[Rhodes22-list] Stupid people tricks

Wed Jul 16 14:40:06 EDT 2003

Rummy,

Sorry, but I have to disagree with your analysis re the fouling 2-cycle
spark plugs.  I did not allow the engine to overheat; but, in the heat of
the moment, I also wasn't able to prevent the fuel starvation problem &
resultant engine stalling.  Later, when I removed the spark plugs, they were
severely oil fouled.  Replacing the fouled plugs with a fresh set resulting
in the engine immediately starting & running smoothly.  A 4-cycle engine
under the same circumstances would have simply stalled out, but would have
repeatedly restarted as soon as the fuel level in the carb's float bowl was
reestablished.  Yes, of course one must be careful to not let any outboard
engine overheat during a cavitation situation.  However, 4-cycle engines are
intrinsically more resistant to overheating in such a transient situation
because of the heat capacity represented by the oil they carry in their oil
reservoirs.  In effect, any 4-cycle engine is also partially "oil-cooled", a
property which 2-cycle engines do not have.

I have two 4-cycle Honda outboard engines.  Recall that one of them is a 9.9
hp standard shaft length model installed on our 10 ft. inflatable sport
dingy.  Do you recall the story I posted a couple of years ago wherein my
younger son, Gary, accidently fell overboard while he was fooling around
with the boat by himself?  The dingy sped away from him at full throttle,
ran thru a marshy area, up a hill, & wedged itself between two trees at the
top of the hill.  It took several minutes for Gary to swim, wade, climb to
reach the boat.  All the while, the outboard was running at full throttle
with no water cooling what so ever!  The only damage to the engine was to
the rubber water pump impeller & water pump housing, which literally got so
hot, it melted!  The engine oil was black as coal tar.  But, after a good
flushing & replacing the water pump, the engine runs as good as new.  The
cylinder compression is still within normal tolerances, the engine doesn't
use or leak any oil, doesn't smoke, & top speed is about the same as before.
I submit to you that this test was several orders of magnitude more severe
than would be experienced on the stern of our R-22's in a prop cavitation
situation & yet the 4-cycle engine did not sieze.  The only reason this
result is possible is because of the additional cooling and superior
lubrication provided by the on-board oil reservoir in the 4-cycle engine.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Tonjes" <johntonjes at earthlink.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 1:07 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Stupid people tricks

> All right people, I've been biting my tongue all morning, but I have
> finally reached the point of no return. Apparently some of the list
members
> have forgotten the check list of things to make sure operate and that they
> know how to operate PRIOR to launching. The term "dumber than a sack of
> hammers" comes to mind, but I don't want to start a flaming war or
anything
> over this.
> After all, this IS boating and certain skills are required and safety
items
> need to be reviewed prior to setting out for the season. Having a properly
> maintained outboard is certainly one of those items.
> Roger's statement that the 2 stroke plugs fouled out because the motor was
> cavitating and purchasing a four stroke solved that problem is bunk. The
> only reason the four stroke doesn't foul is because of the longer shaft.
It
> stays in the water allowing the engine to cool properly. If the four
stroke
> were to cavitate as much as the 2 stroke,  I guarantee you that it would
> also foul and probably seize. Engines, whether they be 2 stroke or 4
stroke
> don't like to run hot.
> I am now stepping down from the soap box.
>
> Rummy
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Bob Weber <ruba1811 at hotmail.com>
> > To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Date: 7/16/2003 11:32:23 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Problems with the launching of Carmie Anne
> >
> > Jim, good story.  I almost recked my boat on her maiden launching.  Stan
> > should really have the first page of his manual to read "The first
launch
> is
> > the most dangerous - prepare for the unexpected".  My problem had to do
> with
> > access to the motor controls around the motor lift.  I now have a brail
> > system that works quiet well.  Bob Weber
> >
> >
> > >From: LafingBear at aol.com
> > >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > >To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> > >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Problems with the launching of Carmie Anne
> > >Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 23:37:42 EDT
> > >
> > >I finally got the boat ready to launch after endless delays and a death
> in
> > >the family. My daughter and her husband came down from Mass. and we had
> one
> > >day
> > >to get her in the water. It was Sat. it,was windy, it was choppy, and
the
> > >marina was crowded.   After backing her off the trailer there was no
> room
> > >to turn
> > >her around, so I kept backing her out between the two rows of big
boats.
> > >Because of the heavy chop, the motor kept bobbing up out of the water
> and
> > >just as I
> > >got ready to reverse direction ,the motor quit. The wind was between
> > >1-15kts
> > >and I'm now driftng rapidly towards the docked boats. I had removed my
> > >light
> > >anchor to replace the chain and I didn't have time to drop the main
> anchor.
> > >Sooo, I told my daughter to drop the centerboard all the way(  it would
> act
> > >as a
> > >brake as I  went up on the gravel shoreline and it would straighten out
> the
> > >boat so I had some steerage.) There was one open slip at the end of the
> > >docks
> > >and I got the boat close enough to get a line over a post and we
> stopped
> > >her
> > >just four feet from the shore. Neat way to start the season!!. I have
now
> > >ordered a long shaft 4cycle Mercury as my other motor is burned out and
> not
> > >trustworthy. I was amazed at how fast a motor can seize up! Live and
> learn,
> > >and don't
> > >forget!
> > >For those of you who sail on Lake Wallenpaupack, in Pa., the Carmie
Anne
> > >has
> > >a dark blue hull, red rubline, and white topsides and she's docked at
> > >Woodland
> > >Hills, next to the Cove Haven resort. I'll be up at the lake most of
> August
> > >and would like to meet up with the other Rhodies on the lake.
> > >Jim Gifford
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
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>
>
>
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