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I recently purchased a beautiful 1997 Grady White Sailfish 272 with 2 Yamaha 225 SWS-II Model S225TXRV. In the sea trial the engines checked out fine and we we did full PM before launching, including new water pumps. Both the engines have about 900 hours on them -- not great but still lots of life left.
We were very favorably impressed with the performance and economy of the engines, especially after a horrendous experience with our last boat with two M word 2 strokes.
Anyway, last week we were cruising out toward the inlet to do some flounder fishing at about 4,000 RPMs when we heard that awful sound of a a cylinder detonating and the engine going down for good.
We pulled out of the channel and dropped the anchor to see what the hell was going on. When we pulled the cover, we were horrified to see the oil reservoir with only a 1/2 inch of oil in it and the float sensor apparently stuck at full.
So it seems the oil pump shut off when the sensor stuck, but there was no warning -- no horn (which can scare the dead when you start the engines) and no safety shutdown when the oil level was critically low. (Engine reservoir only - the tanks on the boat were plenty full)
Our marina service manager --- a very experienced guy who has an impeccable reputation in the Jersey shore boating community --- says he has never seen a cascade failure such as this.
Right now, we want to go back to fishing. Tomorrow if possible. We ordered a new short block and hope to be back in the water in a week or so. But the question is....what the hell happened and how do we avoid a repeat? Do we have to pull the cowls before every trip and stop every hour to make sure we aren't starved for oil?
Anyone have a similar experience?
We were very favorably impressed with the performance and economy of the engines, especially after a horrendous experience with our last boat with two M word 2 strokes.
Anyway, last week we were cruising out toward the inlet to do some flounder fishing at about 4,000 RPMs when we heard that awful sound of a a cylinder detonating and the engine going down for good.
We pulled out of the channel and dropped the anchor to see what the hell was going on. When we pulled the cover, we were horrified to see the oil reservoir with only a 1/2 inch of oil in it and the float sensor apparently stuck at full.
So it seems the oil pump shut off when the sensor stuck, but there was no warning -- no horn (which can scare the dead when you start the engines) and no safety shutdown when the oil level was critically low. (Engine reservoir only - the tanks on the boat were plenty full)
Our marina service manager --- a very experienced guy who has an impeccable reputation in the Jersey shore boating community --- says he has never seen a cascade failure such as this.
Right now, we want to go back to fishing. Tomorrow if possible. We ordered a new short block and hope to be back in the water in a week or so. But the question is....what the hell happened and how do we avoid a repeat? Do we have to pull the cowls before every trip and stop every hour to make sure we aren't starved for oil?
Anyone have a similar experience?
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