Restarting The Diesel Engine - Episode 313 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

Restarting The Diesel Engine – Episode 313

In this episode of Acorn to Arabella, Steve, Robin, and AKA face the challenge of restarting their diesel engine after experiencing an issue while at Cudy Hunk Island. Follow their journey as they troubleshoot and find solutions, ultimately aiming to begin their voyage back to the coast of Maine.
Hitchhiking With A Mooring – Key Points:
  • Steve realized there was an issue with fuel flow, causing the motor not to start.
  • Jesse pumped, bled, and drained the system, fixing the fuel flow issue.
  • The team successfully picked up their first mooring of the season.

  • Converting Starlink To DC Power:
  • The team previously attempted to convert Starlink to use DC power using an Amazon conversion kit, but faced challenges.
  • With guidance from Reddit threads and blog articles, the team finally succeeded in running Starlink on battery power.

  • Enhancing Solar Panel Power:
  • The existing flexible solar panels were not producing enough power for the new requirements (Starlink, fridge).
  • Adding two more rigid solar panels significantly improved battery charging capabilities.
  • The team needs to consider a long-term solution for the placement of these additional panels. For this episode of Acorn to Arabella, Steve and Jesse wanted to ensure their diesel engine was running smoothly before setting sail again. They successfully restarted the engine but faced unexpected challenges along the way. Additionally, the team managed to resolve their Starlink conversion issue and enhance their solar power generation capabilities for an improved boating experience. With these problems addressed and a plan in place for their rigid solar panels, Steve and Jesse are now well-prepared to continue their journey back to the coast of Maine. This episode highlights the importance of continuous troubleshooting and adapting strategies when faced with unexpected setbacks during a lengthy boat voyage.
  • Beam Dream is clinically shown to help you fall asleep faster, sleep through the night and wake up refreshed. Click https://shopbeam.com/AcorntoArabella and use code ACORN to get up to 35% off with my exclusive discount.

    Steve, Robin, and Akiva are spending the week at a mooring in Mattapoisett while they take care of a few important to-dos before beginning their journey north up the coast of Maine.

    If you tuned in to last week’s episode, you know that Arabella's engine died just outside the channel going into Cuttyhunk Island. Well, it’s time to see if any permanent damage was done, and if Arabella will be able to fire up its engine again soon.

    After an oil change and some coaxing, the engine did fire up and ran for a few minutes at idle. However, the oil light came back on pretty much immediately. With plenty of oil and solid oil pressure, Steve is perplexed by what the issue could be...so he called in the experts at Nanni to come take a look.

    Turns out, there was an airlock in the motor that prevented it from receiving fuel. After some exploring, the airflow is back to normal, the engine is getting fuel, and no serious damage has been done. Phew...

    Another important to-do is getting Starlink up and running on DC power. While in Harwich Port, Steve and Robin ran their Starlink dish off of shore power. Now that they’re cruising again, there’s no access to shore power, and while Starlink could technically run off their inverters, it’s more efficient to run it off of DC power. Of course, there’s little to no info on how to perform this conversion. Steve's first few attempts unfortunately failed.

    After getting some useless information from a Starlink tech, Robin and Steve phoned a few friends, who were able to collaborate on a fix. Starlink is officially running off of DC power and good to go, just in time for cruising season. Robin is thrilled to be able to run her business from the cockpit this summer!

    Of course, since Starlink is now drawing on the boat's battery bank, the amount of power being generated on deck needs to increase. Installing a few more solar panels should do the trick. There are a few more rigid solar panels that could provide more power...but will it be enough to power Starlink? Only time will tell...

    --------------------------

    Sign up for our email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hn3Qyv

    Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.

    --------------------------

    If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
    https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
    Acorn to Arabella's wishlist:
    https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority

    TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They'll kick 10% our way!

    To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
    https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella

    Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com

    FOLLOW US:
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
    Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com

    Restarting The Diesel Engine - Episode 313 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat Locations

    • Cudy Hunk Island, Maine (43.6589,-69.3083)
    • Coast of Maine (44.55,-68.45)

    Note of Recognition for Acorn To Arabella

    At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Acorn To Arabella and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.

    We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.

    We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "Restarting The Diesel Engine - Episode 313 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Acorn To Arabella but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.

    If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Acorn To Arabella or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.

    Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!

    Acorn To Arabella Lastest Videos

    Showing 1-6 of 406 results
    Gale Force Winds & Broken Autopilot! Offshore from VA to MA
    Acorn To Arabella
    Gale Force Winds & Broken Autopilot! Offshore from VA to MA
    This week, we’re setting out for a 4-day offshore run from Norfolk, VA back to Mattapoisett, MA—where we launched Arabella almost two years ago to the date! Our good friend George joined us for the passage. We learned an expensive lesson about securi...
    Sticker Shock! Decorating the Dodger Before Cruising to Norfolk
    Acorn To Arabella
    Sticker Shock! Decorating the Dodger Before Cruising to Norfolk
    Work on the dodger may be done, but before we can leave Okracoke, we need to install our new Garmin GMI20. The last one died halfway through our passage from Miami to Beaufort, and we had a replacement unit sent to the Okracoke post office. Despite our bes...
    Dodging Shoals and Working on the Dodger: Sailing to Ocracoke Island & Cape Hatteras
    Acorn To Arabella
    Dodging Shoals and Working on the Dodger: Sailing to Ocracoke Island & Cape Hatteras
    This week, Arabella makes her way to Ocracoke Island, at the south end of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Robin and I have been looking forward to visiting the Outer Banks, and maybe exploring long-abandoned Portsmouth Island. With winds expected to pipe ...
    Fixing a Leaky Boat Deck & More Boat Maintenance Fun
    Acorn To Arabella
    Fixing a Leaky Boat Deck & More Boat Maintenance Fun
    After our offshore run, I promised Robin that I would wait for her in Beaufort so she could see the wild horses on Carrot Island, explore the shops in downtown Beaufort, and visit the Outer Banks before our run back North. While waiting, I tackle some boat...
    5 Days And 4 Nights Offshore: Catching Mahi & Learning Lessons
    Acorn To Arabella
    5 Days And 4 Nights Offshore: Catching Mahi & Learning Lessons
    This week, the journey resumes on day three of our offshore sailing passage from Miami, FL to Beaufort, NC. Along for the journey was my old college buddy, Dave, and my new friend, Jesse, who we met in Key Biscayne. On day 2 of our passage, we brought a M...
    Setting Sail for a 600-Mile Offshore Passage (But Only After a Little Boat Work)
    Acorn To Arabella
    Setting Sail for a 600-Mile Offshore Passage (But Only After a Little Boat Work)
    This week, we’re getting ready for a 600-mile offshore passage from Miami, FL to Beaufort, NC. Before we set sail, I took the chance to get some boat work done: scrubbing and oiling the decks, smoothing out the battens so they don’t get stuck in the la...

    Something AWESOME is coming!
    Be the FIRST to know⛵

    Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
    Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!

    We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

    WeBoating
    Logo
    Shopping cart