Outboard motor repair classes and SCUBA strategy

AndreasNYC · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

Hello Everyone

1st of if I posted this in the wrong section sorry.

I am looking for outboard motor repair and maintenance classes in the NYC area.

Specifically I will be crewing on a boat in the Pacific where mechanics and engines are heard to come by.

We will be doing a lot of SCUBA so there will be much dingy use.

I am wondering about strategies that can keep us safe in case of outboard engine failure. The currents are often strong there.

Getting caught down-current with a broken motor is a major concern because the next stop could be Australia.

This is especially true if there is no one on board who could come get us...

This is of course an issue of safety and staffing. Basically everyone wants to go diving. One person has to man the dingy. Should I insist someone stay on board as well?

For now I am looking to learn outboard motor repair,trouble shooting and maintenance. However I would love to hear everyone's advice on the above issues.

thanks

Andreas

tommays · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

There is a night course on Long Island at Wilson Tech Boces in Northport But beyond changing a spark plug or pull cord there is not much your going to fix on the water away from your tools and spares

AndreasNYC · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

So given the situation should I leave the tools and spares on board of the dingy?

Andreas

Tempest · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

How big a Dinghy are we talking about? If it's that crucial, maybe you want twin engines..
Barring that, a repair course is not a bad Idea, but while someone's playing with a broken motor..The swimmers are drifting away.

When diving in a current, the strategy is usually to dive upstream and have the boat pick you up down current..( drift dive) .So yes it's a good idea to leave someone or a (team) with the vessel.....while the other team dives...and agree on a pick up point..

kd3pc · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

as a minimum...anything with an engine you need to have a spare plug, socket or wrench for same, second container of clean fuel, spare impeller and tools to replace.

So, yes you need some kind of emergency kit...some shrouds for the outboard have enough room to duct tape a pelican box inside to hold this.

VHF and Plb, unless you are in sight of the mother ship, and at least a first aid/survival ditchbag with you as well.

As to the scuba, the boat is going to drift with the surface, you the diver may or may not drift at all, or you may drift 2x or 3x what the surface is....you will be sorely disappointed if you leave the dinghy unattended whilst you dive...someone HAS to be on the surface on the boat, in the event of an emergency...and they will happen while diving.

YMMV

rikhall · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

Been diving since 1963. I would not dive unless there was someone in the mother ship who was competent in the control of it and someone in the dingy.

I am a good swimmer, but AUS is too far!

Rik

PaulfromNWOnt · #7 (**permalink**) 09-04-2011

Would you go scuba diving with only a single source of air?

Why on earth would you dive with no-one on the mother ship to come get you in the event of an incident?

Take turns, draw straws, flip coins. Find a way to have that extra margin of safety.

Sometimes when an outboard fails you can fix it in place. Sometimes it's as easy as changing a plug, or pulling the shroud and wrapping the cord directly onto the flywheel. Sometimes the crank seal goes, and that isn't something that's easily repaired (especially when there's some increasing distance between you, tools, and parts).

Bring paddles.

AndreasNYC · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2011

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

In principle I agree that its best to have someone left on the mothership.

However we will probably only be 4 people and one of us can't really handle the boat.

We are def. leaving one on the dingy. a 2nd motor might be the way to go.

Might be a good idea to hire a crew member.

I will think about all the comments and let you guys know what transpires.

Andreas

hellosailor · #9 (**permalink**) 09-04-2011

Leave someone on the mothership.

Leave someone/somewhere a float plan, i.e. "If we do not contact you by...send help."

And take some kind of radio communications on the dink. Whatever works out there, an EPIRB, PLB, Satphone, VHF, cell phone...surely there's something that can be tied in a plastic bag for the trip.