Carrying spares

[Jess--]

My boat currently has no belt on the engine, it has always had a brief squeal (2 seconds) on startup despite being tight (probably too tight).
on the last trip I noted that the squeal was lasting longer each day so when I got back to the marina I pulled the belt off and ordered 2 new ones when I got home.

I do know however that there is a used belt stashed on the boat, it would probably squeal like mad unless I disable the alternator but it would at least keep the water pump turning to get me to somewhere more convenient (if I'm at the point of throwing a temporary belt on I don't really care if the alternator is charging my batteries or not)

[dccruiser]

Apart from the spanners sockets screwdriver knives hacksaw drill etc. and spares listed i carry a spare fresh water pump a spare shower drain pump, alternator and starter motor, jump leads and a jump pack and the most invaluable bit of kit is a decent head torch .... useful down the hole when you need both hands in failing light and useful for dog walking in the winter months.

 

Rick

 

 

Edited November 8, 2017 by dccruiser

[mross]

22 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

When did your boat last break down and you fixed it by replacing the vee belt then? 

Gwarn admit it, you never have!!

Mike, you are right.  But I don't expect to die and yet I have life insurance.  I'm sure I'll never benefit from it personally but it's still worthwhile.  I would not want to be stuck in the wilds for want of basic spares and tools.  It's a choice and I can see that some prefer to gamble.

[bizzard]

1 hour ago, Jess-- said:

My boat currently has no belt on the engine, it has always had a brief squeal (2 seconds) on startup despite being tight (probably too tight).
on the last trip I noted that the squeal was lasting longer each day so when I got back to the marina I pulled the belt off and ordered 2 new ones when I got home.

I do know however that there is a used belt stashed on the boat, it would probably squeal like mad unless I disable the alternator but it would at least keep the water pump turning to get me to somewhere more convenient (if I'm at the point of throwing a temporary belt on I don't really care if the alternator is charging my batteries or not)

Never disable-disconnect the alternator if it is still to be driven by the belt. Doing so will very likely destroy it.

[MtB]

41 minutes ago, mross said:

Mike, you are right.  But I don't expect to die and yet I have life insurance.

 

I bet you haven't had to claim on that either.

Gwarn admit it!

[Tony Brooks]

1 hour ago, bizzard said:

Never disable-disconnect the alternator if it is still to be driven by the belt. Doing so will very likely destroy it.

I think that is not the whole truth.

Disconnect B+ (or B-) while its running and there is a good chance that  it will fail because of a voltage surge.

Disconnect B+ while its stationary and then start and it will probably survive.

Disconnect B+ and D+ while it is stationary and starst it up and it will survive because in the vast majority of cases it can not energise.

Its disconnecting the load from a running alternator that does the damage but even then modern ones seem less prone to damage like this.

[artleknock]

Looking at some of these lists - do you tow a spare butty behind you?

[LadyG]

i have seen one selling wih a spare engine, no explanation, no suggestion where to store it

 

Edited November 8, 2017 by LadyG

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

50 minutes ago, artleknock said:

Looking at some of these lists - do you tow a spare butty behind you?

Always carry a butty with spare butties behind, with chips. 

 

[dccruiser]

12 minutes ago, LadyG said:

i have seen one selling wih a spare engine, no explanation, no suggestion where to store it

 

Buy it! i will buy the spare engine off you ... i am not carrying one of them! 

Rick