Ugg. Broke down today...

[Mark42]

Wife and me and our two youngest were out in the evening, about 6:00 to take a long boat ride to Dering Harbor, in Shelter Island, NY. We had smooth sailing most of the way, but there are those unexpected huge rollers that come out of nowhere every now and again.

About 40 minutes from the launch, we arrive at Dering Harbor, and as I enter the harbor I start to throttle down to wake speed, then I pop it in neutral, but it won't go to neutral, we are at fast idle in gear. Shut the motor off, and mess with the control, then restart but motor races, and I shut it off. Drop anchor, pull the cowl and figure out that a roll pin in part of the throttle linkage has sheered off so the throttle linkage is not working. After messing around trying to find a way to fix it, a boat full of nice folks tow us over to a marina and we tie up. The marina office is closed, and we call a friend to come get us.

So the boat is at a marina and (I still can't believe this) Dering Harbor does not have one single launch ramp so I can pull my boat out. Not one stinking launch, public or private. I am just amazed.

Anyway, tomorrow I will figure out how to fix the problem. Probably just rig it good enough to get back to my launch where I can tow it home.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

do a red green on it DUCK TAPE !! lol
or find a hardware store and pick up a couple extras

woosterken

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

I would have sacraficed a 1/4-20 bolt and nut from something, rod holder, cleat, hinge, seat base, my wifes purse sometimes has some good stuff for clips and wire things, I wouldn't give up easily, but then again depending on the age of the little ones you can't mess around too long.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

I have a tool box on board, but the part that broke is a roll pin about 1/16" or so thick. It pins a lever to a round shaft. The pin sheared off, and I could not find anything on the boat to drive out the remaining pieces or substitute something else. To make things worse, the parts I need to get to are below the lower cowl, making it imposable to drive the old pin out without removing the entire lower cowl section. The linkage won't come off without removing the flywheel. Grrrrr...

So I'm going to the hardware this morning and see what I can come up with. Might just stick a vice grip on the linkage and bring the boat home at high idle. Probably take an hour or more to go 10 miles.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Oh, and to make it all the more fun, Shelter Island is, well, and island. So every time I need to get there to work on the boat, its a $15 round trip ticket for a few hundred yard ferry ride. This situation gets more fun at every turn!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

This is why I always have an ample supply of various sized wire ties in the tool box as well (not knowing if it work in this situation). It's amazing what you can make work in a tight situation. Hair pins, wire ties...I've even stretched out an old spring to tie things together.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

The underwire in a bra of ample size can be used for a shear pin. Just an example of why we have to be mcGyvers!

Not directnig this to Mark; you've been around enough to know. Your run of bad luck, especially the island part, sounds like my kind of luck. Just keep saying, "anyone who doesn't love this is crazy!"

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

The underwire in a bra of ample size can be used for a shear pin. Just an example of why we have to be mcGyvers!

Not directnig this to Mark; you've been around enough to know. Your run of bad luck, especially the island part, sounds like my kind of luck. Just keep saying, "anyone who doesn't love this is crazy!"

Thanks for the underwire source! I will remember that.

Went to the hardware store this morning, picked up some aluminum stock, nuts bolts, etc to fabricate a new lever that should get me home. Made three different pieces, hopefully one will fit or can be modified when I get to the boat to fit. Just had the photos in the US Marine manual to work from.

Bringing all the tools, cordless drill, small anvil, hammer, etc. I would like to drive the boat home normally, not just crawl at high idle the whole 10 miles. Be leaving once the tools are all charged up. Wish me luck!

 

[pduquette]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

Good Luck!! peter

 

[seabob4]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

Funny you mention lower pans. Todays Suzukis, at least from the 90s up to the 250s, you HAVE to remove the starboard side lower pan to hook up the cables! I love Zukes, but that is about a brain dead design if I ever saw one!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

Well all went well today. Spoke with Mike, the owner of Jacks Marina (LOL!) this morning and told him my situation. Nice guy, said if I can get the boat going, there will be no charge, and if not, he would move it from the dock to a mooring until I decide what to do.

So it took 2 hours to get the linkage patched up enough to drive home. It didn't have WOT, but with half throttle, it eventually climbed on plane and stayed that way the whole ride home at 15 mph. A lot better than high idle doing a displacement 5 mph!!!! Once I was clear of the no wake zone of the marina, I slowly move the throttle up as far as I dared and just left it that way until I came to my home port marina and dropped to no wake speed.

Was a nice ride, but that is the end of boating for this week.

 

[pmillar]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

Well done and good job on the part of the marina for not dinging you. And for the wannabe McGyvers, I recommend keeping a bit of SS safety wire on hand. It ranks up there with duct tape provided you have some pliers around.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Ugg. Broke down today...

The underwire in a bra of ample size can be used for a shear pin.

You allow bras on your boat? Anything resembling a bra better be a bathing suit top!!