Adam F Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 (edited) It was one of those days, the alarm goes of at 5am and looking out of the window its pitch black and everything is white, I pop out to start the car and warm it through and it shows minus 7c.... brrrrrr I decided to get down to the boat 30 mins before the crew to get her warmed up and defrosted, but despite 30 mins of trying the pig wouldnt start, anyway, Alun and Gord turn up and I not happy....another 20 mins of trying and despite starting it keeps cutting out. I tell the boys to unload and the trip is off....I'm pissed off by now, bloody new engine.... anyway, Ive locked the door and last job is to turn off the fuel feed...... ah..... that'll be the problem them - I thought I was turning it on at 6.30am, infact it was already on and in the pitch black I couldnt see so had turned it off. Dufus... Anyway, Ice Breaker mode on and cracked through at least 1" of ice and into the harbour. Door shut in the warm and 20 mins later we settle onto an inshore bank for a few cheeky whiting. All in all the day was slow with about a dozen whiting and the odd doggy - still it was a nice morning to be out. Time to go, so engine on, tackle away, anchor in and we are off to catch the tide and get back on the potoon for 1pm.....then the engine alarm comes on and the power drops of. I shut the engine down, but now it wont start and the buzzer of going, plus we are drifitng at 2 knots towards Portland. She isnt going to start, so a few quick calls and thank God Humphrey answers a call on 72 - well god bless him, he winds in straight away, and even though I dont know him that well, is alongside within 10 mins with a rope. Top man. Anyway, we get back only to find no water, so we do the only thing more boring than flounder fishing - not fishing at all for 2 hours until we have water - Humphrey then comes back and tows us to our berth. Bob came down to help us get the last few meters in. I'm pissed because a 12k engine with 9 hours on the clock should'nt do this, but hey - I'm a realist and many new engines have teething problems - better now when its new than on a bigger trip in the summer. A call to Salterns on Monday is now the next step. Some days you wish you should have stayed in bed! PS; I know Humphrey doesnt get on the forum, so if anyone who knows him does, please pass on our sincere thanks - a real gentleman and the saviour of the day. These rescues are becoming a bit regular, but mt heart sank at the thought of a call to Portland CG - having a fellow angler / boater to help if worth its weight in gold. Edited January 10, 2009 by Adam F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Adam I really feel for you as I know all to well that heart sinking feeling Good luck on Monday Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Hi Adam /Bob Gutted for you guys, glad you got back in OK, sorry I could not help more. Well done Humphrey and the Ow Much crew. As I also have a D series Volvo I am very interested in the outcome. Good luck on Monday Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 What a great club ........and extended group of friends\colleagues that share and support each others' interests! Thanks again to Humph. and Neal on 'Ow Much' for the comarderie...........not just the tow in but the care and support that got us back to the mooring\pontoon.... and filled us in on all the gossip\chat whilst waiting for the tide! Commiserations to Adam and Bob.........a real bummer to be let down by new equipment!.........the computer said 'No'!! ...........and we want to know 'Why?'. A few whiting were hardly any recompense..........but it had been a nice morning till then! Thanks for the trip Adam, I hope you feel recovered soon, Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DommyBoy Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I was out early sat morning but back on the slip by 11, I had engine problems too but only 1st thing but I reckon this was because it was rediculously cold and the engine wasnt to keen on playing ball in those conditions either. ANyway we eventually got out to xray after breaking 2" of ice in mudeford quay around the slip for a few measly LSD's.....agree fella's I should have stayed in bed too as now need to rebuild my browny points! Glad you guy's got in safely and hope the boat is up and running soon. Will call it a day for the boat now until the spring and Ill concentrate on a bit of piking/chubbing on the rivers for a couple of months! Dom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 for a few measly LSD's..... and you couldn't even land one of those u blanker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Moore Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Thanks for the trip Adam. Like you say any engine can have the odd teething problems. Humphrey was a star, coming accross half way through his fishing trip. Let's hope they find the issue quickly and you are back out again Regards Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Update: Turned out to be quite trivial..... Salterns were very helpful, a call yesterday morning had James and Martin on the boat at 11am this morning, a quick explination of the problem and they looked up the fault code on the Volvo's EVC (onboard computer) a quick check of the workshop manual revealed it to be 'low fuel presure', a quick check, a bleed of the pump and a few minutes of cranking and pumping and she fired - the fault went away and she is all back to normal. It seems the cranking in the morning and the fact the fuel level was low and sloshing around may have caused a small air lock - causing the sensor to detect low fuel pressure and shut the engine down in safe mode. We had been keeping the fuel low as we need to fix the fuel sender which hasnt worked from new, and the tank needs to come out for that. Anyway - a few lessons learnt. How to find the fault code on the EVC (OEM mode - Faults - Fault codes) that we need to get a workshop manual to decifer the codes and what they mean, and finally that keeping a good head of fuel in the tank is essential (FWIW - we had 25ltrs in the tank, but that only equated to about 3" in the bottom) All part of learning the engine I guess. The D-Series do seem to be great engines, and some of their strengths is the EVC system, but it can also be a hinderance as they have a rep. for being very 'sensitive'..... must be a female engine! Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 That's a relief then!! I'm surprised it wouldn't restart and operate in'Safe ' mode to get us home. As you said, a few lessons learnt. ............and glad all is well. Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Good news to hear its all sorted, that's what these shake down cruises are all about! I'm looking forward to mine in two weeks time Gordon H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thats good news Adam Although you needed a tow at least there should be no damage to the Volvo and your nice new boat. My sender has also played up from new, it was changed recently and now at least it reads, even if a little high. I have direct access to the top of my tank through the filler so I have monitored the fuel by dipstick. I do not keep it full because of the weight, but maintain it well above half full. See you out there when the weather allows Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shytalk Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 I have direct access to the top of my tank through the filler so I have monitored the fuel by dipstick. I do not keep it full because of the weight, but maintain it well above half full. nothing to do with the price of diesel then ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) Edited January 13, 2009 by Adam F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Hi Peter It was very full on Nov 1st and although it did not make a lot of differance you could feel it. I now keep her about 2/3 she holds 450 ltrs, and did the Alderney trip last May all three days without a need to top up during the trip, [had about a day to spare] every delivery is getting cheaper so its not just costs, that said when every delivery was getting dearer I kept her full Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) Q - does fuel weigh the same as water? A - nope! A quick google shows that fuel weights 3/4 the weight of water. Google also shows that a gallon of fuel weights 6.1lbs... so charlies tank is 98 gallons - 600lbs of fuel when full - running her 3/4 fuel saves circa 150lbs.. quite a bit when only 'inshore' fishing. Edited January 13, 2009 by Adam F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shytalk Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 pardon me for being picky but when i did my maths o level 3/4 of 600 was 150 not 300 which by my calculations is 1 more paying customer oon the boat by weight !!!!!!!! get it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) You are pardoned..... However that is true...... Edited January 13, 2009 by Adam F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 pardon me for being picky but when i did my maths o level 3/4 of 600 was 150 not 300 which by my calculations is 1 more paying customer oon the boat by weight !!!!!!!! get it any skipper working to 150lb per customer is going to sink pretty quick with this lot......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djredrupp Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 pardon me for being picky but when i did my maths o level 3/4 of 600 was 150 not 300 and when i did A level maths (currently....) , 3/4 of 600 ltrs is 450 ltrs.... 1/4 is 150 2/4 is 300 3/4 is 450 4/4 is 600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 Its all food for thought Alfresco seems to handle the extra weight well, in the weather that we choose to try and fish in. After launching we sea trialed her to check we had the correct props, she was at 100% Fuel [100 Gal] 100% water [20 Gal] 3 spare anchors, tools, oils etc onboard together with a crew of 5. Aim was to set her up as close to her operating weight as possible. keeping the tank at 2/3 seems to more than compensate for any additional weight added in her first year. And the additional weight added to the crew by making use of the fitted galley and guests cooking abilities The slime on her hull makes a lot more differance than filling her fuel tank. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 yep - amazing how all the 'little things' impact on performance. on the day the boat's delivered with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 anyone with a wet berth. more gear goes onboard than comes off - every single trip! Not just a wet berth, I have recently emptied Fugazi completely and filled a garden summer house with the contents! Unbelievable how much rubbish had accumulated in 4 years so I will have to be very choosey about what goes back on board this season. Do I really need >10kg of spare fishing weights and enough pots and pans to start a restaurant, 200mtrs of rope, etc, etc? Gordon H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 I have direct access to the top of my tank through the filler so I have monitored the fuel by dipstick. I too have a dipstick on my boat but he won't fit through the hole........ Glad all turned out well for you Adam and crew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 You are spot on GW used to get a bit slower towards the end of a season, but on bringing her ashore I used to have to make two trips with a granada estate to get all the gear home. I always vowed to carry less but eventually it worked its way back onboard When I put her on the market and took all the extras and spares off, her performance was almost as good as when launched each spring and she had been afloat 9 months. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britboard Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) Q - does fuel weigh the same as water? A - nope! A quick google shows that fuel weights 3/4 the weight of water. Google also shows that a gallon of fuel weights 6.1lbs... so charlies tank is 98 gallons - 600lbs of fuel when full - running her 3/4 fuel saves circa 150lbs.. quite a bit when only 'inshore' fishing. Sorry to be picky again You guys are all running on Diesel which has an average specific gravity of 0.91 depending on the grade and can go as high as 1.08SG if it contains certain additives therefore. 98 gallons at 0.91SG = 743.76lbs Simon L P.S. aren't you a quantity surveyor Adam Edited January 14, 2009 by britboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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