail into a dock just in case.

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 09:57:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Sloop Smitten
 I change my plugs yearly so the old ones go in the tool box as spares.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My first boat came to me with a Johnson outboard that started on the first pull and it ran like a top despite having the original, factory installed, twenty year old spark plugs which upon inspection looked great. My current 17 year old Mercury might be on either it's second or third set and it too is a first puller and keeps on ticking.

Spark plugs are relatively cheap so replacing them yearly would not be a cost issue, but I'd only replace them if they started showing signs of wear or were experiencing spark related issues. I keep a new pair on the boat just in case, but they may stay in the drawer for years.

Edited by - dlucier on 01/09/2012 09:59:08

JohnP
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 10:16:36

Outboard engine emergency kit: Sea Tow

Sailing back into my slip is possible under some wind conditions.

Backup emergency measure: Rowing the boat at 1 knot (in a dead calm) with a 14-foot wooden oar. I've only practised with this "sweep" that I carved out of an 8-foot 2x8 with a 9-foot aluminum pole extension, but never got to use it for real. Rowing on one side like a Venetian gondolier was pretty easy, and controlling the tiller with my legs keeps the boat going straight.

Backup-backup emergency measure: One night at midnight I had to inflate my plastic dinghy and tow the C-25 in to the dock after the impeller in my outboard failed, and there was no wind at all. This happened before I paid for Sea Tow. It was incredibly hard!

Edited by - JohnP on 01/09/2012 10:36:56

pastmember
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 10:37:19

a paddle

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islander
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 13:27:33

JohnP beat me to it with the SeaTow.
Spark plugs
Spare prop, Nut,washer,cotter pin
Spare CDI unit
Pull start assembly(The whole housing)
Complete set of tools
Fuel line,Clamps
Wire,wire connectors, wire pliers, ,zip ties,electrical tape.
Removing and dis-assembly of the carb out in a boat bouncing around in 2ft seas isn't going to happen. A sure way to be buying a new carb so If it turned out to be a clogged carb I would then call SeaTow. I have 2 fuel filters, One I put on the bottom of the pick-Up tube in the tank and the other is on the engine. I never run the gas tank down more than half. There's Probably more junk that I can't think of right now. I'm a little overboard when it comes to the engine because nothing can ruin a nice day like engine problems.

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 15:14:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 I'm a little overboard when it comes to the engine because nothing can ruin a nice day like engine problems.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Don't look at it as being without an engine, but rather extending your sailing time.

When I first got into sailing, the thought of losing the use of the outboard weighed heavily on me, but after having to come in a few times sans motor, it has become something I'm not too concerned about anymore.

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PCP777
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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 15:23:17

My engine failed on Saturday, had a C-27 tow me out, then sailed her back in. Greased the docking. Having some of these items would be a good idea.

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islander
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 16:39:46

Don, I guess it really depends on where you dock and how much boat traffic you have. For me sailing to my slip would be next to impossible. I would have to sail in past the mooring field, Down the little canal to the Marina that is to the right in the photo, Make a right turn into the second narrow fairway, Down about half way then a left turn into my slip. There are over 600 boats in here so on any given weekend your butt to nose with other boats all coming and going. I would also have to pass the fuel dock with usually 3-4 boats sideways in the canal all trying to hold position while they wait their turn. It would be ugly. But it is a great Hurricane hole.

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John Russell
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 17:27:50

Scott, you might want to think about an alternative anding spot in the event of motor failure. Anyplace (fuel dock, restaurant, neighboring marina, etc.) nearby. I think that every sailor should be able to sail into a dock. When I learned to sail some years ago, the sailing school's boats (C25's and others) didn't even have motors. Just a very tight basin protected by a breakwall/dock that we had to enter and tie up to. Great skill to have.

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 19:02:05

Actually, Scott, that doesn't look all that bad for sailing in and is somewhat similar to my venue in that I have a narrow, dredged channel to stay within before entering my marina.

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 19:37:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 Outboard engine emergency kit: Sea Tow

Sailing back into my slip is possible under some wind conditions.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If you can sail in pretty close (1/2 mile or less) to the marina you can work you're way into the marina and a dock by starting the motor and accelerating for 10-15 seconds then shutting off the motor and coasting as far as you can. Then repeat. When you coast with the motor off, some (not much), water will be forced through the cooling system.

Since the motor is only running for a few seconds at a time this will keep the motor relatively cool (shouldn't overheat if done right) and still get you at least to an emergency dock.

Edit: This will only work if the impeller is bad. If the thermostat is stuck closed you'd do best to call Sea Tow or Tow Boat US

Edited by - GaryB on 01/09/2012 20:18:45

Voyager
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Response Posted - 01/09/2012 : 19:48:04

Wow, I've been thinking about this question for a while. I am pleased and surprised by the response.

I was thinking about a cotter pin holding on the propeller, the spark system or the shear pin for the flywheel.

I noticed the pin holds on a nut, and if the pin fell out, the nut would work itself free and lose the propellor. So I guess I should check it before going out.

Another thing I wonder about is whether the spark coil or condenser would go out.

I've hit logs and deadwood with the prop, and worried about the flywheel shear pin breaking off.

I had the fuel connector go bad one day. The engine would run for a little while, then it would die. Air was getting into the fuel system, so if I pumped the fuel bulb, the carb bowl would fill up enough to run for a while. But then the carburetor would run dry again. I happened to be entering a busy port area, so it was touch and go for a while.

I'm wondering what else can go wrong?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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Response Posted - 01/13/2012 : 14:56:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If you can sail in pretty close (1/2 mile or less) to the marina you can work you're way into the marina and a dock by starting the motor and accelerating for 10-15 seconds then shutting off the motor and coasting as far as you can. Then repeat. When you coast with the motor off, some (not much), water will be forced through the cooling system.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This may well be a viable idea if your impeller has kicked the bucket. When I tried this idea when my outboard wouldn't idle below about 2k a while back, I was pretty worried about hurting my gear box by shifting in and out at speed. While I was able to motor into a dock close to my marina, I opted for a tow to get into the marina itself. I didn't want to try to make the three 90 degree turns in quick succession while going 4-4.5 knots. Fortunately my marina manager was able to tow me in with a dinghy and making the landing was pretty easy.

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