Everything that could happen, did happen on this passage...

[@gingerbard2607]

This is my fave sailing channel, mirroring as it does the normal anxieties of the inexperienced sailor. Whilst my engine has never let me down, I often dwell on what my predicament would be if it did; I find some comfort in reminding myself of all the sea-goers who only have an engine and no alternative means of propulsion - that'd be really scary! Bravo for even filming whilst preoccupied with the issues! Like you I've found the wind up there to be very flukey and unreliable - I envy the ocean sailors who often set their sails and then have nothing to change for hours at a time!

[@joandtim]

Yeah its easy to look back from the comfort and home and feel I shouldn't have got so worked up but this was my first solo trip and its intimidating enough without finding yourself drifting with no propulsion so I think I shoudl give myself a break. The winds are certainly weird in the lochs I guess thats the trade off though, more shelter but less consistent winds. Thanks for checking out the video, hope you follow along with the rest of the journey.

[@craiggilchrist6218]

Glad your sticking with your etap, they are Good boats and are dry inside with being double skinned. Great video.👍

[@joandtim]

In the whole I really like the boat and am really happy with her. The engine is a pain but tbh after this incident I didn't have any other issues all summer so can't complain too much.

[@jcfgh]

It looks to me as though you actually had a great time. Lovely weather, no disasters and some sailing. That's as good as it gets. The stress was all concern about whether the engine would work. If you haven't already done so, get a good marine engineer to go over the whole thing, do any work and take it out with him on a seatrial. Whatever it costs is worth it. Sailing is to be enjoyed, not endured. Best wishes. James

[@joandtim]

Yeah looking back it was a fairly entertaining day, had the engine issue not happened I think it wouldnt have been a stressful day. Not sure what my plans for the engine are, on this day I was certain come winter I would throw it over board and get something else but tbh after this it ran flawlessly for the rest of the season so feeling a lot better about it. I would like to get someone to look at it, have struggled to get any recomendations for people locally who are good with these older engines but will ask around more this winter. I agree with the whatever it costs will be worth it, peace of mind on the engine would be priceless but if the money isn't in your account how much you need it is pretty irrelavant. Will keep pluggin on one way or another though.

[@MrMikeydrum]

Loch Ranza has to be my favourite place on the planet could stay there for days

[@joandtim]

Its a pretty epic location and I was blown away by the snorkeling there, definitely going to go back and explore more.

[@SailingInScotland]

I've just found your channel and definitely enjoying. A lot of the time engine problems are actually fuel delivery issues. Check your fuel filters and water separator, you may have growth in your tank. I sail out of Largs and would enjoy meeting up with you sometime.

[@joandtim]

Yeah fuel is the usual culprit but I don't think it is the problem here. No spoilers but this is thankfully the end of the engine dramas for the most part, my best guess is that the engine stop rack/cable stuck in the off position and then worked loose as I tried to get it started. If it was a fuel issue I wouldn't expect the engine to run so flawlesly the rest of the time.

[@pabloblue999]

Great episide. The wind in the Clyde can be challenging - together with engine issues quite frustrating. Once you have confidence in the engine hopefully all will be a lot smoother (apart from rounding the Mull of Kintyre that is rareley smooth!).

[@joandtim]

Next episode will be the Mull, doesn't turn out exactly as hoped but fortunately not quite as dramatic a day as this one.

[@V8guy3500]

Another great vlog well done,I hope you get to the bottom of it.

[@joandtim]

The first part of the trip has certainly been pretty drama filled on the engine front but thankfully things do settle down from here on

[@SteveParker-e8r]

I had the same engine and the same problem. It’s most likely the fuel rack sticking. The fuel rack is put to zero position when you pull the stop cable. It can stick on restart. If you pull the stop lever a little without stopping the engine it tickles the fuel rack and gets it going back to normal. Also had water in the oil, thought it was head gadget and stripped accordingly it was actually the raw water pump seal leaving into the sump.

[@joandtim]

Yeah I think you may have hit the nail on the head here. The fuel rack being stuck in the off position makes sense as the engine runs perfectly when its running which makes a fuel issue less likely. I think it stuck and as I was turning it over it worked itself back to the run poistion and then started. Obvioulsy no way to know unless it happens again, but will certainly be the first thing I check if I have any other problems.

[@SteveParker-e8r]

@ Hi, you can see the fuel rack position with the engine running by removing an access plug at the rear of the engine. The plug is about a1 I inch diameter. It’s at a level just below the two injector pumps. The pumps have a pin that sits in the rack. Moving the rack moves the pump pin which in turn turns fuel pressure on and off. Effectively the throttle cable is indirectly connected to the fuel rack if you gently push in or pull out the engine will either accelerate or stop. It only moves about a 1 cm in total. While I hear your concern and frustration and lack of confidence in the engine once you know how it ticks its fantastically simple with no electronic trickery that you can never fathom. My VP had had the injector pumps removed at some time and when refitted the pin was not correctly positioned in the rack and bent it causing it to bind. I assume you are familiar with the cold start procedure pulling the stop lever while at the full throttle position. This effectively allows more fuel by advancing the rack for a cold start.

[@joandtim]

@@SteveParker-e8r Thanks steve, thats really useful info and context, I have the old engine still so will probably take a look at it on that one to help me understand it. Also yes know about the cold start method, ironically I've never had to use it as the engine.... usualy.... starts fine

[@SteveParker-e8r]

@ Brilliant so you can take from that compression is good, only other thing left is fuel and as long as pumps are all ok there’s nothing else to go wrong.

[@SailingSula]

always stressful when your engine isn't working properly, hope you made it round the mull ok... 👍

[@joandtim]

That will be the next episode, was a bit stressful thankfully, no spoilers, but the drama of the last few videos does start to settle so we can start enjoying the beautiful cruising of the west coast.

[@SailingSula]

@ look forward to that

[@mrangry01]

The visitor moorings are laid by North Ayrshire Council and free

[@joandtim]

Yeah looked into it again, they are technically free with a requested donation of £20, I would want to chip in if I was going to use their gear but as it turned out anchoring worked out fine

[@mrangry01]

Check fuel filter

[@joandtim]

Yeah did all the fliters and lines but I think its more likely to do with the fuel/stop rack getting stuck as it runs flawlesly for the rest of the season after this.