When Axius goes wrong...

[mvoellinger]

Long story so cliffs notes: Almost overheated a friends boat, then almost sank it, then almost destroyed it.

So I just mentioned in another thread about axius malfunctions, so Ill start from the top. I was driving my friend 2010 310 Sundancer w/ twin 350s with SeaCore BIIIs and Axius 3 weeks ago as we were out on a sunset cruise into the st johns river. We had been idling the whole way for about a mile so the women could watch the sunset then when it finally set and we decided to power over to where we planned to drink and eat. I throttled up both engines and as we were just about 3600rpm and popping onto plane had alarms sound that made me think fort knox was getting robbed. I immediately backed off to idle (NOTE TO THE IDIOTS ON BOATS: SIT DOWN WHEN THE BOAT IS IN MOTION OR YOU MAY FALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS...sorry wes). As we fell off plane and slowed down I started scanning instruments and saw vesselview showed a port engine low water pressure, and the temp creeping up. We immediately shut down the port and opened up the hatch to see the drive belt partially shredded and in the bottom of the bilge. After some diagnostics we couldnt figure out what had thrown it, so having done the work myself on my own boat I instructed the owner how to pop it back on. We left the hatch open and fired it up and to our delight saw the temp coming down. Just as it hit normal, they yelled to cut it as the belt was obviously walking again. So we cut both engines off again and climbed down to investigate. Upon further inspection, we grabbed the water pump pulley...and pulled it and all the bearings out of the water pump face. With the ensuing flood of water. We closed the seacock and called that engine dead.

So now with the issue isolated I limped us back on one engine and managed NOT to destroy the dock or boat. We then went to shutdown and noticed the bilge pump light was on. After opening the hatch, and some troubleshooting, we realized the seacock wasnt sealing and water was still coming in. Note...the marina was closed so we couldnt be lifted out. Thankfully slamming the pump and bearings back into the house slowed it down to a barely noticeable drip. MarineMax came out the next week and replaced the water pump assembly and belt while it was in the water.

Fast forward to friday when I am driving again and the owner fires up the engines then moves away so I can drive (he likes to drink and party with the girls I bring onboard, go figure). So we cast off the lines and I go to slide the joystick to port to slide us away from the dock, but the boat started sliding aft with the bow going to port. At this point I was thinking "holy current and wind" so I pushed the joystick over more. Then it REALLY went aft. At this point everyone in the boat was yelling "WHAT THE F%#$% ARE YOU DOING PUSH IT TO THE LEFT AND FORWARD YOU JACK#$@"...and I needed new trousers. I instantly released the joystick as they fended us off and we about snapped a swim ladder off the dock with the platform. I switched to engine controls and everyone started asking WTF was I thinking etc. I started feeling pretty stupid, and HORRIBLE for almost damaging my friends boat. So I used engine only controls and got us to the channel then gave it a bit more throttle, but we kept turning to starboard. So I turned the wheel hard to port and made sure engine sych was on...still turning to starboard.

Now Im thiniking WTF is going on. Ive been checking systems repeatedly, until I notice an exclamation point on vessel view in the upper left corner. Real small. I ask the owner he goes "I dont know". I click around and pull up fault codes for the port engine saying steering unavailable etc. We do some troubleshooting and realize the power hadnt been cycled since the pump had been repaired and so vesselview/smartcraft still through there was a dead engine, and wasnt properly engaging the steering for it. We shut down, turned off the batteries for a minute then booted back up and all was good...but docking is NOT the time you want to have that go out!

 

[spikeitaudi]

Thanks for sharing that story. Good job keeping a calm head. Could of been much worse if you didn't. Good job.

 

[Red Stripe]

Thank you for posting this. Before the "that's why I would never have a system like that" crowd chimes in, there are obviously many of us with these systems on our boats who understand the additional complications more technology can bring - not just Axius and Zeus - but DTS as well. To that end, this story is an excellent cautionary tale and a good reminder that pre-departure checks should not be limited to assessing fluid levels and sniffing around in the bilge. While it is unclear if this would have revealed the problem with the pump and certainly may have been done in this case, checking belt tension and condition should be standard practice for everyone, regardless of your boat's age or systems.

One thing I added to my pre-flight process on my last boat, the first I had with DTS, was to check that each engine would engage in forward and reverse for a brief moment prior to untying. I started this after the first time I backed out of my slip and experienced the swinging boat syndrome when the DTS on one engine faulted because the linkage in the ER had become loose.

Since owning a Zeus boat - and I recommend this to anyone with a joystick system - I always manipulate the joystick in a few directions before untying. It gives the system an opportunity to throw a fault and sound the alarms if one was inevitable before you have drifted away. It is obviously not full-proof, but certainly a worthwhile exercise. It saved a friend of mine who got an alarm at the dock that would have come as soon as he untied.

 

[beachcombersc]

One thing I added to my pre-flight process on my last boat, the first I had with DTS, was to check that each engine would engage in forward and reverse for a brief moment.

This is something I wish everyone would do before releasing lines. It limits many issues that might be lurking, regardless of drive systems...

Bump thrusters as well...

 

[Billfletcher]

I like this "pre-flight" quick check of the mains, and thrusters (if i had them). I will start doing this, along with a thorough check in the Engine Room of course. A dock mate left his slip several months ago and this exact thing occurred. One engine down, and he took him a minute to realize it, and ending up sliding his brand new forward bimini isenglass across the anchor of the dock queeen end tie.

 

[Bugsy24]

A very important step in the "Reboot Process" with Axius and DTS is to turn your Port Battery on first then your Starboard Battery and when shutting down the Reverse Sequence!! It doesn't matter which Engine you Key on first... but Axius and DTS are looking for the Port Battery to be the first and last thing to have Power!! This bit of info came from a Mercury Tech when he did a "White Glove" update on our Axius system, seems to have solved a lot of False Engine Codes!!

 

[reelnauti]

Well now you have me confused. Back 0n 8/29/10 you posted:

"Since having my issues with the Axius system, my marina's mechanic sat down and gave me a couple of pointers! The most important and this might be for the first series only, Axius wants to see starboard battery then port battery on then starboard engine and port engine switch on!!!! When you shut down its the reverse!!!
It doesn't matter which engine you you start first it's about the "Keying" on!
Starboard should be the first and the last that gets turned on and off! Like all new tech. it's about getting used to it. I've got a couple of years experience on small boats to say the least but none with a joystick."

This is the opposite of what you posted above. I assume that the real answer depends upon which battery bank the system is directly wired to. Do they want to have the alternative side already on when the system is powered or the opposite. Do you think your guy can help clarify. I had been following your starboard side first advice. Thanks

 

[fwebster]

I don't own one, but have run several Zeus and Axius boats and one of the most interesting facets of managing either system is the departure from mechanical logic in favor of electronic logic, for lack of better terms and description. When something happens to a conventional drive boat, you can see, touch and feel what is going on. No so with Zeus or Axius. Both rely on an algorithm to run the system. The program runs thru the various sensors and checks and balances to initialize itself. From there the system runs what its programmed to run and if it has sensed an out of tolerance sensor it reacts accordingly. If it sensed a mechanical fault it reacts to protect the system. In a lot of cases, we fix the problem (or it fixes itself) but Zeus or Axius doesn't recognize that and keeps the boat in guardian mode. When the unexplained happens, shut down the power and turn off the battery switches, then power the boat back up which forces Zeus or Axius to re-initialize and that usually clears the fault it has found.

 

[Bugsy24]

Sorry... Reelnauti, I had a Senior Moment!!! I corrected my Post!! As alway's Frank, your Posts are Eloquent and Informing!!

 

[mvoellinger]

I don't own one, but have run several Zeus and Axius boats and one of the most interesting facets of managing either system is the departure from mechanical logic in favor of electronic logic, for lack of better terms and description. When something happens to a conventional drive boat, you can see, touch and feel what is going on. No so with Zeus or Axius. Both rely on an algorithm to run the system. The program runs thru the various sensors and checks and balances to initialize itself. From there the system runs what its programmed to run and if it has sensed an out of tolerance sensor it reacts accordingly. If it sensed a mechanical fault it reacts to protect the system. In a lot of cases, we fix the problem (or it fixes itself) but Zeus or Axius doesn't recognize that and keeps the boat in guardian mode. When the unexplained happens, shut down the power and turn off the battery switches, then power the boat back up which forces Zeus or Axius to re-initialize and that usually clears the fault it has found.

Very well written. I figured "ok, the joystick is down, lets get to clear water and we'll troubleshoot there". Imagine my surprise when (we could only guess) the port motor refused to even steer in line with the starboard motor. I dont think it could happen, but I had images of the port being stuck hard to starboard....while I was trying to counter bringing the starboard outdrive closer and closer to contact. IMO, the joystick should have disabled as soon as a non-steering fault occurs. This way you know immediately there is no response, and not a completely wrong response.

 

[Matthew Hinrichs]

Sorry... Reelnauti, I had a Senior Moment!!! I corrected my Post!! As alway's Frank, your Posts are Eloquent and Informing!!

Hello - I am having an issue with Axius and i need to ensure it reboots. I am confused by the thread above because there is mention here that the post was updated, so i am not sure which is the correct power down and power on sequence (Port last on and last off or Starboard last on and last off?). Also does it matter or not matter what order you turn the keys on does that need to be Port or Starboard last on and last off?

 

[SCORPIO]

Makes me really appreciate my old boat with none of that techno crap. Less to go wrong and no computer between me and the controls. I would love a now thruster bit the only intelligence I want onttollingbit resideds between my ears.

 

[tony1b2000]

Hello - I am having an issue with Axius and i need to ensure it reboots. I am confused by the thread above because there is mention here that the post was updated, so i am not sure which is the correct power down and power on sequence (Port last on and last off or Starboard last on and last off?). Also does it matter or not matter what order you turn the keys on does that need to be Port or Starboard last on and last off?

Starboard battery powers up the Axius network on mine. You will hear a beep when you turn on your Starboard battery switch.
It does not matter which battery switch is started first as well as the keys.

T

 

[RVM]

Looking for advice here ..... Last weekend I was pulling out of our dock with the Axius joystick. Everything was fine while backing. When we cleared the slip, I pushed the joystick slightly forward to stop our rearward movement and spun the joystick to port in order to spin the bow. As soon as I did this the bow immediately lunged forward and to starboard pinning the bow against the dock. The joystick was not responsive, so I abandoned it for the levers. I tried both levers and could not stop the spinning to starboard and forward motion. After "pin balling our way down our channel, we were able to get fended off and pulled by rope into an open slip. I ended up shutting down engines and opting for the "catch our lines" approach since there was no real control. After being towed back to our dock and tied, I again tried starting both engines. The starboard was normal, but the port immediately moves the boat forward as soon as started, so it is clearly stuck in gear. Both levers are in the neutral position and both are also showing lit as in neutral.

No error messages on the VesselView4 for port engine at all, even now. This is scary in tight quarters, even more so without warning or any error message now. Has anyone ever heard anything like this? Also, how do you regain trust in the Axius? I would've killed for a normal set of levers here.