Outboard reliability

[jimbo747]

Posting this here as would like to get views from the Gurnard and Douglas and other apparent long distance/high frequency users.

Do you guys pack a spare OB when heading out or are outboards reliable enough that failure is an extremely unlikely event?

I am really liking the idea of the Frib 275 and 6hp engine: I know from previous sailing experience that the bigger the boat the less I will use it. But that doesn’t leave room for a spare ob.

James

[Martin]

Hi Jimbo,
The well known brands of four strokes are superbly efficient and reliable these days.
During the last 4 years of our WWA, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a four stroke miss a beat, in fact it’s always been the two strokes that have had reliability issues.
That said, anything can breakdown.. Regular servicing and looking after your outboard it should do you proud.

I don’t think the gurnard ever carried a aux on his little Frib, though he pretty much took an aux everywhere he went when out in the gurnard itself.

If you can stretch to a recent or new Honda,Yamaha, Suzuki or Tohatsu four stroke outboard you’ll be about as reliable as you can be with a single unit.

Some of the guys with 3.5mtr boats and above carry aux motors.. on a Frib 275 you really do have a severe lack of room.

I started writing about passage plans /communication devices/plb’s etc but reading your post again I guess your well rehearsed on this

Martin

[jimbo747]

Thanks Martin, that’s good to know.

I tend towards caution when out on the kayak. I carry a mobile phone*, VHF and PLB, always wear a dry suit even in summer, wear a PFD, let my family know where I am going, etc.

*the key benefit of the phone being that I can receive safety critical messages (“what do you want for tea”, “you haven’t forgotten to pick up milk” and occasionally and in contradiction to the last sentence in the previous paragraph “how is your day in the office going”.

I had a nasty incident last March. I normally paddle a kayak but bought a Hobie pedal powered one. A friend and I fished about a mile out, but I had to come back in for a family function. It was very cold and I put my hands in my PFD while pedalling. A wave from behind pushed the rudder over, the kayak went one way and I went the other. Now in a paddle kayak I rarely lash myself to the kayak but my paddle is lashed, so I hang on to my paddle if I go over (in 4years in the kaskazi in much worse weather I have never gone over!). On this occasion I wasn’t lashed, and with the wind the kayak continued on its merry way and it quickly became obvious that I was just wasting energy trying to catch up.

Fortunately my colleague had his radio on.....it took him about ten minutes to reach me by which time I was extremely cold - almost too cold to get back on board. It was only when I got back to shore that I realised my dry suit was full of water. I hadn’t pulled the relief zip tight after taking a leak earlier.

Had I been on my own it would have been a very different outcome I think - say 20 minutes for the lifeboat to reach me, in March sea temperatures? Severe hypothermia at best I would think. My colleague found the whole thing quite funny until I pointed out to him that his habit of securing his vhf to his kayak, and keeping his PFD unzipped, would certainly have led to a very different outcome in his case.

Lesson learned for both of us .

[PeterM]

Really interesting post Jimbo . Of course the recent case of the competition paddlers death from Swanage shows it can go wrong.


Re the reliabilty of engines - I've only ever had one issue on my 'main' engine ( a yamaha 4 stroke) in 13 years - and that was down to me running it out of fuel and struggling to get an airlock sorted. The manufacturing tolenrance of new engines is amazing - they are becoming as good as car engines in reliability.

I'd always go with preventative maintenance as a priority in owning an engine, getting to know it & what bits do what avoid issues. I think as Jimbo poinbted out having a 2nd option ( after your own VHF , PLF etc ) of another mate in another boat can make things much simpler if things go wrong - but having said that I've done lots of single engine solo trips , but only as I have faith in the motor.

I tend to have the thought of if I dont have faith my engine will do what I need today I wont take it out - and if I dont have faith ( if a new motor to me) - I always try and drag another boat out with me

[9-R]

It's crossed my mind on occasion, especially when we had our family on longer excursions in our SIB. We're never as remote as what you probably venture out though and have been within distance to shore to paddle. We have a tow package automatically included with our insurance and they are relatively close where ever we've taken our boats.

However, I do know of quite a few that venture out for offshore fishing and the majority of them use the buddy system just as you describe in your event. Doesn't matter if it is 10 or 50 miles out and the weather looks calm, they'll usually team up with a friend or someone at the docks. I hear more stories about a bilge pump not functioning and taking on water, a sudden unexpected storm or someone overboard without being tethered.

Having a spare OB is only good for one issue, a non-functioning motor. It doesn't help you out in any other detrimental event that can occur. At least you have paddles to get you to dry ground?

As far as reliability, I'm with Martin in his review of the modern, major brand outboards. Maintained properly, I haven't heard or read of anyone being stranded because of one. It is nice though having odd tools and parts about you though. Our 20hp 4s quit on us in the middle of a large lake. Wouldn't start again. Found out the gas line within the gas tank had fallen off into the fuel and I couldn't retrieve it. Thankfully, I had a piece of fuel line from my old Jeep in with my tools for some weird reason. It was the perfect fit and length and got us going again.

[jimbo747]

Thanks. Reassuring to know that reliability is so much improved.

I suppose its just something that I'll have to get used to. With a kayak, you always have a paddle so unless "you" break down, you can always get somewhere. My previous boats were all sail powered, mostly with outboards as auxiliaries - older 2 strokes. I well remember fighting the tide in the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour with the prop flying out of the water on every gin-palace induced wave, hearing the thing sputtering ...and praying .

[James]

My 1999 2-Stoke Johnson has covered 100's of miles in 2 years.

I did rebuild it though
Never missed a beat.

Gonna be interesting when I fire it up soon for this season. I've not been started in over a year.
Luckily it's in dry and warm storage, so will probably be covered in dust.

Even with mine, or modern engines, I'd worry about being out alone. After all, engines are mechanical and like anything can just go.

[James]

Look after your fuel, maintain the engine and you should in reality be ok.

Modern 4 strokes are super efficient and reliable, two strokes are reliable by their simplicity. It’s generally user error rather than mechanical failure.
Again.. prevention is better than cure.

[Devondafty]

Hello. This is my first post, although ive read plenty for quite some time. As far as reliability goes Ive found outboards to be hyper reliable in general so long as looked after. The only worry, and its one I have now, is that you buy a used on that has been submerged in the past. I have relied on numerous new and old 25hp yam and suzi 2 strokes for my main transport ( no roads on the island) and never once did they break down. They were abused and ignored but as soon as they were submerged it was the beginning of the end. I had some unfortunate experiences with evinrude 60hp motors but there were 2 of them on a big rib. Rarely was one going at any one time...