Rip it all out!! Start again!!

Welcome back sailing fans! Today we dive deep into fixing some serious fuel related issues with Ocean Melody’s marine diesel engine after an ill-fated voyage resulted in us running out of fuel halfway through. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out our last episode where we depart the bustling Bu Maris, a lovely stop in North Cornwall, on our way down south towards Dartmouth.

Rookie Mistake

On our second day out from Beara Island, just around Puffing Island, we ran into an unexpected issue. With 2/3 of a tank left (thinking that it would be enough to get us to Conway) and not calculating the fuel usage correctly while motoring against the tide, I made what turned out to be a rather rookie mistake by failing to anticipate the higher amount of diesel needed.

Fuel System Disaster

The fuel system failure became clear when we ran out of fuel mid-journey. Upon inspection, it turned out that some sediment had clogged the first filter in the engine due to a less-than-thorough cleaning of our diesel day tank – something I should’ve done before departure. Not beating myself up over it though!

Temporary Fix

A makeshift fix was quickly implemented by Andy to get us back on track. He rerouted the engine directly from a spare Jerry can while continuing with plans for a more permanent solution. This quick thinking saved our sailing journey and proved how important it is to be prepared for any issues that may arise during your time out at sea.

Upgrade Needed

In our previous episode, we talked about emptying and cleaning the current day tank as well as potentially upgrading it to ensure no further fuel-related issues occur. But life on a sailboat isn’t just about fixing engines; we also had to prepare for Ollie’s arrival! With Melissa and Ollie moving aboard in a few days, it became clear that making the boat safe for our growing family was equally important.

New Diesel Tank

In this episode, we finally took action by installing a brand new, larger diesel day tank that’s triple the size of our previous one (62L instead of 20L). After giving it a thorough clean and swapping in a new filter, Andy connected everything properly so that we could refill it and prevent future clogging. Installing this upgraded system involved some careful plumbing work to make sure it fits perfectly under our chart table.

Solving The Problem

By upgrading the day tank, Andy also addressed some other issues with our current fuel system. While working on Ocean Melody, he discovered that the housing for the filter was quite deteriorated. Upon removing and cleaning it, along with getting a matching spare fuel filter, he ensured that our engine would run smoothly once again.

Testing The Engine

To make sure everything was in place, Andy then primed the fuel system. Using the lift pump and his finger, he pushed fuel through each part of the engine until it all seemed clear – no more sediment clogging up filters or other parts! He turned on the engine key one at a time to crack off each injector, monitoring the progress carefully.

Success!

In the end, Andy was thrilled to see that all his hard work paid off. Our newly upgraded marine diesel engine not only started smoothly but ran like a dream too! The satisfaction in successfully tackling this challenge was clear as we finished up tidying the space.

Mission Accomplished

This fix not only helps us in our slow adventure down south, but also prepares us for any potential fuel-related issues that may come our way while traveling. It just goes to show how important it is to stay proactive when it comes to maintaining your boat and solving problems before they escalate further.

Donations

We want to take a moment to say thank you to all of our amazing supporters who have chosen to donate and become patrons. Your contributions help us continue producing high-quality content for everyone to enjoy, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Next Time

In our next episode, we’ll be continuing this marine journey by focusing on other upgrades and improvements to make sure that Ocean Melody remains a safe haven for us all.