maiden voyage woes....

Dirtythirty

So....we went to bring her home on Sunday. The first 50 miles went without a hitch, Then, I noticed a very slight change in the tone of the engines, almost like there was less load on them.  Next, the depth sounder started to flash on and off intermittently.  Then we lost the port engine.  The master alarm stated" low voltage sus" and the starboard engine was put into limp mode and limited to 1500 rpms.   20 minutes later, the starboard engine quit and we were dead in the water. The radar display went blank and we cell phoned for Sea Tow.  We were lucky to get the anchor down as the current was VERY strong. 
After many phone calls to the dealer and to the local Volvo service center, it was thought that perhaps by starting the generator and shutting down all the systems, perhaps we could get enough voltage to get her up and running. The best we could do before we got towed in, was get the starboard engine running again, but not out of limp mede. The port engine continued to just crank.  Somehow, I was able to pull the anchor up by hand.  
They still haven't look at it yet, but general opinion seems to center around electrical and not mechanical. As the radar and depth sound came back up after we ran the generator.

Ideas ? .......Thoughts ?

LaRea

Dang - sorry to hear that.  The behavior is consistent with a dead alternator, but ... both alternators at once?  Gotta be some disconnected wires somewhere.

Cableguy Greg

Battery breakers tripped??? That happened to me on my maiden voyage. Had to put the battery switch on Emergency to get the anchor up and engine started.

212rowboat

Batteries and alternators/generators work in concert... If one is bad, the other will follow if not addressed quick enough.. if one bank fails, it'll kill the other bank if the load isn't adjusted accordingly.. 

I'd present one went bad.. an alternator or a battery bank, and it killed the other, and because the load was the same but now on one bank/battery, it whacked it too. 

Dirtythirty

ill most likely find out today, but over the winter both alternates were replaced with brand new ones.   updates are coming, stay tuned
Thanks for the input

212rowboat

Ouch... Alternators have gone to pieces industry wide... Likely two out of five bad out of the box... To the point reputable dealers will place an order for a customer, and order two instead of one, anticipating one of them to be bad.  they'll not sustain a load.  You can thank off shore manufacturers for this, and it's not confined to just alternators but many many parts.... 

Now, the fact it would "crank and crank" speaks of something else, though.  

In not so many years ago, also known as the dark ages, regulators were separate from alternators... Then afterward, in the semi light ages, they were moved aboard the alternator... Now, they still have an on board regulator, but the charge is managed by the pcm.  At least on cars... I'd guess on boats, too... Batteries require at least 13.5v to  trickle, and 14.5v to burst charge... A pcm will monitor the voltage and adjust accordingly... So... A battery well charged will only take 14.5v as commanded.from the pcm for a few minutes and to recover from start up, then it will fall back to sustainment of 13.5 to 13.8.... and only increase as demand from battery itself increases.  

I bet you have a bad connection somewhere, and your issue is that simple.  A bad grounding strap on the block orpcm... A loose connection on a panel or blown inline fuse... I'd still have those alternators load tested, though, because like I said they've quite the reputation in the past few years and getting worse... To the point that I'd have one rebuilt by a good builder before I'd buy a replacement. 

craigswardmtb

212 Knows his stuff.  And in my unprofessional opinion it certainly sounds like a bad ground for a connection somewhere.  Sorry to hear of your woes.   There is nothing worse than having issues on your first cruise on a new boat. Bummer.

Dirtythirty

Hey guys...Thanks for all that input.  Still waiting to hear from someone, and Im hoping for better news, not worse news.  Its a shame. She was running nicely up to that point and I was commenting on ow well she ran, and how quickly she planed out.  Hoping better days are ahead.  Fingers crossed !!!!!

MarkB

Yes, I concur with others. My guess is its the alternator. 

Dream_Inn

Sorry to hear, but hopefully you get all those bugs worked out.  It's one of those things when you get a boat.  I think it took my whole first season to get my boat in good working order.

Handymans342

I will second that!

raybo3

Things will work out and you will love your boat like the rest of us here at the RBOC

rasbury

me to dream, heck dirty, just look at the stream of problems I had just about on every component on the boat. I bet the guy that sold it was laughing as I drove away with my gem in the ruff-we LOVE our boat and all the work I did and all the people I have been introduced to here have only made me learn my boat better. You will get there, after a year we are just starting to enjoy the benefits of all the hard work and would not want to be doing anything else. Heading out for the holiday weekend Saturday for two nights on the water. You will get there! Hang in there! Take this as time to learn your boat- I am not a mechanic by any stretch but have learned a LOT from these guys..

rasbury

and grab a manual and a meter, these things are not hard to check! Heck, you could have a bad ignition switch, don't assume the worst as I often do!

Dirtythirty

So todays update, which isn't much of an update, except that Im paying $83.00 a day to keep my boat in some marina in Delaware and nothing is getting done. (just a little frustrating)  Latest thoughts are, replaced two batteries, (that didn't get the port engine started) so now looking at a fuel pump for the port side. Oh ....no worries, just a cool $3500. for that.   But still not a clue if thats the problem.  Stay tuned !

212rowboat

You're getting taken.  Lawyer up. 

Weber

What marina?

Dirtythirty

Delaware City Marina

Weber

If you need help looking at it or anything let me know, I'm not to far away.

Dan4754

Did you say/type THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS for  a fuel pump?

Dream_Inn

Wow, that is one heck of a fuel pump!  I've recently replace both of mine...I think they were maybe $800 each.  Merc did have a lot of issues with their fuel pumps, especially paint peeling inside and clogging the regulator.  Please keep us updated.

Stodge

Someone put an extra zero at the end of the fuel pump price.  Holy Cow!!

explore7425

I live in Newark, DE just a few miles from that marina. I have a computer to scan your engines if you need it. I also have a friend at that marina if you need intel on the service department. Let Weber (one of my dockmates) come by. A little advice will save you thousands here. I'm not a mechanic but I have had boats all my life. I pass there every day. I'd be happy to stop by and help in anyway. Shoot me an email if you want my number rbatdorf@me.com

Dirtythirty

OK....we made it back to Jersey !   Luckily we didn't need that fuel pump, (no kidding, $3500 for just one)  This is what I know so far.  We still have a voltage issue. I am replacing the other four batteries, as I know they are not holding a charge.  This could be the source of the windlass now not working and the trim tabs now not working. Im hoping the fuel gauges will also come back to life. If not, then I have serious electrical problems.  The boat ran well on the way back up. I did have that same issue with the depth finder blinking on and off again, but this time I turned on the generator, and although it did not stop the depth finder from blinking,  the depth finder did not shut off completely, hence we did not loose any engines.  Batteries first, and then we will see what happens.

Explore7425, Thanks for the offer, I just found out that my NJ marina (who is Volvo Penta certified, is only certified on gas, not diesel......so at some point, if these problems don't get fixed after the batteries are replaced, I may hit you up for some help !!

Handymans342

The correct term is an Injector pump and yes for a diesel they re very expensive but they can be rebuilt

explore7425

I hope you get things straight. You should really think about getting off the Rancocas and come down here. I guarantee you wont be disappointed. I have had boats off the Delaware, Absecon, and Atlantic City. The Chesapeake is where it's at. I work up in Camden county and live in Newark, DE. I am from Bellmawr. I know all the spots in between. Our marina is only about an hour from Delran in MD.