New Boat on the way

We tend to look to our engines after four or five seasons. We take the hours into consideration and debate changing. We did almost five seasons with our last motor and even though it was behaving perfectly we decided that a change would be worthwhile, costly, but worthwhile for peace of mind. I would imagine we will be looking at our current engine in four years time and the debate will start again. At that stage we could be looking to take up sailing!!!

I suppose the biggest dread we have is an electrical problem. Looking under the cowl on a modern engine will do little good other than knowing where the fuses are! We don’t even have a fuel line bulb anymore! There are that many sensors on modern motors that a faulty one can disable an otherwise perfect engine. At limp mode or with an aux you are a long way from home.

true. But don't knok having an aux. even the ability to turn a boat into the waves is a huge advantage. When you consider how much we spend a year on boats fuel etc. forking out 500E for a good 2 stroke rebuild is a small price to pay for having a back up. i know a few odds and ends i have learned from sussy engines over the years but that is all i know. What i do know is that when i have ever wanted an aux and it was there i felt it had already paid for itself. I'm not saying i was in danger but just to know it was there and that it saved me a whole lot of hassle and allowed me to avoid any rescue drama it had already paid for itself.

what i often consider is that its one thing making decisions about your boat and what you are comfortable with but when someone else is aboard you have to think about what you are inflicting on them. They are trusting you afterall? Being a long way from home with a 5HP is one thing but at least you have something! not to be scoffed at.

Not all situations take place in open water. To have an engine act up in shallow rough water or around rocks and be drifting and use the anchor excuse is just folly. There are also shipping lanes to consider.I admit putting an auxillary on the long finger in favour of other 'more important' things is something i myself have been very guilty of from time to time and like yourself i have a fairly new engine but i still went a bought an aux last year anyway. I have had a couple of incidents with my last boat when i was delighted to have that little Yamaha!

But don't knok having an aux

not to be scoffed at.

Who knocked, who scoffed? :?

What i mean is being so far out to sea and being too far for an auxillary to be feasable power to get you home :wink: I can see your point and in a way it a very good point. It is also very responsible to take such an attitude to your main engine also but things still tend to happen regardless... You know that as well as me. We have both had egg on our faces as regards being towed... Waiting for the RNLI is all well and good but at the end of the day waiting is exactly what you have to do and a lot can happen in the time it takes to get there... :shock: being at least mobile and not a uncontrolled moving mess being rolled by the waves is very important as far as i am concerned. I am not having a go at anyone but i think having a reliable auxillary is a really good thing to have. Once bought you can get on with things. three months down the road you can forget about the money you spent but a little start every so often to keep things oiled and to be sure its working you can forget about it. You might never need it but unless you are a engine wizzkid then it is a very reasuring thing to have. My old man is great with engines for example and is very capable of sorting faults when they arise but as for myself, i am a lot happier to have the little engine and save myself embaresment in silly situations!

Also, i don't like the idea of having to mobilise the RNLI to come get me in situations that i should have been responsible enough to have been able to sort myself. Those guys don't get paid and they have to drop everything to come and get you. they also rely on donations. They have enough on their plate without having to spend zillions on fuel for their huge boats to come get me when i mess up.

It is my opinion that having a brand new engine can make you very complacent about its ability to function. A perfectly good new engine can also have its faults. I have owned two brand new engines so far and several second/whatever hand engines and even with the 60 Mariner which was brand new i had issues. This can come from damp, water spray, blowing fuses etc. Trapped air in the fuel system also. I sill have vivid memories of coming round Kilmicheal point in HUGE waves with the buzzer blaring and that Shetland going vertical at one point :shock: :lol: I think my hearing was damaged that day :lol:

Also my first real trip out to Dalky island with my first engine a complete dinosaur of a 55HP Chrysler and the impellor disintegrating and the engine overheating just as we cleared really big swells between the island and Dalkey itself! Scary stuff and all with no Aux.

My point is that i have had my fair share of dodgy spots and the above is just some of them. I am a big suporter of little auxillaries god bless their cotton socks :lol:

Also you are quite right about the new four strokes. They are a big blob of techno whatsits. Even the guys up here in OB Marine have told me they hate dealing with them as they are so complicated. I have only really got my head around the two strokes. If something was to happen to the big engine likey i would'nt have a clue :shock:

Once bought you can get on with things. three months down the road you can forget about the money you spent but a little start every so often to keep things oiled and to be sure its working you can forget about it.

Except for me, it's not a case of forgetting about it. I've forgotten about the cost, but for me there is a big overhead in taking it in and out of the garage, in and out of the car and of and on the boat every time you want to go out. Starting it and running it - it should be done regularly, it a pain - you want to get out and get home, not drag your heels test-running the aux. I know what you're saying - but my last boat had no aux, and the engine was dodgy enough that I thought I should have one, but even then, I never actually needed it. With the new Merc EFI, I've even less convinced.

i see what you all are saying about new engines and not needing an aux but any engine can let you down the last 165 i had was fitted with a 80hp yamaha 4stroke and i thought it would never let me down as it was only 2 years old and one day 9 miles out from kilmore it just stopped i was glad to have my 4hp one the back that day as there was no one around to tow us in i don't think anyone should be without one its better to be moving at 4 or 5 knots than not moving all especially in kilmore .well that my opinion anyway.

1 more sleep Kev :lol: :lol:

My aux is actually a shortshaft as well I did manage to swap the plastic mounting board for a hardwood one I had which dropped it another couple of inches, that took the cav plate level with the hull, it's fine when calm, just occasionally cavitates when there is a bit of chop, cured by re-ballasting with bigcol :lol: must admit if I didn't have the van to throw it in, it might well get left at home, they are damn awful things to transport, but seen as I already had it, I might as well use it.

Glad I'm not the only one going down the diy servicing route as well :wink:

That's some mileage you are getting there Neil, I would be well on the way to emptying the second tank for that distance, good going that!

1 more sleep Kev :lol: :lol:

That's some mileage you are getting there Neil, I would be well on the way to emptying the second tank for that distance, good going that!

Yep, 57.6 (land) miles, by the GPS track, minus a couple of drifts, though I'd have to say the conditions were very good. I'd like to see what I could get at a steady and even 4000 rpm for that distance. I must empty what's left of the first tank into the second and then top it up, but I'd be surprised if it was more than 25-26 litres.

Boat never made the ferry on Saturday night... Too much wind and the first mate was worried about possible damage :shock: It shipped last night, but I think it was just as windy..... Hopefully they were spinning me a yarn about the possible damage in the wind....

Picking it up at lunch time....slightly nervous now.

Kev

were you more or less nervous about the boat or the baby? go on be honest :D

hope it went well

any sign of the new baby yet kev ?

[MAC]

Picked her up this afternoon... It's been a while since I towed a boat.... had forgotton they are heavy. :lol:

She is looking good, been out a few times "just for a look". I'll post a pick up tomorrow. Maybe then I'll answer Adams question :lol:

Kev

Last edited by MAC on Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

All the very best with her kev,hope she arrives well,happy hunting,dezzer..........

Anyone on here just get themselves a new raider 18 fisherman. :?: :wink: :wink: .... Nice one at the docks when I was picking up the 16 cuddy. Nice to see the two of them side by side.... My own little boat show :lol:

Kev

Cheers Dezzer. Hopefully there will be a few decent reports up soon.

Kev

Best of luck with it MAC. The Raider is a pretty decent boat. Lets hope we get a decent summer eh? :D

In the drive way at last.

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nice one mac' it's a cracker, 8) 8) very best of luck to you....

It's a beauty Kev, captains hat on route!! :D

Excellent Kev :D The only issue i would have is that they should have put your aerial on the A frame. Silly twats. Also that is a strange frame thay gave you. Its different to mine. Yours has nice mounts for the nav lights. :D You also got the locker seats. I have the pedastal type. If she rides anything like the 18 you will be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks guys...

I was also surprised that the Aerial was not on the A frame.... Might be something to do with the mount obstructing the Starboard Nav light :?: not too sure.. I might have to take a look at moving it sometime in the future. I will also need to move the VHF, as I would have hoped that it would be lounted on the roof, but I didn't ask. I suppose that's what happens if you leave a decision to someone else.

Boarding ladder and Aux Bracket look nice, but I will need to modify the Aux bracket for the short shaft aux. A spacer and some hard wood should do it. I'll measure it up when I get her in the water....

Luke,
I have the 2 x 4 rod holders that you talked about. I was looking at mounting them... Looks like you have to drill through the transom. Something I would like to avoid, and the bolts look a tad short. Did you drill yours in? I was thinking of some silkaflex :?:

Also, Now that I might have to strart moving things around, there will no doubt be a few holes to fill. What is the best way of doing this?

Thanks again lads,

Kev