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The technical work was done. Route planned. Another couple of hours went on putting away tools, fitting mattresses and checking the Victron Orion-Tr.
The engine had warmed for twenty minutes. I cast off, but it stalled as we left the berth. I rushed forward, grabbed a mooring pile and guided the yacht back to the pontoon.
Berthed again, I restarted. It died after fifteen seconds. I asked the marina mechanics for help and read the manual while waiting. It recommended leaving the engine control in reverse while sailing. The engine also needs starting every six hours to lubricate the stern-tube seal.
The team suspected air from the new fuel filter. They loosened a bolt on it and operated the priming lever until diesel seeped out. I ran the engine for forty minutes, all fine. Too late to leave, though.
New day, new attempt. Warmed up, cast off, covered five cables — about a kilometre. Something was wrong: revs rising and falling. I slowed and turned back, but stalled in the middle of the marina. Hooking the boat hook onto anything within reach, I made it back to my berth.
I decided to install the fuel pre-filter with water separator I’d bought last summer. At least I’d be able to see the diesel. One detail: oiling the gasket made it screw on more easily. After installation, the sealant in the fittings needed time to cure. Meanwhile, I stopped the impeller pump’s leak with PTFE tape, as I didn’t have the right gasket. It worked perfectly.
I could try running from a jerrycan. But they were all empty. Perhaps I could drain a litre of diesel into a bottle. I went to close the outlet valve. Stuck solid. I tried turning both ways; it moved towards open. But wasn’t it already open? Apparently, I’d shut it for winter, and the engine had been running on the fuel left in the hose all this time. At least I now have a pre-filter.
#maintenance
The engine had warmed for twenty minutes. I cast off, but it stalled as we left the berth. I rushed forward, grabbed a mooring pile and guided the yacht back to the pontoon.
Berthed again, I restarted. It died after fifteen seconds. I asked the marina mechanics for help and read the manual while waiting. It recommended leaving the engine control in reverse while sailing. The engine also needs starting every six hours to lubricate the stern-tube seal.
The team suspected air from the new fuel filter. They loosened a bolt on it and operated the priming lever until diesel seeped out. I ran the engine for forty minutes, all fine. Too late to leave, though.
New day, new attempt. Warmed up, cast off, covered five cables — about a kilometre. Something was wrong: revs rising and falling. I slowed and turned back, but stalled in the middle of the marina. Hooking the boat hook onto anything within reach, I made it back to my berth.
I decided to install the fuel pre-filter with water separator I’d bought last summer. At least I’d be able to see the diesel. One detail: oiling the gasket made it screw on more easily. After installation, the sealant in the fittings needed time to cure. Meanwhile, I stopped the impeller pump’s leak with PTFE tape, as I didn’t have the right gasket. It worked perfectly.
I could try running from a jerrycan. But they were all empty. Perhaps I could drain a litre of diesel into a bottle. I went to close the outlet valve. Stuck solid. I tried turning both ways; it moved towards open. But wasn’t it already open? Apparently, I’d shut it for winter, and the engine had been running on the fuel left in the hose all this time. At least I now have a pre-filter.
#maintenance
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