Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > General Discussion > General Boating Discussion
A Little Scare In Long Beach >

A Little Scare In Long Beach

Notices

A Little Scare In Long Beach

Old 07-10-2003, 02:02 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
BajaFresh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Smith Valley, NV
Posts: 1,521
Received 63 Likes on 28 Posts
Default A Little Scare In Long Beach

My buddy, Jim took me out on his 1995 23’ Wellcraft Nova with 7.4 EFI for my birthday yesterday. We launched out of Newport at about 6 PM and ran up to Long Beach. We tied up and ate which took about an hour. Cast off and idled out past the Queen Mary when the engine quit. Started it back up and it fired, then sputtered and died. Sounded like it was out of gas. Gauge showed ¾ tank of fuel and Jim said he just filled up so gauge should be correct. I said it sounds like clogged fuel filter or fuel pump gave out.

We flagged down a passing fishing boat and they towed us back to the dock. We pulled the fuel filter off which made a sucking sound when the seal was broken, and it looked fine but was not full of fuel. It only had a little fuel in the bottom. We put it back on and then loosened the fuel line fitting on the output side of the fuel pump and tried to start the motor. It actually fired and was pumping fuel. We put the line back on and fired it up again with no problems. After running the engine for about a half hour at dock and around the harbor we headed back out to Newport. I was a little nervous as it was now dark and didn’t like the thought of the engine quitting out in the middle of the ocean at night. Well it ran great all the way back and it was actually a great ride. The moon was at ¾’s, clear and warm with about 2 foot swells. We ran about 40 MPH all the way back and it took about 45 minutes. The boat cuts through the waves very nicely and is very solid. It weighs quite a bit more than mine and runs strong. I gotta get a bigger boat!
Sorry, I forgot my camera so I didn't get any photos.

Anybody have any ideas on what could have caused this? The engine temp was normal and it was probably about 70 degrees out so I don’t think it was a vapor lock problem.
BajaFresh is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 02:07 PM
  #2  
Registered
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Niskayuna, NY
Posts: 5,548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

My first inclination was vapor lock. Sure sounds like it. Boy, I am at a loss on this one. I am sure someone will have an answer shortly. Happy Birthday!
Shane is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 02:17 PM
  #3  
Registered
 
thisistank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
Posts: 13,634
Received 2,802 Likes on 943 Posts
Default

Al,

Sorry to here about a bad experience on your b-day. Happy birthday by the way. Glad you made it back safe and sound though.

Going to havasu this weekend??
thisistank is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 02:23 PM
  #4  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
BajaFresh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Smith Valley, NV
Posts: 1,521
Received 63 Likes on 28 Posts
Default

Thanks Tank. It actually turned out okay and really enjoyed the run back to Newport.

Looks like I'm not making Havasu this weekend. I have a meeting tomorrow that I can't get out of and am flying to Vegas on Monday for a meeting. I guess I'll be at the Rat Fink reunion hot rod run on Saturday and am taking my Vette to Pomona on Sunday to try to sell.

I'll be at the Avi in Laughlin the following weekend.

Maybe another ocean run July 26/27? I sure would like to try to make Santa Barbera. .....and I want to enroll in the Tank OffShore Driving school!
BajaFresh is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 02:32 PM
  #5  
Registered
 
JUSTONCE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: tropical Cleveland OH
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Maybe a bad ground on the fuel pump causing intermittent prob.?
JUSTONCE is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 02:38 PM
  #6  
Registered
 
thisistank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
Posts: 13,634
Received 2,802 Likes on 943 Posts
Default

Give me a call about the 26th/27th date that could be possible. We'll go out and tear it up a bit, that is if my boats not sold by then.
thisistank is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 09:15 PM
  #7  
Registered
 
Tinkerer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: ALTO, MI
Posts: 4,611
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

It sounds to me like you may have something floating arround in your fuel tank and it blocked off the fuel inlet. When you removed the filter that is between the pump and the tank it had negative pressure. The suction was holding what ever it was to the fuel pickup. When you broke the suction the blockage fell off the pickup but it may return when you least expect it.
Tinkerer is offline  
Old 07-10-2003, 09:28 PM
  #8  
Toxic FORMULA
Platinum Member
 
mopower's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: pitman nj
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Yeah , that suction on the filter sounds a little strange. Couldn't be the tank vent or it would have done it again.
mopower is offline  
Old 07-11-2003, 12:06 AM
  #9  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
BajaFresh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Smith Valley, NV
Posts: 1,521
Received 63 Likes on 28 Posts
Default

Something in the tank blocking the line sounds possible. I wonder how you could check that. The tank is inder the deck so you would have to pull the boat apart to get to it. You can't exactly shake the boat to see if something rattles!???
BajaFresh is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Tres
General Boating Discussion
0
09-26-2007 08:32 PM
Insurance God
Western US/Lake Havasu
2
07-20-2007 02:56 PM
bobonthis
General Boating Discussion
9
05-21-2007 05:36 AM
CAP071
General Boating Discussion
7
02-07-2004 06:39 PM
Steamin Rice
General Boating Discussion
5
07-09-2002 03:22 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Quick Reply: A Little Scare In Long Beach


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.