Equipment Failures

**GordMay** · 17-03-2003, 19:05

I might be informative to have an informal cruisers' poll:
What equipment &/or systems have failed on your boat?
In what manner & to what effect?
What have/will you do to prevent reoccurance?
Any particulare lessons learned?
Regards,
Gord

**GordMay** · 29-03-2003, 20:48

See our post "Do it NOW" to the "Things that went wrong" for background info'.

What:
Blocked raw-water intake resulted in seized engine.
When:
Trying to motor out of unsafe harbour, into 60 kt winds.
How:
A small stick entered the intake & stuck in the sea cock, obstructing water flow.
Why:
No exterior screen/strainer on hull.
Further:
When repairing engine, found the sea-cock to be "stuck", so I forced the handle closed. Ball valve remained open.
Removed hose from sea-cock, & plugged it with wooden cone - went on to repair seized engine. Discovered debris in sea-cock much later, when looking to replace "busted" seacock.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1. Install exterior screen/strainer on raw water intake. Must have assured cooling water.
2. Sometimes "muscle-power" greater than "brain-power" - take it easy, & think it out prior to applying great force. Sometimes a "bigger hammer" is not the answer.

Regards,
Gord

Gisle · 31-03-2003, 17:47

Tricky situation.

I'm glad I have two engines. On my last trip to the Seychelles my portside engine also got debris in the cooling circuit, but I could fix it under easier conditions - when I wanted to since I could keep on going on one engine.

View Poll Results: What equipment has failed?
Electrical?	2	28.57%
Engine/Mechanical?	4	57.14%
Structural?	1	14.29%
Electronic	3	42.86%
Other?	3	42.86%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 7. You may not vote on this poll

17-03-2003, 19:05	#1
GordMay Administrator Site Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 9,339 Images: 230	Equipment Failures I might be informative to have an informal cruisers' poll: What equipment &/or systems have failed on your boat? In what manner & to what effect? What have/will you do to prevent reoccurance? Any particulare lessons learned? Regards, Gord __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

29-03-2003, 20:48	#2
GordMay Administrator Site Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 9,339 Images: 230	Engine Seized See our post "Do it NOW" to the "Things that went wrong" for background info'. What: Blocked raw-water intake resulted in seized engine. When: Trying to motor out of unsafe harbour, into 60 kt winds. How: A small stick entered the intake & stuck in the sea cock, obstructing water flow. Why: No exterior screen/strainer on hull. Further: When repairing engine, found the sea-cock to be "stuck", so I forced the handle closed. Ball valve remained open. Removed hose from sea-cock, & plugged it with wooden cone - went on to repair seized engine. Discovered debris in sea-cock much later, when looking to replace "busted" seacock. LESSONS LEARNED: 1. Install exterior screen/strainer on raw water intake. Must have assured cooling water. 2. Sometimes "muscle-power" greater than "brain-power" - take it easy, & think it out prior to applying great force. Sometimes a "bigger hammer" is not the answer. Regards, Gord __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

31-03-2003, 17:47	#3
Gisle Ex-captain Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Drammen, Norway Boat: FP Belize 43 cat (2001) Posts: 291 Images: 35	Phuhh! Tricky situation. I'm glad I have two engines. On my last trip to the Seychelles my portside engine also got debris in the cooling circuit, but I could fix it under easier conditions - when I wanted to since I could keep on going on one engine. __________________ Happy cruising, Gisle "What's important in life is not how many breaths we get to take, but those moments that take our breath away" Jaques Cousteau

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