FlyNavyAir
04-24-2022, 06:04 PM
We arrived at Coinjock Marina the previous afternoon. Enjoyed meeting a couple who had recently purchased a 48 CMY in Charleston and were relocating her to the Chesapeake Bay. Our plan was for an early launch the next morning knowing we had numerous bridges and the Great Bridge Lock to tackle en route to Hampton.
At 0650 we were set to start engines and get underway. Starboard started and then I pushed the start button for port and zippo...nothing. I thought batteries so I used the parallel switch but no joy. Next, maybe the start button on the flybridge was bad so tried the one below. Again, nothing. OK, shut down starboard and head to the engine room. I checked voltage on batteries, dropped panel on battery selectors and checked voltage and fuses. All good. So, I went back on shore power and secured the generator so I could hear if the starter was trying to engage. Nothing, no clicking or drop in voltage. What to do next?
Then I had an idea. I'll call my trusty knowledgeable DD mech back home. It's Saturday at 0720 he won't mind. He answered and I ran him through the problem and what I had checked. He thought for a second and said the first thing he would check is the neutral safety switch. He told me to go to the bridge and push the start button and jiggle the transmission lever just a bit. Sure enough I moved the lever maybe a 1/16 inch and she fired up. He told me those switches are very close tolerance and easily get out of adjustment.
Glad he answered the phone! Thank you note and a check are in the mail for a DD virtual house call. Onward to the Chesapeake Bay for a month.
At 0650 we were set to start engines and get underway. Starboard started and then I pushed the start button for port and zippo...nothing. I thought batteries so I used the parallel switch but no joy. Next, maybe the start button on the flybridge was bad so tried the one below. Again, nothing. OK, shut down starboard and head to the engine room. I checked voltage on batteries, dropped panel on battery selectors and checked voltage and fuses. All good. So, I went back on shore power and secured the generator so I could hear if the starter was trying to engage. Nothing, no clicking or drop in voltage. What to do next?
Then I had an idea. I'll call my trusty knowledgeable DD mech back home. It's Saturday at 0720 he won't mind. He answered and I ran him through the problem and what I had checked. He thought for a second and said the first thing he would check is the neutral safety switch. He told me to go to the bridge and push the start button and jiggle the transmission lever just a bit. Sure enough I moved the lever maybe a 1/16 inch and she fired up. He told me those switches are very close tolerance and easily get out of adjustment.
Glad he answered the phone! Thank you note and a check are in the mail for a DD virtual house call. Onward to the Chesapeake Bay for a month.