Several days ago I had cleaned S/V Tapdole's bottom smooth as a baby's bottom. I also removed the Suzuki O/B, took it home and gave it a good clean, fresh water wash down, oil, lube, etc. All ran smoothly.
Today I went sailing - clean bottom, freshly prepped O/B and beautiful weather although a little hot - 89 degrees which was/is a 100 year old record breaker (previous 87) for 10 December. Blue skies, no clouds; gentle winds 7-8 kts steady ESE.
Started the O/B and motored out of the mooring field and channel. Once in Biscayne Bay, raised main and jib and cut off the O/B, tilting it up out of the water. Another Typhoon Weekender came out sailing after a while and we played for some time.
After about 2 1/2 hours, decided it was time to head back in. Started the O/B. No problems. Lowered RPMs to idle while I lowered the jib and then the main. Just then the O/B quit. I attempted to restart. No success. With sails down I was starting to drift toward shore. I quickly deployed my anchor and began to assess the O/B issue.
It would only start with high RPM locked in. As soon as I lowered RPMs to idle it would quit within 15-20 seconds. I finally decided it had to be the lower speed/RPM jet that was clogged. I was able to twist the throttle between high RPM and lower RPM for a while and finally was able to get the O/B to idle at low RPM.
In bringing up the anchor, I managed to bring aboard about 5 lbs. of Biscayne Bay gray muck all over the forward deck, Genoa, etc. which gradually worked its way back to the stern along each deck side.
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
The O/B ran fine back to the mooring and while I was on the mooring cleaning things up a little.
I have come to conclusion that it is once again this new 10% Ethanol gas ($%^&#@!!!) that is the culprit. It "cleans" everything it touches and delivers it to the injection jets. The lower speed/RPM jet is so small an opening/aperture that the tiniest micron particle clogs it. By running high rpm then low rpm and back and forth I am guessing I dislodged the micron particle. If not for this I would have had to take the O/B home, remove the jet and blow high pressure air to clear it.
I will admit I am absolutely guessing at all of the above. I am NOT an O/B mechanic and know very little about such. However, this O/B worked very well before I had to switch to 10% Ethanol. This is now the second time this has happened. 6-8 months ago it was the high speed/rpm jet and I had to bring it to a O/B dealer to get the jet flushed out and readjusted correctly.
I would welcome any thoughts on things I could have/should have done differently or better to improve my situation.
I wish I had the skill to sail back to my mooring. Unfortunately, I do not yet have those skills and the mooring balls (and sailboats) are so close to eachother that one misstep and I would damage another's sailboat (not to mention the damage to my beloved S/V Tadpole).