[C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start aftercharging batteries overnight

Jack Brennan jackbrennan at bellsouth.net
Sat Jul 4 18:46:07 PDT 2020 

Well, I may have all of you beat.

A couple of years ago, we were on a weekend trip in Tampa Bay, banging our way through a four-foot chop. Suddenly, without any warning, we started sailing in circles. What the hell?

It was so unexpected that it took me a couple of minutes to figure out what had happened. The last time I had anchored, I had hurriedly tied a bad knot on the line that holds the anchor on the bow roller. The chop was bad enough that the knot worked loose.

Well, the bay was  about 12 feet deep at that place, so it only took a short drop for the anchor to hit bottom and set. We were sailing around our anchor on 130 feet of line and chain in the middle of the bay!

In fact, it set so well that I had a difficult time getting the anchor back up. It became a good but embarrassing story that night when we were anchored out with other members of our cruising club.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.
Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay





Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Harry Juris
Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2020 9:20 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start aftercharging batteries overnight

I guess that proved my point. There are those who have and those who will.

 Harry
 Polar Star 1998 C320 #541
 Nyack Boat Club, Nyack NY

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Chris Burti
Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2020 7:42 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start after charging batteries overnight

I confess 

Best Regards,
Chris Burti
Commitment #867 

> On Jul 3, 2020, at 2:36 PM, P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I confess.
> 
> Frank Ross
> Beta Wave #206
> 
>> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020, 12:52 PM Harry Juris <harry at citron-too.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Kevin, If you are an idiot, I am too for the same reason. (I wonder 
>> how many others will confess)
>> 
>> Harry
>> Polar Star 1998 C320 #541
>> Nyack Boat Club, Nyack NY
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf 
>> Of Kevin Rooney
>> Sent: Friday, July 3, 2020 1:48 PM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start 
>> after charging batteries overnight
>> 
>> Problems resolved. The engine is running.
>> 
>> And I am an idiot! :)
>> 
>> Thank you everyone who weighed in. I can’t tell you how much I 
>> appreciate it.
>> 
>> The run down batteries threw me off the track of something that was 
>> embarrassingly simple.
>> 
>> Because the shore power cord was ajar and not charging I focused 
>> getting those recharged. When the boat would not start when the 
>> batteries were again in good shape I thought I may need to drain the 
>> aqua lift muffler because I’d read that might be needed after too much cranking.
>> 
>> When that did not help I was out of ideas and was trying to think of 
>> any dumb little thing that I hadn’t checked before calling for 
>> professional help (which I probably would not have been able to get 
>> on a holiday weekend).
>> 
>> I went to the binnacle and noticed that the T-shaped handle that we 
>> pull up to shut off the engine was not down all the way! I pushed it 
>> down, and dud, the engine started right up.
>> 
>> And yeah, I’m an idiot. :)
>> 
>> I want to also thank Jeffrey who sent his phone number. I had figured 
>> out the issue a couple minutes earlier, but wow, that’s above and 
>> beyond normal help. I called him anyway (great guy).
>> 
>> I hope you all have a great holiday, and be safe.
>> 
>> Kevin
>> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
>> Deale, MD
>> http://kevjot.com/boat/
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 1:14 PM Jeffrey Brown <oceanblues at mac.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Kevin, call me 9493505123
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 3, 2020, at 9:37 AM, Kevin Rooney <krooney at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Ah, thanks. No water at all has come out of the drain valve. Is 
>>>> that something to be concerned about?
>>>> 
>>>> If not then it appears this has nothing to do with the reason the 
>>>> engine won’t turn over.
>>>> 
>>>> Battery #1 seems to fully charged now and battery #2 is at 80+%.
>>>> 
>>>> I took the boat out without incident last Sunday.
>>>> 
>>>> Anyone have tips on online resources for troubleshooting marine 
>>>> diesels that won’t start? I’m obviously not much of a mechanic but 
>>>> I’m willing to tackle stuff to (hopefully) figure it out.
>>>> 
>>>> Ugh. What a way to start a holiday weekend.
>>>> 
>>>> Kevin
>>>> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
>>>> Deale, MD
>>>> http://kevjot.com/boat/
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 12:20 PM Harry Juris <harry at citron-too.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> If it works, you will see water coming out.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Harry
>>>>> Polar Star 1998 C320 #541
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On 
>>>>> Behalf Of Kevin Rooney
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 3, 2020 12:00 PM
>>>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't 
>>>>> start
>>> after
>>>>> charging batteries overnight
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thank you for the reply, Jeffrey.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Before I just start twisting things can you (or anyone) confirm 
>>>>> that
>>> this
>>>>> is what I turn? (see photo at link)
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://kevjot.com/boat/muffler.jpg
>>>>> 
>>>>> If it is, will I hear it drain? In other words, how will I know it
>>> worked?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Kevin
>>>>> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
>>>>> Deale, MD
>>>>> http://kevjot.com/boat/
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 11:28 AM Jeffrey Brown <oceanblues at mac.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Kevin
>>>>>> There should be a little valve at the low point of the muffler, 
>>>>>> just open it up.
>>>>>> Jeff Brown
>>>>>> "Out of the blue" Dana Point, CA
>>>>>> Catalina 320, Hull 78
>>>>>> (949) 350-5123
>>>>>> oceanblues at mac.com
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Jul 3, 2020, at 8:23 AM, Kevin Rooney <krooney at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I got to the boat (1995, #211) yesterday evening and tried to 
>>>>>>> start the engine to no avail. I found that my AGM batteries were 
>>>>>>> low (they're only 2-years-old), which led me to realize that the 
>>>>>>> shore power line was ajar enough to keep juice from getting to 
>>>>>>> the
>> boat.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> The fridge had been running down the batteries for 4 days in hot
>>>>> weather.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I let the batteries charge overnight. They appear to be OK now. 
>>>>>>> I don't know much about electrical stuff but it certainly seems 
>>>>>>> that it should
>>>>>> now
>>>>>>> start the engine with one battery showing a voltage of 12.6 and 
>>>>>>> the other 12.4.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Photos of voltmeter: http://kevjot.com/boat/battery.jpg
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Might I need to drain the Aqua Lift muffler because of too much
>>>>> cranking?
>>>>>>> If so, how do I do that?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Of any other ideas?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Kevin
>>>>>>> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
>>>>>>> Deale, MD
>>>>>>> http://kevjot.com/boat/
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> --
>>>>> sent via mobile
>>>>> 
>>>>> --
>>>> sent via mobile
>>> 
>>> --
>> sent via mobile
>> 
>>

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