After successfully launching the barge and returning to her slip, we eagerly anticipated some fishing action last weekend. Saturday was warm and a bit cloudy, but that should improve the fishing. Off we went downstream to one of our usual spots. Fishing there is usually productive for 5-10 pound blue catfish, but not so much for giants.
Surprisingly, I caught the first fish, while my wife caught the next; hers was marginally longer than mine, but I am certain that my fish was heavier. We headed back to the slip a short time later. The boat was running fine at its usual cruising speed. After slowing down to approach the slip, the engine began running rough, as if it was running out of gas. I bumped the throttle ahead a couple times to keep it running without adding too much speed. As we neared the slip, heading into the wind, I slowed to idle and...nothing. The engine died. I was able to guide the coasting barge to the finger pier just close enough to jump to the pier and haul the barge in her slip.
Sunday we tried again in the afternoon. The boat started right up and idled fine as we left the marina. Maybe yesterday's stalling was caused by the fogging oil or old gas...I have never believed in coincidence, and I should have trusted my instincts that the engine was unreliable.
The fishing was lousy, having arrived at slack water between the tides. We decided to move to another spot just a few hundred yards away. But, the boat had other plans. She stubbornly refused to start. Not a cough or sputter. After checking the obvious, we had no alternative but to call the fine folks at Boat US for a tow.
The ride back was slow, but safe and the captain was skilled and professional. Two big thumbs up to TowBoat US!
A call to my mechanic confirmed what I thought, starved for gas, likely from a full/clogged fuel filter. That likely happened after running the boat on nearly empty tanks from the launch ramp to the slip. Hopefully a filter change will have her running great soon!
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