Cruising on one engine

S

Sanssouci

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Joined
May 3, 2013
RO Number
33234
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3
Hello everyone. I am new to this forum and fairly new to twin engine boating. I have a 2001 SeaRay 310 DA. Last weekend my gears froze up on my starboard engine. The mechanics won't be able to get to it until the second week in July. I have a family reunion scheduled on the lake this weekend with family members located at two different marinas on the lake (about 3 miles apart). My question for this forum is the pro's & con's of operating the boat on one engine, and running the second engine to maintain power steering. I would be cruising at low speed to ferry family members between marinas. Could this cause further damage to the boat? Thanks for your input.
 
I am not an engine guru, so while I think that you are unlikely to ( further ) damage the down engine, I could be wrong.

That said, have you ever operated your boat on one engine? Handling stinks, since thrust is off center. I would politely suggest that your boat stay home till is is fixed.

---

Again if it were me, a) I would not run my boat as described. b) I would not get on your boat in that condition.

Have a wonderful weekend!

--edit--

An after the post thought: hull speed ( and on one engine, loaded ) means that you will likely be operating between 3 to 5 kts. For a distance of 3 miles.

In still water, you are talking about a "one hour tour", each way. Against a current, you may not even get there same day. Just a further consideration.
 
I have bumped mine in and out of gear switching engines to conserve fuel. I run it once about 5nm's when I had a water pump failure on one engine. Handling did stink but I also have a thruster to bump her back on center and for docking. It sounds like the transmission is toast not the engine. It also sounds like the engine with the down transmission is needed for the power steering. Since your on a lake I guess there wouldn't be any tidal current only winds. I'm also no engine expert I'll wait for our engine guru's to answer.
Bill
 
The gears froze up. As in, the prop will not free wheel, or you cannot shift? Are you sure that this is not something simple like a cable falling off or something?
 
I've been tinkering and messing with boats for a long time. I've long ago adopted an overall attitude that sez when the Public is Watching (your family reunion fits this ) you can just bet that something will go wrong. Don;t do it. Work something else out. That way everyone expects a not perfect operation and no fault will fall on you.
 
Boatbum - Thanks.

Cannot shift. The marina mechanic looked at it today. Said it could be a failed cable, but indicated it was probably a thrown gear. They have to pull it out of the water to determination.

Here is what happened at the point of failure. I had a lube gear leak at the reservoir the week prior, and discovered a broken clamp. Replaced the clamp which seem to stop the link, and on the way to a charity event last Saturday for wounded warriors, the starboard engine fell out of gear. Noticed the replacement clamp had failed too. Filled the lube gear reservoir, which shut of the alarm. Came back across the lake on one engine at about 9nm. The shifter will not move forward at all, but it will move in reverse, but it does not engage the lower unit. I have not check to see if the prop will free wheel.
 
BTW; Welcome to the board. Outdrives if so what type? I'm inclined to agree with the others you probably shouldn't run it that way.
Bill
 
Keep in mind that if you have an I/O all the gears inside the outdrive (execpt for the final shaft) are spinning if the engine is running. If the I/O was damaged due to a lack of gear lube you might do more damage by running it, even in neutral.

But if you are sure you are not damaging the outdrive the engine should be fine. Just make sure you keep it running when cruising. Otherwise you take the chance of water ingestion due to the ram effect on the cooling water inlets on the outdrive.

If you are comfortable with handling around the dockyou should be fine. At your slow cruising speeds the off-centerline thrust will not cause a problem.

Mike
 
If you are on a busy lake remember it's the other guy you have to worry about and you will be at a severe disadvantage if you have to move out of the way.
 
I don't advise using broken boats.
but if these are I/Os.
I have never driven a twin I/O but at slow speed other than a bit of offset can it really be much different than a single I/O which I have driven a lot.
 
I would suggest not running the boat and risking more damage. Not to mention the fact that you could end up stranded on the water with a bunch of people on board.
 
Bill - To your question, I'm running 5.7 EFI Mercs with Bravo 3s.

Everyone - Thank you for your advice/comments. You've all confirmed my original thoughts that while mechanically this would work, it probably isn't a good idea even if only to ferry people between the marinas.

I appreciate the collective wisdom and insights from this forum, and I am happy I joined it.

Thanks again everyone.

Ron
 
what do u do if the good engine dies u hit something ..murphys law..I would stay in the slip..just my 2 cents
 
The same thing I do when my only engine conks out. Get out the tool kit.
 
The safest bet may be to stay in the slip, but I'll tell you I ran a half season last yr on one vee drive and I learned a LOT about boat handling because of it. The marina doing my stbd repower was slammed so they couldn't get to it for a few weekends, so we just made due. Again maybe not the safest decision but it made me a better captain.
 
--> stevenp

I might operate on one engine if conditions were excellent, however, I would not do so with guests aboard. Guests depend on the skill and judgement of the crew ( Captain ) as well as the crew's assessment of the safety of the vessel. While I would readily take the small risk on my own shoulders, I would not place that risk on the shoulders of ( unsuspecting ) guests. While a nice one hour cruise during a holiday weekend might be a wonderful experience, if things go wrong, you will have ruined the ( rare ) holiday weekend for your guests by sitting, stuck, in the middle of the lake/waterway.

Note, these comments apply to operation of my vessel, not yours. Use your own judgement.
 
Yeah, good point. Bringing guests along really does add another dimension.
 
stevenp; think pop up thunderstorms this time of year. Your probably not going to outrun one in a boat loaded with guests and limping along with only 1 of 2 engines.
Bill
 
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