Carrera makes radical decisions

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I need some inspiration in order to regain my enthusiasm and then finish the job. Fixing on the outboard should hopefully allow me to get moving on the water and I guess this is far better than any previous owner has managed so far. Better than leaving the boat just to rot and fill with rainwater.
At present, the bracket is being fitted to the side of the stern which means the diesel outdrive is still in place. Basically I'll have 2 engines for the time being.
I've also been searching for zinks to bolt onto the leg of the outboard. The current zink was so corroded there was infinite resistance between it and the engine body.
By the way, one request for advice. I noticed one side of the cowl of my outboard is peeled upwards so the seal isn't snug and tight as it should be. It's just the edge that's peeled. Is this common and how do I fix it?

Aaaah, messing about in boats. There is nothing quite like it.
I've got plenty of little nautical jobs planned for when I head home next week. One of the first is to see whether I can hang a hammock from the boom and still clear the engine cover when it is straining with the weight of my lard-arse - I quite fancy bobbing around out there, swinging under the boom. It has a sturdy topping lift, so I shouldn't get any surprises in the night.
It'll be interesting to see how your boat performs under the outboard. Mine has a full-length keel. It steers beautifully forward, but the rudder has little effect when reversing. It doesn't seem to prop-walk too much, though. I managed to stick the bowsprit between the railings when I got caught by a gust at a jetty a while ago. Provided a little excitement for the old boys who were fishing there. I've noticed that the bowsprit seems to home in on the sides of expensive boats that are sitting on moorings - it's like walking a pit bull terrier past a kitten.

I need some inspiration in order to regain my enthusiasm and then finish the job...Getting her up and running will provide it. There's nothing like movement through the water to get you fired up on the jobs that need to get done. While I'm over here in Africa, I get my inspiration by heading to an outside bar and drinking beer while I daydream my way through ways of re-rigging etc.
...By the way, one request for advice. I noticed one side of the cowl of my outboard is peeled upwards so the seal isn't snug and tight as it should be. It's just the edge that's peeled. Is this common and how do I fix it?Which Mariner did you get? By cowling, I take it that you mean the engine cover. Pull it off and check around where it seats. When you cam the lever down, it should pull it hard into the seal.If it's sitting up, something has caused it to misalign. You may be able to twist it back into shape. It's not overly important, other than that it may let a little rain water in. If you can't get it back in shape, just put some tape around it.
If you've got one of the smaller Mariners that only have neutral and forwards, make sure your bracket set-up allows enough room for you to be able to turn the engine the full 360º in order to be able to use it in reverse.

I'll need the engine manual for this outboard. Broadly speaking, I know many outboards have this Capacitor Discharge Ignition system whereby the voltage is stepped up through coils. Therefore, water let into this area isn't such a good scenario.
I may have to use glue, as you suggest. Certainly, I'll need to replace that zink before clamping the engine.
Glad you're enjoying your boating in Africa. I figure having a few drinks before a voyage is a good idea. After all this hard work, I'll be sure to do the same. I may even stock the old boat with some red wine. She hasn't run since the seventies.

Getting her up and running will provide it. There's nothing like movement through the water to get you fired up on the jobs that need to get done. While I'm over here in Africa, I get my inspiration by heading to an outside bar and drinking beer while I daydream my way through ways of re-rigging etc.
Which Mariner did you get? By cowling, I take it that you mean the engine cover. Pull it off and check around where it seats. When you cam the lever down, it should pull it hard into the seal.If it's sitting up, something has caused it to misalign. You may be able to twist it back into shape. It's not overly important, other than that it may let a little rain water in. If you can't get it back in shape, just put some tape around it.
If you've got one of the smaller Mariners that only have neutral and forwards, make sure your bracket set-up allows enough room for you to be able to turn the engine the full 360º in order to be able to use it in reverse.

I'll need the engine manual for this outboard. Broadly speaking, I know many outboards have this Capacitor Discharge Ignition system whereby the voltage is stepped up through coils. Therefore, water let into this area isn't such a good scenario...Any modern outboard will use CDI. There is no problem with CDI and water, as the units are completey sealed (same as on all those motorbikes you see being ridden in the rain (unlike my points Enfield, which doesn't like rain, thereby forcing me to live in Australia).
The area that you don't want water going in is the air inlet on the carbie. A bit of rain should cause no problem, but don't drop the outboard in the canal. I had a 9.9hp Mariner (at full throttle) get knocked off a Zodiac when we got overtaken by a breaking wave in a place we shouldn't have been - it didn't enjoy the experience (and nor did we). The Zodiac folded back on itself and popped the floorboards out. Sometimes it's better not to go to sea.
As long as there is anything left of the zinc anodes, they are doing their job. Yes, you should look to replacing them if they are getting wasted but, being sacrificial, it ain't over until the sacrifice is...sacrificed. I wouldn't let that stop me proceeding, as long as I was going to be able to access the leg for changing them out in the future.
I'm not boating in Africa (well, I did ride 8hrs in our Crew Boat last week for a trip around the offshore facilities). My boat is down in Perth, Oz, and I'll head back down there next week.
Having some wine on the boat may be a great help in getting you motivated. Get the old girl up to a level where you enjoy being on her (we are talking about a boat, aren't we?), and you'll find yourself knocking out all those small jobs in no time.

"As long as there is anything left of the zinc anodes, they are doing their job."

Not necessarily. If you have a multimeter (which I'm sure you do have) try setting the meter to about 200 Ohms and run one lead to the anode and the other lead to the leg of the engine. If you get virtually zero resistance, you have a circuit from the anode to the engine body. That way, the anode will do its job.
However, if you get massive resistance, the anode needs dealing with. Sometimes a rusted bolt may be to blame.
Count yourself lucky you have a boat in Australia. Over here, it's a rich man's hobby. Much as I find it interesting, boating is bleeding me dry. For starters, there's the safety certificate that's a bit like a vehicle M.O.T. That may cost me up to 600 U.S. dollars and it's due now. The license is also about 450 dollars (I paid for only 6 months). Even mooring is very expensive and hard to get.
I have an interest in boats and hope to continue but the canal system seems to be a rip off in the U.K. I hear in Holland it's far far cheaper to have a boat and also, to a lesser degree, in France.
You know, all my neighbours have gone. I'm the only boat left. I'm hoping to use it during summer with the outboard engine but after that I'll probably keep it on dry land for some time.
P.S. I fitted the outboard engine bracket but need to buffer the interior with plywood.


Any modern outboard will use CDI. There is no problem with CDI and water, as the units are completey sealed (same as on all those motorbikes you see being ridden in the rain (unlike my points Enfield, which doesn't like rain, thereby forcing me to live in Australia).
The area that you don't want water going in is the air inlet on the carbie. A bit of rain should cause no problem, but don't drop the outboard in the canal. I had a 9.9hp Mariner (at full throttle) get knocked off a Zodiac when we got overtaken by a breaking wave in a place we shouldn't have been - it didn't enjoy the experience (and nor did we). The Zodiac folded back on itself and popped the floorboards out. Sometimes it's better not to go to sea.
As long as there is anything left of the zinc anodes, they are doing their job. Yes, you should look to replacing them if they are getting wasted but, being sacrificial, it ain't over until the sacrifice is...sacrificed. I wouldn't let that stop me proceeding, as long as I was going to be able to access the leg for changing them out in the future.
I'm not boating in Africa (well, I did ride 8hrs in our Crew Boat last week for a trip around the offshore facilities). My boat is down in Perth, Oz, and I'll head back down there next week.
Having some wine on the boat may be a great help in getting you motivated. Get the old girl up to a level where you enjoy being on her (we are talking about a boat, aren't we?), and you'll find yourself knocking out all those small jobs in no time.

Why don't you move to Australia. Sounds like there is less crime, not in the same league as Japan.

Beside I need someone to spot me while doing BP.

I come to australia as many people do
To see the old koala, hitch a ride on a kangaroo
To hear somebody call me mate and call somebody blue
To hear the aboriginee play a didgeridoo

Some of you came as prisoners two centuries ago
Some of you come as kings and queens your blessing to bestow
Some of you stand all swelled with pride, some with shattered wings
But all of us come with open hearts to hear Australia sing

In the desert, in the city
In the mountains and in the sea
In the stories and in the people
I can hear australia sing

Waltzing matilda, the men of galipoli
Clancy of the overflow, Crocodile Dundee
The myth of all creation, the teaching of baiame
The legends of a dreamtime for all eternity

And in this celebration of a brief two hundred years
The cost to build a nation in blood and sweat and tears
And if we stand divided, divided we will fall
But if we stand together we shall conquer all

In the desert, in the city
In the mountains and in the sea
In the stories and in the people
I can hear australia singundefined
Sing australia, sing australia, sing australia, sing australia
In the sails on sydney harbour
I can hear australia sing




Why don't you move to Australia. Sounds like there is less crime, not in the same league as Japan.

Beside I need someone to spot me while doing BP.

This might be of interest to you C. I installed a hyrdofoil on my pontoon boat yesterday.
It seems to make a big impact on speed and ride. The boat will trim out now. with much less drag. I should be much more fuel effecient.
I look forward to using it as soon as I recover from the installation process.
I should be able to ride a bike again in a month or so. :D

I'm going to try and step back a few paces and maybe start over again. I figure I'm doing it all wrong. The thing is, if I had a very small boat and a trailer, I'd save a fortune. As it is, I have a big boat and it's stuck in the inland waterways and, therefore, liable to totally irrational taxes. Seriously, the Government over here is killing off the demand for inland pleasure cruising with boatyards closing down and boaters removing their boats.
I was speaking to a former boatyard owner and he told me he believes the Government is outpricing itself on the waterways. My boat is now the only one left as people really can't afford to keep their boats in the water. Sure, the rich can manage it without too much difficulty but not your average guy who has to pay other bills as well.
Anyway, what I need is a small boat I can simply take in or out. That way, I'd be untouched by taxes. As it is, I'm paying over 2000 U.S. a year just to have the boat on the waterways.



This might be of interest to you C. I installed a hyrdofoil on my pontoon boat yesterday.
It seems to make a big impact on speed and ride. The boat will trim out now. with much less drag. I should be much more fuel effecient.
I look forward to using it as soon as I recover from the installation process.
I should be able to ride a bike again in a month or so. :D

This might be of interest to you C. I installed a hyrdofoil on my pontoon boat yesterday.
It seems to make a big impact on speed and ride. The boat will trim out now. with much less drag. I should be much more fuel effecient.
I look forward to using it as soon as I recover from the installation process.
I should be able to ride a bike again in a month or so. :DCarrera may experience some difficulty in getting his canal boat up to the planing speeds where the trim will have an effect, JH. Sorry to hear about the hydrofolic injuries...

...As it is, I'm paying over 2000 U.S. a year just to have the boat on the waterways.Hot diggety dog! You are in the wrong place. I currently have boats coming out my ying-yang, and it costs me about USD$ 300 / year in rego's and mooring fees. Why don't you sell up the cnal boat for whatever you can get, and buy yourself a kayak? All the pleasure, healthy and a lot less overheads.

How about one of these baby's

http://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/boat.jpghttp://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/car.jpg

How about one of these baby's

http://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/boat.jpghttp://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/car.jpgThat's excellent. Even comes with a roll cage incase you lose it coming into Post Office corner. Here's an upmarket version...

How about one of these baby's

http://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/boat.jpghttp://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/car.jpg
Torpedo Room! Load torpedo and standby to launch...!

I had a very bad experience the other day.
Over here, boats have to undergo a kind of M.O.T. they call a BSS and I wasn't able to locate the examiner who did the last test. I winded up with another guy who was obviously exploiting the situation to drum up business for his friend who does mechanical engineering. Apparently he wants the entire diesel fuel tank replacing (not on the basis of corrosion) but due to the galvanic quality of the tank. It's crazy!
I've just written a letter to the waterways authority to point out the tank is part of the original boat design and, as far as I'm aware, hasn't been an obstacle to the boat passing tests in the past. I've also made it clear I'll be taking the boat out of the water (by tractor more than likely).
I'd just fitted the outboard bracket externally and my guess is the boat would have run fine for the time being.
I'll keep the outboard engine in the garage, remove the bracket from the boat and may use the outboard on a dingy some time in the future (on the sea perhaps). As for British Waterways and the canal network, I figure if they run a business that way they'll inevitably go bust in the near future. How can they expect boat owners to change the original design of a diesel engine if it was built that way initially?


Hot diggety dog! You are in the wrong place. I currently have boats coming out my ying-yang, and it costs me about USD$ 300 / year in rego's and mooring fees. Why don't you sell up the cnal boat for whatever you can get, and buy yourself a kayak? All the pleasure, healthy and a lot less overheads.

I used something similar to this boat in St Petersburg Russia. I recall it was raining really really hard. You had to be careful of the wasps, though.
There are many boats in St Petersburg and the weather in Summer is terrific. Especially cool is the countryside around the Russia/Finland border. I was once invited by friends to a dacha where there was a river you could swim in and we spent the night drinking vodka and eating barbecue sausages.

How about one of these baby's

http://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/boat.jpghttp://iftf.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/car.jpg

I had a very bad experience the other day.
Over here, boats have to undergo a kind of M.O.T. they call a BSS and I wasn't able to locate the examiner who did the last test. I winded up with another guy who was obviously exploiting the situation to drum up business for his friend who does mechanical engineering. Apparently he wants the entire diesel fuel tank replacing (not on the basis of corrosion) but due to the galvanic quality of the tank. It's crazy!
I've just written a letter to the waterways authority to point out the tank is part of the original boat design and, as far as I'm aware, hasn't been an obstacle to the boat passing tests in the past. I've also made it clear I'll be taking the boat out of the water (by tractor more than likely).
I'd just fitted the outboard bracket externally and my guess is the boat would have run fine for the time being.
I'll keep the outboard engine in the garage, remove the bracket from the boat and may use the outboard on a dingy some time in the future (on the sea perhaps). As for British Waterways and the canal network, I figure if they run a business that way they'll inevitably go bust in the near future. How can they expect boat owners to change the original design of a diesel engine if it was built that way initially?Exactly which regulation did you break? Have a read of this regulation and see if it complies. Take these facts to them. If it complies with the written regulations, then they don't have a leg to stand on.

I had a very bad experience the other day...Bugger. As Mike says, check up on whether they're just feeding you a line. Looks like things are tough for you owners of 'Carnal' boats.
I'm flying up to London tonight, and back down to Singapore / Aussie tomorrow / Friday. Should be out sailing on Saturday, all going well.

I wrote a polite, business like letter just informing the authorities my boat failed its test. There isn't really a lot I can do about it as I'm not really willing to just keep throwing out more and more money.
My suspicion is the examiners sometimes use this situation to get work for handymen or engineers they may know personally, maybe for a backhander. Of course, I may be wrong.
It now depends on what reply I get to the letter. If it's a no compromise reply it may well be my boating days are over and I'll turn my hand to messing about with bike mechanics which is far less complicated.
Now we'll just have to wait and see.

Bugger. As Mike says, check up on whether they're just feeding you a line. Looks like things are tough for you owners of 'Carnal' boats.
I'm flying up to London tonight, and back down to Singapore / Aussie tomorrow / Friday. Should be out sailing on Saturday, all going well.

...it may well be my boating days are over...Never say never, Carrera. I've had some excellent times over the last month with my little Gaffer down in Oz. Even the things that went wrong, were still good. My daughter and I had a fuel feed problem right at the apex of a high traffic area whilst doing a quick evening chortle to enjoy the gushes from having replaced the cooling water impeller. We managed to to drop a pick and prevent us from drifting into the path of an oncoming ferry, but it was getting too late to spend much time bleeding the fuel lines. We ended up hoisting a reefed main and a staysail, and sailed her back up the river to her mooring, avoiding poking the bowsprit through any of the squillion dollar floating palaces moored along the way. She pulled up engineless on the mooring with inches to spare. It was a thing of rare beauty.