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I came up to Lake George on Monday. After launching Nice Aft, I had an eight mile run to where we were staying. I purposely didn’t fill the ballast (unusual for me) because I wanted to make the run as quick as I could, and the water was not choppy. I opened up the 50HP Honda four stroke to 5,500 RPM’s (red line 6,000). The GPS indicated the speed over ground at sixteen MPH. Everything purred.

The next day I figured I should top off the tanks for the next ten days, so I started the motor and headed out. The motor was a little rough. A moment later it quit. I’m now on the lake with no way to get back. The wind picked up from the direction I needed to turn around to (south), and I’m being blown away (north).

I pay for TowBoatUS, so now was the time to use them, but they don’t answer channel 16. Not on my hand held radio ir my mounted AIS radio with the real tall antenna. BOATUS does answer their phone when we used a cellphone. I was told it would take about an hour and a half for them to arrive. Meanwhile, I attempted to tack my way back, with little headway because where I neede to go was directly into the wind. After about an hour, a power boater in a zippy Stingray offered assistance; I took it.

He took us all the way back to where we needed to be, and got me back to our mooring. Just moments before successfully hooking up, BOATUS calls and wants to know if we still need assistance. That call was a half hour after the anticipated rescue.

I offered our rescuer a $100 bill in appreciation; he refused it, but thanked me anyway.

Now NICEAFT just sits and looks pretty for ten more days. Nobody on Lake George repairs Honda outboards.

That really sucks. I’ve personal experience that provides sympathy. Nice to have friendly folks prepared to tow assist.
Any thots on why your Honda quit? Some dirty gas stirred up!!!?
On a wee Mariner 8 I had a no go issue. It was a stupid O-ring let go on the engine side of gas line when I’d disconnected line to sail (don’t know why I did -But!)
Hope you find a mechanic type tomorrow

Well, she does look pretty sitting there.

Is there anything you can do? Things to check? Plugs? Fuel?

I had a similar thing. Didn't shut off, but ran bad. New plugs made it like new.

First off, I suspect either clogged fuel filter or bad gas.

Second, it’s against the law to do any repairs on the lake; not even on the ramp to remove the boat from the lake.

Ok. So can you pull it on trailer and ( leave it rigged) and get to parking lot. Gas you can change. And test it out . Fuel filter -once you have it - is quick with wrench and pliers to change.

Yes to it all, BUT, this may be sacrilege, I’m on vacation. I can wait until I get home.

We have owned NICEAFT for close to twenty years. When we bought it, my wife and I agreed it’s a toy, and it won’t interfere with our lives.

Disappointed, yes. Ruining our vacation, no.

I hear ya. You are on vacation.

However, you did tow it all the way up there. A boat sitting on a mooring would still draw my desire to fix it.
Then again, I like fixing things more than relaxing.

Your frustration is well felt. I remember at dinner asking you guys who does your buffing/waxing? And the resounding answer was " me and my elbows ".

Informally polling friends with other boats, this has been a common occurrence as old as time. Marina wheels need greasing, or you're in line for weeks/months if you're even granted a position on line.

So, breakout the manual and the tools, you'll figure this one out too, and we'll help you. Just like everyone you have helped and everyone who has helped me.

But, you've got the right approach. Vacation is vacation. Maybe try to start her up again in a day or so, she may surprise you. Could be something simple, like a vent left shut or a safety nub not fully inserted or making proper contact.

Russ wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:43 pm I hear ya. You are on vacation.

However, you did tow it all the way up there. A boat sitting on a mooring would still draw my desire to fix it.
Then again, I like fixing things more than relaxing.

Ordinarily yes to everything you said, but, what I didn’t say earlier is that our younger son and daughter-law from Phoenix are with us, along with their four year old daughter and six year old son. That time is too precious to us for me to be fiddling around in the boat.

I applaud your sense of priorities. Those kids won’t be little for long, and you’ll never regret time spent with them. I have made the mistake of working on stuff in lieu of spending time with my kids in the past. Like Russ, I just love working on things. Especially, after towing the boat to a destination. It would be a tough decision for me to make.

You made the right one.

Be with family. Better choice.

Enjoy.

My wife saw a tee shirt that says “I Fix Things.” She wants to buy me one.

My entire career was making a living by fixing things in the furniture industry. I had a furniture delivery company, but what made me different from any competitor, I also repaired and refinished damaged furniture.

Plumbing is my only downfall.

You made the right decision. Kids grow up quickly.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 4:32 am
Ordinarily yes to everything you said, but, what I didn’t say earlier is that our younger son and daughter-law from Phoenix are with us, along with their four year old daughter and six year old son. That time is too precious to us for me to be fiddling around in the boat.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 1:30 pm My wife saw a tee shirt that says “I Fix Things.” She wants to buy me one.

My entire career was making a living by fixing things in the furniture industry. I had a furniture delivery company, but what made me different from any competitor, I also repaired and refinished damaged furniture.

Plumbing is my only downfall.

My wife did buy one for me that says, "I know stuff and fix things". Now I refuse to know stuff or fix things unless I'm wearing the shirt.

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.