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Outboard Engine Trouble in the Chaos of the Phi Phi Islands of Thailand
March 9, 2026 · 36 min · 24K views · Phi Phi Islands
What this video covers
An Alberg 30 departs an unspecified anchorage in Thailand bound for the Phi Phi Islands, 16 miles away, after an unexpected 12–15-knot wind materializes overnight despite PredictWind forecasting calm.1:30 James and guest Victoria choose Phi Phi over Phuket because Thai customs offices are closed on weekends and the overtime fees are steep, and Victoria's departure flight from Phuket on January 9 leaves little time to cruise after a Monday clearance.3:21 Approaching the island, the short-shaft outboard repeatedly cavitates and stalls as wakes from roughly 200 motorboats and longtail taxis throw it out of the water — a recurring problem James traces to possible vapor lock or overheating, temporarily fixed each time by draining the fuel filter and reseating the spark plug wire.17:55 With the outboard unreliable, the crew tacks in 1.5–1.7 knots of fluky wind through dense boat traffic, fighting current that pushes them sideways despite Navionics showing the bow pointed correctly.17:20 The anchorage runs 45–70 feet deep with all mooring balls taken; James pays out 200 feet of chain in 45 feet of water for roughly 4:1 scope after repositioning to a calmer monohull section.28:32 A short-shaft outboard is inadequate in high-traffic, wake-churned waters, and a long-shaft replacement is needed before the Phuket passage.
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