Hammertime

20 years of learning when it's the appropriate time to hit stuff with a hammer is priceless at 1:00AM while drifting towards a dark and rocky shore.

We were struggling along into a stiff current with light, shifty wind; making progress albeit slowly. Then the wind shifted right into our teeth and the autopilot had a conniption... We lost momentum.

The current and wind gave us two options: drift Northwest to shore or sail Southwest to shore. Shore is dark & rocky. Making any meaningful progress East against a 120° wind and a 160° current was improbable.

Ok. Pride be damned. Turn on the engine.

Click.
Click.

Cli...ck

This is not a happy sound in this situation.

Fortunately I've owned a number of old Land Cruisers with a variety of starter issues. I jumped into checking voltage and realized it was almost certainly the starter solenoid. I've heard/seen/felt this before. Best short term fix? Hammertime.

It took a few tries but the hammer saved the day (along w jumping the house and starter batteries for more umph)

Normally I'm happier w/o the thrum of diesel while underway but right now it sounds a lot like safety.

Many thanks to those who have patiently taught me to turn wrenches.Leia mais