Great to have McGiver as a friend

[labrador]

Went out to Cape lookout this past weekend on Fri thru Mon. Anchored in the lee of the lighthouse as the east wind was blowing pretty good 15 to 20. Woke up Sat morning to a steady 25 gusting to over 30. Time to move to get in the lee of Shackelford banks. Started the engines and the stb key wasn't grabbing as you turn to start however the engine started right up and all gauges were fine. Hauled up the anchor and weaving my way out when of course the stb quits with as much as 30 knots blowing. Get her over into the lee of the banks and go into the engine room where the fuel supply solenoid is fried. In the lee we were fine so send the kids to the beach for the day and try to figure what to do next. My friend Mike comes on Sun and we move on one engine back to the normal anchorage where he comes aboard and looks things over. Know at this time I have a bad ignition switch as well as a fried fuel solenoid, still don't know what happened, but think I'm going home on one engine. Mike says to me, you got a spare horn switch? How about a wire coathanger? I have approx 6 spare rocker switches but we never have wire coathangers. Look in all the closets and sure enough there is one someone left on board. Pulled the solenoid off and wired it in the fuel flo position. Had some romex on a 12v pump I carry on board and he hooks up the rocker switch in place of the ignition. Hit the rocker and she starts right up. Have to disconnect the coathanger to shut her down then pull apart a connection on the bridge to disengage the warning buzzer but we went home at 17 kts with both mains purring.
Think the ignition switch got stuck in the start mode and fried the solenoid but why wouldn't that fry the starter as well? Anyone have an answer on that?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

No answers, but glad to hear you made it home with all systems go! Boaters are probably the best people at improvising.