Originally Posted by RoninLB
This story isn't creative brain power but...
The dominant air stream is coming down from New Foundland and N Atlantic next to N Canada all month. Ocean winds are creating wild oceans from 8'-15' inside 75mi from shore. It’s a Good day. The local chatter is about a small trawler going down about 100mi off Montauk Point. The Coast Guard never received a mayday.
radio communication sucks.
I'm hanging with a new ocean boat guy my age this season. We're in our 30's. The boat is a 38ft Viking with a wood hull, glass top, two 3208 cats, tuna tower, big out riggers, and a piece of $hit..
He's spending food money to keep this thing floating. I don't care. as long as it floats it can be good enough for that day on the water.
Sometimes the old cat starters and wiring would work, sometimes the shore power would work, sometimes the onboard 110v generator would work, sometimes the hot water and frig would work. Sometimes the fuel injection would be problem free, etc.
The fish are in season.. Tuna, Wahoo, Marlin, Swords, etc.
A weekend outside Montauk with 2 gofers from his job for fish is now in motion. We're daytime about 90mi from our port and about 50mi off Montauk Point tip and trolling further off shore in 6ft - 15ft seas. The sky is clear and we just landed a big Wahoo.
We've been running for about 20hrs straight and I'm sick.
No big deal I get sea sick. After a boff and a nap I'm good for a strong 2-4 hrs. Then another 4hrs getting weaker till the boff, sleep, etc.. It's my routine on nasty water. Been doing this all my life.
But the gofers are a PIA.
As soon as my friend or I stop watching them at the helm they turn the boat around towards Montauk Harbor. We caught them a few times. We can watch the boat happenings from the cockpit and only need a dope on the wheel, but they wanted out. They’re scared and know other boats are going down in this weather. Screw them as long as one of us can watch them.
I'm really weak and need a good nap..
The boat is rocking in 30kt-40kt winds with the very high tuna tower making the boat whip on it's keel somewhat violently..
No big deal, BTDT
I get lost in cloud 9 and the seas slowly wake me up. But then I get a big Wake Up. at dusk.
Huh!
We lost the radio and one engine stalled.
What!
You know the engine with the only working alternator/ it stalled.
WHAT! and I think that no radio probably means very low battery voltage. $hit.
Bilge pumps on a wooden boat have to work or start bailing.
No radio, No voltage, One Cat down because low voltage caused fuel sol to close. Ship's 110 gen with 110v to power battery chargers functions but the 110v battery chargers don't.
Seas getting bigger and wilder as sun goes down. Can't do a mayday, 5watt portables are worthless out here. Bilge is slowly filling. The remaining engine is about to stall. That means we lose headway in bigger and bigger seas.
We're ____ed..
This is a real happening. I ain't kidding.
What a scene.
Then I start playing with the main 12v switches and circuits. I can't get no satisfaction. I only have a few moments till full silence.
Ahh, maybe, don't know more than a maybe. I have to try it quick.
No, move faster than quick. It has to be done past tense before remaining engine stalls.
I rip a 12ga or 10ga wire out of somewhere and run it from the running 110v generator battery bank to the main battery bank. Then I isolate the 12v on the running engine so it’s the only engine on electrics. Then I check the voltage gauge. Bingo, the engine will keep running getting enough voltage to keep fuel solenoid from closing and stopping only running engine.
I stay awake till radio has enough voltage to operate. So far so good.
New Orders from me
“Run one engine back to Montauk and wake me when we're 10miles off shore.” Therefore 50 or 60 nautical miles in growing seas at night running at 4-5 knot speed is a good rest with no hassle at the helm.
Wake Up
OK. I’m up.
“Plot course at light darkness to the harbor mouth.”
AOK at the mouth with one engine.
I say “Try the other engine.”
Dead engine starts and we warm it up.
Now the Captian has to power thru Montauk Inlet at speed because the inlet is a big washing machine from the high winds and waves. 2 engines balls to the wall are needed.
We're smiling and laughing hysterically.
|