Need new vent plug + more motor issues

[c130king]

Another great day of sailing on the Chesapeak.

Broke the flip handle on my vent plug. It still goes in the hole and works but I think I will get a new one. Does WestMarine sell these things? Are there different sizes? I should have brought the thing home with me but forgot.

Also,had more motor issues. Flashing back to last weeks adventure my motor worked well at first but then the RPM died to 4000 with the resulting loss in speed. This morning, once clear of the marina, I throttled up and hit the normal 5100...hoo-ray. After sailing for several hours I came back in and throttled up to drain the ballast. 5100 RPM...hoo-ray...but then about 2 minutes later I was watching the RPM guage when I heard it throttle back. 4000 RPM...

Motored in. Met Greg from Grab Bag Sailboats who manages the Macgregor parking at Casa Rio. He looked my motor over and gave me a couple pieces of advice:

1. Sea Foam in the gas. This will hopefully clean out the fuel jets and improve my low-speed and idle issues...motor has never run well at low-speed or idle. And this may fix my RPM issue.

2. Check, clean and possibly replace the fuel filter inside the motor (also have one in-line on my fuel line near the tank). He showed me where this thing is.

3. Then finally he showed me and explained the 3 "control modules" that I have. There is one for each cylinder. He says it is quite possible that once the motor gets warm/hot one of these is failing and effectively shutting down one of my three cylinders. This will need a dealership with the test equipment.

So I will do 1 and 2 soon and if I still have the issue I will get one of the mechanics at the marina to do a "check up" on my carb...this has never been done before. And then if I still have the issue I will take the boat/motor to a Mercury Dealer. He tells me those modules are easy to replace but they are expensive.

Anyone have any experience with this issue?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

P.S. -- And just to make this thread even longer. As I was cleaning up and putting things away at the ramp another boater showed up towing a Mac (Easy Wind...I think was the name). It was Pete (aka Macless Pete from this website). He had recently gotten back from Florida with his and it was sitting on a brand new dual-axle aluminum trailer...VERY NICE!!! I want one... I quickly got my truck and trailer to get my boat out of his way. Was partially out of the water when he yelled at me to stop...seems in my haste to get out the way I forgot a few little things like raising the motor and the rudders...DOH ! Anyway this was his first time at this marina...and since I had all of two trips under my belt that made me the resident "know it all". So I helped him launch. He had his wife with him but she was pretty busy chasing after a couple young deck-hands. Anyway he backed away from the ramp so I walked back to my boat to finish up the cleaning up...when I saw him pull back into the ramp. Unfortunately he has a prop issue...looks like his PO didn't install the new prop correctly. So I helped him recover. Always fun to meet new Mac sailors...especially those from this board.

[Ixneigh]

I think there are only two sizes of those plugs. Its the smaller one that fits i beleive cant remember but it was pretty obvious which one. first thing i bought for my boat was a spare one.

Ixneigh

[c130king]

My emergency vent plan is my standard emergency plan...use duct tape. I figure I can make a temporary plug, in an emergency, by rolling up some duct tape and pinching one end smaller with a pair of pliers.

But I think a West Marine replacement won't be that much.

Jim

[Sea Dreamer]

Sounds like you had a great day out there, Jim! Wish we could have joined the Mac crowd out there today, but my Jim (Uncle Jim) is winging his way to LA for the week. We're keeping our fingers crossed for next Sunday to splash our Mac. Maybe we'll see you and/or Pete. Have a good week!
Clarissa

[hoaglandr]

I've seen the plugs at Wal-mart. Don't know if there is any difference between those at the ones you might find at a marine supplier but they may do the trick and don't cost much.

Russell

[c130king]

Sounds like you had a great day out there, Jim! Wish we could have joined the Mac crowd out there today, but my Jim (Uncle Jim) is winging his way to LA for the week. We're keeping our fingers crossed for next Sunday to splash our Mac. Maybe we'll see you and/or Pete. Have a good week!
Clarissa

Clarissa,

Look forward to meeting you.

Jim

[Fxwg80hd]

I purchased a new vent plug from West Marine a couple years back. Did not cost much from what I remember. The only one they had in stock at the time was the correct size. Have to agree with Greg, sounds like a problem with the gas. Sailing around is most likely mixing up the bad stuff in your gas which is why you have issues on the way back and not on the way out.

[c130king]

Chris,

I will check out WM for the plug. Need to get SeaFoam anyway. Hopefully you are right about the gas...that sounds much better than having a bad control module. I will let you know the next time I head out.

Jim

[Russ]

Jim,
I'm afraid you are out of luck. The Mac uses a custom vent plug manufactured by the Oklun corporation in San Mateo, CA. You're gonna have to contact either the factory or BWY for a replacement.






or... you could go on Amazon

[Hamin' X]

Jim,
I'm afraid you are out of luck. The Mac uses a custom vent plug manufactured by the Oklun corporation in San Mateo, CA. You're gonna have to contact either the factory or BWY for a replacement.

I thought that it was made by Oaklin Mfg., in San Jose? That's where my plug was made. Course mine is still going strong, so perhaps Roger changed to a cheaper supplier?

~Rich

[yukonbob]

You can buy them at almost any marine store for under ten bucks. They come in brass and ss , just have to adjust to fit.

[Retcoastie]

All the ones I've seen are adjustable. There is a threaded nut on the base. By turning the top you tighten the static compression on the rubber and cause it to expand to fit your vent hole.

[Catigale]

They are custom. I athe exclusive distributor worldwide for these plugs.

They are 1999 USD, deivery by c130 included.

(I'll measure the size of the hole this am so you can buy/order without the trip Jim.

On edit 25 mm. / 1 inch is the hole size


Keywords - replacement ballast tank plug hole size

[c130king]

Thanks guys.

Stephen, will you take a check?

I will check out West Marine one of these days as I have to buy some Sea Foam anyway.

Jim

[Fxwg80hd]

Jim - went and measured during lunch and the ballast vent hole is 1 inch diameter. Here is the link to the part on West Marine:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10467

You are in luck and it is on sale for $1 off list, so it is $5.99 for brass. $10.99 for SS.

Chris