Trip south...finally

[wpc691]

After Hurricane Matthew slowed down work on Blue Bayou, we finally splashed at Grande Harbour Marina (boatyard) last Thursday, finished work on the genny, replaced the A/C seawater pump and replumbed the master head back to salt on Friday at Harbourgate Marina, Little River, SC, and headed south Saturday morning. This morning, we picked up a submerged buoy crab trap near McClellanvlle; fortunately our captain brought his dive gear, and we were back underway in 40 min. Crossed Charleston Harbor this afternoon in heavy overcast, pouring rain, gusts to 30. Tied up at St John's Yacht Harbor just past Charleston, a nice facility. Looking forward to better weather tomorrow as we make for Beaufort. When I get a chance, I'll post a couple of the photos I have of core repair, etc.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Good luck with the new ride and the trip. Maybe we'll see you in Ft. Myers?

 

[bobk]

Best of luck with the boat. We plan to cruise the gulf coast this winter so will try to look you and others up. Why did you switch to sea water for the heads? Most folks go the other way, salt to fresh.

Bobk

 

[wpc691]

@Dan, will definitely see you in Ft Myers, we'll compare core repair notes. @Bobk, glad to meet up anytime. The head story: There was no water in the bowl of the master head, we assumed there was something we didn't know; we asked the mechanic when he showed up on Friday (fantastic guy, former Hatteras employee); he got down in the ER and noted that the fresh water line to the aft head left the water tank, went up, then to port, then aft; those two turns had pinched and cut off flow to the head; after 2 minutes of thought (we're leaving next morning), we chose to replumb to the old thru-hull, which he said was easy, quick and guaranteed to work. He did it, and it now works perfectly. I'll consider later whether that's the permanent fix. BTW, after leaving St John's this morning, we ran up to 1700 rpm and eventually noted the starboard engine blowing quite a bit of white smoke (Cat 3208). We had run 1700 yesterday, but not forlong; we throttled back to 1500, and smoke 98% cleared up. Any ideas?

 

[saltshaker]

Any odor? Were you running hot? Was it steam or smoke? Could be a fuel restriction. Check your fuel filters first.

 

[wpc691]

Any odor? Were you running hot? Was it steam or smoke? Could be a fuel restriction. Check your fuel filters first.

Thanks Jack. Not running hot, about 170, close to the other. Very strong exhaust smell on the rear deck, smoke hung in air, definitely not steam. Just checked the oil, that motor burned 2 qts in 70 mi, not a coincidence I suppose.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Does it always happen above 1500? I thought white smoke was unburned fuel. Could be an injector sticking clogged air filter etc..

 

[magnawake]

I hate to hear the news of the engine. I never, ever ran the engines at 1700 rpm for over a few minutes. I used to run them at 1200 rpm, then up to 2000 rpm for 5-10 min every 3 hrs. When throttling up a big blue puff of smoke would come out, then clear right up quickly. I burned 2 qts of oil from Fort Pierce all the way to Charleston. Thats not normal for it to smoke as much as you say, but I cant say what wouldnt happen since I never ran it that hard. Really it would just burn lots more fuel and not give you that much more speed. Thats why I went slow. Hope things get better. Keep us posted. I looked at 2 sail boats in Charleston and was disapointed.

 

[wpc691]

Thanks Pate. Today we ran on sync (yesterday was not). Gradually increased to 1750 in 100 rpm steps. Never saw a puff of smoke, ran smooth, good mileage, didn't use a drop of oil. Can't explain what happened yesterday.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Something unstuck It could have been an injector sticking. Our genny was skipping a beat a while ago. I loaded it up with both ACs and some other items for a 1/2 hour and it smoothed right out.

You know, the "lead foot tuneup"?

 

[saltshaker]

Sounds like you had a fuel restriction. Black smoke is unburned fuel. White is either steam, coolant or lack of fuel.

 

[wpc691]

Thanks for the input guys. Ran 100 miles outside today, Green Island, GA to Jacksonville, 1650RPM, 9.5 kts, no issues, just chewing water for 10.5 hrs. Not sure of fuel consumption, as gauge may be sticking. Switched over to keel tank for tomorrow's run to New Smyrna Beach, and will know then when we fill both tanks.

 

[Boatsb]

At 1650 / 9.5 kts your burning fuel trying to climb the bow wave. Probably burned 30% more fuel per mile than at 8 kts.

 

[bobk]

At 1650 / 9.5 kts your burning fuel trying to climb the bow wave. Probably burned 30% more fuel per mile than at 8 kts.

X2. Pate got very good economy running just below 8 knots.

Bobk

 

[saltshaker]

You'd be better off running on plane and the engines would be happier. If you want to run slow and save fuel, don't exceed hull speed.

 

[wpc691]

Agree with all. We had 110 miles to make, and we did. Today we did Jacksonville to Palm Coast averaging 7kts and got 2.2mpg, which I'm happy with. Tonight's issue is water which mysteriously filled the bilge compartment under the port engine. The captain washed the boat and filled the water tank while we were shopping, so I poked everywhere I could, trying to see drips around the water fill line or vent, and naturally didn't find any. I bailed most of the water out, and we'll see what it looks like in the morning.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Water under the engine in the bilge is separate from the shaft logs and etc. I would look for a raw water leak associated with the raw water loop from the transmission cooler through the heat exchanger and exhaust shower head. I may be a bit off base because we have 6-71s but most of that should hold true. It is worth going down there while running with a flash light. I do this all the time every 1/2 hour or so while the s/o watches the helm.

Just stay away from the stuff that is spinning

2.2 is VERY good for the boat. Sounds like a long day at 100+.

 

[wpc691]

Thanks for the suggestion Dan. We'll do some investigation tomorrow while underway (also just read the other thread on the same issue, so I have lots of ideas to check). I'm very happy with 2.2; today's conditions were most like what we'll normally do with the boat. 110 was a long day, but we went outside, so it was just 11 hrs on autopilot. We put the TV on the flybridge and took turns between standing watch and watching Green Acres and McHale's Navy. Coming into Jacksonville after dark was exciting - those freighters look even bigger in the dark.

 

[magnawake]

That's strange indeed. Seems like a raw water leak may have happened. I used to make an engine room search every hour with a flash light and laser Thermometer and check the status of things. A fresh water leak would have leaked into the fwd port pocket. I have never found water below the engine, ever. I did get sea water through vents in heavy seas one time, but it ended up in both bilges. Glad you are getting better fuel mileage.

 

[wpc691]

That's strange indeed. Seems like a raw water leak may have happened. I used to make an engine room search every hour with a flash light and laser Thermometer and check the status of things. A fresh water leak would have leaked into the fwd port pocket. I have never found water below the engine, ever. I did get sea water through vents in heavy seas one time, but it ended up in both bilges. Glad you are getting better fuel mileage.

Yes, we should probably have been doing the same; that will be our agenda today. We also have an oil leak on the port engine between the valve cover and the breather (?) on top. We'll be keeping an eye on that as well. On the positive side, the starboard tach has come back to life - maybe just needed a little exercise.