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Thanks for the update. That’s certainly frustrating info you’ve figured out. Hopefully you are able to use your ‘toy’ to enhance the rest of your holiday. Macgregor on!!!

NiceAft wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:44 pm The weather wasn’t so great on Saturday, so I went to the boat to check it over again. When I raised the motor, the fuel line fell out. Really strange. Something very improbable. In nineteen years, that had never happened. Not only that, but in order to disconnect the line at the motor, one has to squeeze the connector quite hard.
Needless to say, when reconnected, the motor started, and ran well.

The cord on the pick up stick I was using was also cut and the stick floated away. When I found it, the cord was cut, it was frayed and there was no loose end still attached to where it was tied. I believe I was the victim of sabotage.

First, my condolences for the situation you are dealing with.

Second, The Game is afoot!
Our suspect is:
1. Someone who understands a motor's dependence on fuel.
2. Someone with the strength to disconnect the fuel line.
3. Regarding the pick up stick, someone with access to a knife and perhaps an understanding of the stick's importance.
4. Someone with sufficient motive to perform such tasks.
5. A bored individual with too much time on their hands.

Given your account of the barbarity of the local power boaters, it seems your suspects would abound. Did you spark any animus among them? On the other hand, one cannot underestimate the ability and tenacity of bored and clever youngster...

Stickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 5:41 pm

NiceAft wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:44 pm The weather wasn’t so great on Saturday, so I went to the boat to check it over again. When I raised the motor, the fuel line fell out. Really strange. Something very improbable. In nineteen years, that had never happened. Not only that, but in order to disconnect the line at the motor, one has to squeeze the connector quite hard.
Needless to say, when reconnected, the motor started, and ran well.

The cord on the pick up stick I was using was also cut and the stick floated away. When I found it, the cord was cut, it was frayed and there was no loose end still attached to where it was tied. I believe I was the victim of sabotage.

First, my condolences for the situation you are dealing with.

Second, The Game is afoot!
Our suspect is:
1. Someone who understands a motor's dependence on fuel.
2. Someone with the strength to disconnect the fuel line.
3. Regarding the pick up stick, someone with access to a knife and perhaps an understanding of the stick's importance.
4. Someone with sufficient motive to perform such tasks.
5. A bored individual with too much time on their hands.

Given your account of the barbarity of the local power boaters, it seems your suspects would abound. Did you spark any animus among them? On the other hand, one cannot underestimate the ability and tenacity of bored and clever youngster...

You’ve got too much time on your hands.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:44 pm The weather wasn’t so great on Saturday, so I went to the boat to check it over again. When I raised the motor, the fuel line fell out. Really strange. Something very improbable. In nineteen years, that had never happened. Not only that, but in order to disconnect the line at the motor, one has to squeeze the connector quite hard.
Needless to say, when reconnected, the motor started, and ran well.

The cord on the pick up stick I was using was also cut and the stick floated away. When I found it, the cord was cut, it was frayed and there was no loose end still attached to where it was tied. I believe I was the victim of sabotage.

Sounds like you got off lucky. Vandalism and thievery is usually much worse than a cut string and removed fuel line...

Glad you found the problem, though.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 6:15 pm

Stickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 5:41 pm

NiceAft wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:44 pm The weather wasn’t so great on Saturday, so I went to the boat to check it over again. When I raised the motor, the fuel line fell out. Really strange. Something very improbable. In nineteen years, that had never happened. Not only that, but in order to disconnect the line at the motor, one has to squeeze the connector quite hard.
Needless to say, when reconnected, the motor started, and ran well.

The cord on the pick up stick I was using was also cut and the stick floated away. When I found it, the cord was cut, it was frayed and there was no loose end still attached to where it was tied. I believe I was the victim of sabotage.

First, my condolences for the situation you are dealing with.

Second, The Game is afoot!
Our suspect is:
1. Someone who understands a motor's dependence on fuel.
2. Someone with the strength to disconnect the fuel line.
3. Regarding the pick up stick, someone with access to a knife and perhaps an understanding of the stick's importance.
4. Someone with sufficient motive to perform such tasks.
5. A bored individual with too much time on their hands.

Given your account of the barbarity of the local power boaters, it seems your suspects would abound. Did you spark any animus among them? On the other hand, one cannot underestimate the ability and tenacity of bored and clever youngster...

You’ve got too much time on your hands.

Or too little judgement regarding what I do with my time, perhaps!?

Stickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:45 pm Or too little judgement regarding what I do with my time, perhaps!?

Or, a rapier wit and equally sharp sense of sarcasm; combined with an interest in the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...

I got a chuckle out of it. Well played.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:44 pm Needless to say, when reconnected, the motor started, and ran well.

I believe I was the victim of sabotage.

First, great news that a simple fuel line was an easy fix.

Strange sabotage if that is the case.
I can see pulling a fuel line as mischief. But why cut the pole? Weird.

I had a friend back in NJ who kept his boat on a mooring at Perth Amboy Yacht Club. Vandals once cut boats free of their moorings and they drifted over and were found on Staten Island. Pretty bad.

Good news is your boat is working again and maybe you can take those kids out.

I had a similar issue a couple years back with my Honda 50 and was the first time I had this issue since I bought the boat and motor new in 1996!. This was at the beginning of the season after sitting around 6 months. The motor seemed to run fine at home which was not the case once out on the ocean where it did not stall but ran very rough. As someone working in the oil and gas industry, I attribute this to the cleaner mixtures of gas now being produced. To address the immediate issue, I rebuilt all three carbs and replaced the fuel filter and this did the trick. To avoid in the future (and would recommend this for all motors), I run the motor out of gas (as part of the engine cleaning process) after every use. At the beginning of the season, I replace all the old gas in the tanks. I put the old gas in my Suburban which burns most without a problem. Hope this helps.....

Hi Nice Aft!

???

sabotage

???

Weird things to bother with….
Any potential way things could have been pinched? Recently serviced?
It seems most ‘vandals’ have either a profit or malicious motive… seldom just a screwing around with ya motive.
Any other boats in your immediate area bothered with?

From my personal and professional experiences it always pays to make sure the primary systems are all “plugged-in”.
Both electrically and hydraulically.
(I’ve had my own share of instances of not taking the time to do that at the moment to my regret and inconvenience.🫣)

Glad things worked out for you without further aggravation or expense.
Cute kiddos!

Best Regards
Over Easy

To those who asked if we did get the grandkids on the boat, yes we did. They don’t get much of a chance in Phoenix.


He wanted to sit below and look out the window. The rocking motion got the best of him.

Jez Ray sorry to hear of ur issue on Vac. , but glad u found & sorted it all out & got it running again good for u , my fuel line is clamped directly to the engine no quick disconnect there only at the fuel tank end










my fuel line is also cut in half to accommodate a fuel water separator so it,s custom made to speak of so not much good to anyone else & its permanently mounted to the boat this is the best way to go to avoid bad fuel issue,s , I do keep a spare fuel line on board also

Anyway Ray all the best to U & family & enjoy ur precious time together for the rest of ur vac.

J

Oh Yeah I heard a rumor that Seal Team 6 is there now searchin for some saboteurs there so u might wanna b watchin for some floating debri in that area ?

Ray
I found the perfect T Shirt for U should fit like a T
I,m sure the family will get a kick outa it lol




or maybe this one as well




Must b Miller time there by now

J

Boats and a beautiful family with you. You are a blessed man Ray.

It's weird how that fuel line came out. Mine also has a clip that needs to be squeezed hard to pull off the motor. But then again my tilt control got messed up once with something in the motor well. Hopefully, it was just a freak accident.

Highlander wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 2:50 pm Ray
I found the perfect T Shirt for U should fit like a T
I,m sure the family will get a kick outa it lol


[/or maybe this one as well


[url=https://postimg.cc/Xp9X6hDj]

Must b Miller time there by now

J

John,

I already have the second shirt.

A related thought - put a motion sensitive batter powered indoor/outdoor camera (one with internet access) on your mast (or wherever) facing the cockpit. If this happens again, you'll have a better change of gathering info.