PremierPOWER

We had a rough trip home from the New Year’s day fun run!

Bob, thank you so much for running up to Sanibel to meet us – it was a real thrill to run solo with the “Big Gun”. I certainly enjoyed meeting some more of the members and I am really looking forward to meeting more!

Well, we broke down about a quarter of the way up Charlotte Harbor, or so we thought. Port engine lost power similar to when the Smart Craft system lowers the rev limiter. We make a bunch of quick checks for alarms, gas gauge showed just less than a quarter, digital showed 28 or so gallons, no alarms….engine flames out….we restart and run several minutes same thing. Ok, we re-route to Burnt Store marina everything seems fine….boat off plane…new fuel reading shows 34 gallons…plenty of range still to make it home, but it’s close to sunset and the wind is picking up. We’ll grab dinner and a cab home from Burnt Store Marina. About a half hour later Kevin comments that it a good thing we got one good engine. Within about 5 minutes of his comment the starboard engine flames out….no restart at all!!!! I am so glad that I joined Tow Boat US!!!

Do you want me to tell you guys what we did wrong and certainly the things that we did right or do you want to guess first or do you just want to wait and hear it over a beer?

Andy

MOBILEMERCMAN

Gas gauge reading under a quarter means you better see the gas dock.

Bobthebuilder

Andy. I say share the right and wrong with everyone now and it may be a learning experience for others and save them from getting into a similar situation. Boating is strange in that even after many years of experience when you think you have seen or done it all, we sometimes are faced with a new situation to deal with. We can have a beer later ! LOL

From Punta Gorda to Marco is 100 miles so you did 200 miles that miserable day - er, well, almost 200 miles I guess.
I admire your courage for sure.

Bob

PremierPOWER

Bob,

I calculated the run using Maptech’s Offshore Navigator. I used the gas consumption profile from a BoatTest on a 382 with 575’s. With this profile, I allowed a 45 mph thru Charlotte Harbor and down the Intercoastal. From Sanibel, I planned on running with the 2nd group in the mid 60’s and returning in the mid 50’s. This should have allowed us 20% fuel reserve. When we ran with you solo, I talked you into a low 50’s run. This would have allowed us an additional 5% in fuel reserve.

The things that I did correctly:

- Life jackets on as soon as we lost the second engine
- An immediate call to tow boat US
- A second call to family members indicating that we were in trouble (they were expecting a call from us on completion of the trip)
- Not running down both batteries trying to trouble shoot and restart the engines
- Keeping reasonable track of our fuel consumption and position
- Scheduled a visit with Nor-Tech since we were pretty disappointed with our boat (some of the things we saw may be top secret!)
- Kept my deck shoes on when walking on the bow deck (I am safety over cosmetics weather its tieing up at a dock or somebody climbing on or me just trying to achor the boat during an emergency)

What did I do wrong?????? (At this point, its probably a trick question)

Andy

The Menace

No gas.

From Bonita to Harpoon Harry's back to Bonita I have just enough fuel to go back to FMB for fuel. You made it farther than I would have.

bowtye8

I say Fuel Also. I got lucky when I did the 2006 hanksgiving day fun run to the Rod and Gun club. I should have fueled up with everyone else. I was just under a 1/2 tank. I didnt touch the throttles. Left it at 3000rpm the whole way.
from there to cape coral. When I filled up it took 147 gal on a 150 gal tank. I just made it.
Dennis

salesmanship

One thing to keep in mind. When the water gets rough your fuel burn goes way up.

klaw

when travelling by boat a rule of thumb for gas use is 1/3 there 1/3 back and 1/3 in reserve.

PremierPOWER

I feel that we got beat by our Smart Craft gauge system. Remember the gauge was reading just below a quarter and the digital indicated that we had 34 gallons left. Initially, we were thinking pluged filters. When I pulled the secondary filters to inspect and change out, they were half full. Changed the primaries also. Started adding gas and the gauge wasn't showing any increase. Well, definately felt like we just ran out of gas and the gauge sensor is just stuck. Made a quick call to Formula to see how to access the sensor and they told me to first check the calibration on the Smart Craft. They don't leave the factory calibrated because the calibration procedure requires that you start with an empty tank and calibrate the system as you are doing your first fill up.

So now you be the judge, I feel like I got beat by the system.

By the way, I modified the calibration procedure and the gauge will now show empty when there will actually be some gas in the tank (can't reveal the quantity because I don't want Kevin to know).

Another thing that I did wrong was drop the anchor from the cockpit with the intent on walking the line around and up to the bow cleat. The following seas and high winds pulled the anchor rope out so fast that it partially fouled and it was everything we had to keep our hands on it. The Formula bow rail is a little corny, but I probably would have been in trouble without it.

Andy

MOBILEMERCMAN

I mis judged a trip once. Spent the night tied to Bloody Point Light. Got towed in by a work boat in the AM. I was so sure I had fuel available I actually removed the sender and looked in the tank. It was ugly but all considered I got lucky.