Regret to Inform Have Lost my Boat off Honduras...

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by sctpc

But I don't understand why he would not have had a storm jib he could have put up?

And if I had water in my fuel got the thing going why would you run it 2 hours I would check the bowl every 10 mins for water.

Shame the OP felt so overwhelmed to leave his boat , it would be nice to know if he had any sleep in that 4 days.

Even if he had thrown the anchor out full length it may have grabbed and not damaged the reef, or got his boat back.

I have a Baja filter on its way now from ebay. I have always been concerned about getting fuel problems at the time I'm relying on the motor the most.

Well, because he was unprepared.

I don't have a storm jib either but I don't blue water sail.

I know some said "Oh gee they won't like it at the dock because the filter slows things down." Too bad. I won't like it if I have watery fuel.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by PSX

Advice: obviously the cut into Xcalak must be negotiated with precision. Unfortunately the approach is facing straight into the setting sun which is when most cruisers arrive. (Consider appropriate trip planning to minimize this issue). And if you are unsure that you can "nail it" - call the Capitania del Puerto (or XTC Dive Center) and ask for a local escort. It's only a short run in a panga and the locals are always willing to help.

But it's really well marked with a high and low range!!! I found it to be one of the easier reef cuts to negotiate!! But anyone with a chartplotter may think otherwise.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by scoobert

also he is still reading this thread, despite what he says, he last:

This is a good thing for two reasons.

First, he has the opportunity to at least learn how other people would have handled his situation. On this count he may choose to interject why at least some of the other views in his opinion are wrong. This is likely because we most likely still do not know every variable affecting his decision.

Second, he has the opportunity to acknowledge how he may have done things differently. Most of us have lived to tell our stories, to share with others our close calls - and acknowledge how we may have done things differently. Waited another day for a better weather window. Checked the fuel for contaminant and or water. Replaced the dodgy switch before leaving. Repaired the small tear on the leech... On and on.

Most of us have at one time survived the criticism, returned to the fold after leaving embarrassed or angry - and been welcomed back.

So can the owner and operator of Systerenity.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by salticrak

Yep, with so many brazillians they may be a rare find.

Yeah, stay away from Brazil. It's just a clip joint.

[JPA Cate]

TO THE OP:

In case you are still reading, the best possible outcome of all this, if you decide to keep on sailing, will be for you to glean all the little items out of the multitudinous posts that might have changed your situation.

Should you decide to tell us more, as you've had a chance to process the events, I'm sure you'll find some here who will appreciate the courage it took to announce the event and to come back and face up to swallowing all the useful input.

We wish you well.

Ann

[JPA Cate]

Teknav:

I'm as cynical as the next person, but your allegation in post #440 does not reflect the realities of our experience. Never, in all our years of fueling have we encountered purposely contaminated fuel. I hope we never do.

Most of the contamination we've seen has been particulate matter, from fuel stored in old tanks, sometimes very old (50+years), and in third world locations. Sometimes we've had water, but only a tiny amount, which i attribute to condensation. And once, in New Zealand. It was a huge problem to the fuel dock at the marina there, as well as to the yachties who got the fuel.

Ann

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

TO THE OP:

In case you are still reading, the best possible outcome of all this, if you decide to keep on sailing, will be for you to glean all the little items out of the multitudinous posts that might have changed your situation.

Should you decide to tell us more, as you've had a chance to process the events, I'm sure you'll find some here who will appreciate the courage it took to announce the event and to come back and face up to swallowing all the useful input.

We wish you well.

Ann

I agree. Hans, my posts 162, 166, 322, 327 should show that I'm supportive and in your corner. From your posts on other threads it was apparent to me you were truly enjoying cruising and the folks you met. The hardships you overcame prior to cruising tells me you have it in you to try again. I, unlike most here have a different perspective on pleasure cruising. I see nothing wrong with using modern technology for navigation, though for coastal I feel DR, taking bearings on land masses and drawing lop's on your chart to determine where you are that you can then confirm with your GPS is a prudent thing to do. But if you are depending on electricity for navigation, make sure you have more than one source for those flowing electrons, i.e., solar, wind turbine, batteries, engine alternator, portable Honda generator, etc. I do wish you fair winds and safe travels on your future sailing. Hang in there.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

But it's really well marked with a high and low range!!! I found it to be one of the easier reef cuts to negotiate!! But anyone with a chartplotter may think otherwise.

Surely you meant, "Anyone who RELIES on chartplotter may think otherwise?"

Are the range markers accurate on the paper chart? Or only slightly off? Or, if one were approaching would he be saying "Where the Hell ARE these things?"

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Surely you meant, "Anyone who RELIES on chartplotter may think otherwise?"

Are the range markers accurate on the paper chart? Or only slightly off? Or, if one were approaching would he be saying "Where the Hell ARE these things?"

They're on the paper charts, that are off datum, the admiralty survey is old. The area cruising guide is accurate though.

[neilpride]

I use this stuff for the past of some years, it work, is not the kind of marketing BS sucking your money for nothing like other products, in my case my perkins smoke a lot less , filters are cleaner , and tank to, btw i empty my tanks every year and half, i dry the tanks and hand clean to the last drop...

[Ocean Girl]

I appreciate the constructive posts here. But I have to say, the OP knows what he did wrong and what he did right. Our little inputs are great, but these nuggets of wisdom is for the the ones who have yet to be thrown into that situation. I guaranty you, he has replayed and reworked the whole trip in his mind a million times by now, and knows better than anyone here what to do next time. Experience
Just saying.

I hope he is able to get his boat afloat and move on from this experience.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

I appreciate the constructive posts here. But I have to say, the OP knows what he did wrong and what he did right. Our little inputs are great, but these nuggets of wisdom is for the the ones who have yet to be thrown into that situation. I guaranty you, he has replayed and reworked the whole trip in his mind a million times by now, and knows better than anyone here what to do next time. Experience
Just saying.

I hope he is able to get his boat afloat and move on from this experience.

Don't be too sure...I'll bet 1/4 to 1/3 of the people I rescued through the years didn't know or care what really went wrong...they blamed it on something and that was that...move on.

As far as knowing what to do better next time? That still is a stretch compared to what his abilities were at this stage and what some others are after a lifetime of cruising....better than some, OK...better than many...possibly....better than anyone here...I really doubt it.

[hellosailor]

"i think here is a clue as to what really happened,
a classic mistake when filling from cans,looks like the op dumped a whole can of fresh water by mistake into his fuel tank"
Oh, that's a baseless and cruel accusation. Who on earth would mistake the container prominently labelled "potable water only" for a same-color container labelled or color coded for "diesel" or other fuels? And who gets water-white diesel, so they wouldn't notice the difference while pouring?
We've no reason to think he stowed all liquids in scavenged detergent bottles and transfered them in the pitch of night. On the other hand, a leaky deck fitting, a loose cap, a bad o-ring, can sneak up on anyone who is less than totally vigilant.

Wrong-
Since neither of you put any subjective context on Gorilla tape, it is meaningless to hear you call it "good". There's a half billion people who call McBurgers "good" but ask them how it compares to a proper home made or pub burger, and then you get context. Gorilla tape? Sure, they've convinced me they put their brand on good stuff. Gaffers' tape has always been pretty much brandless. And then there's 3M, who also make "clear duct tape". No context, just a subjective like? Eh, doesn't say much for it.

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Don't be too sure...I'll bet 1/4 to 1/3 of the people I rescued through the years didn't know or care what really went wrong...they blamed it on something and that was that...move on.

As far as knowing what to do better next time? That still is a stretch compared to what his abilities were at this stage and what some others are after a lifetime of cruising....better than some, OK...better than many...possibly....better than anyone here...I really doubt it.

What you say doesn't seem to apply to this owner.

As far as learning from experiences...are we all so perfect that we can take an experience and learn to its full potential? Must we learn it immediately? Or do we have 30 days, 1year? Can people say the same for you? I know they can not say that about me, I wish differently, it would make life so much easier.

If you talk to these esteemed long time cruisers, I bet some of their their beginnings were rocky, some may have even lost/ wrecked their boats.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by neilpride

I use this stuff for the past of some years, it work, is not the kind of marketing BS sucking your money for nothing like other products, in my case my perkins smoke a lot less , filters are cleaner , and tank to, btw i empty my tanks every year and half, i dry the tanks and hand clean to the last drop...

Some of these products are better than others. My Yanmar manual (read your manual, Susan!) specifically advises against a specific brand, and ESPECIALLY against using their recommended shock treatment.

Well, the first time I read the manual that part didn't sink in. I was learning a lot about diesels at the time and that bit didn't stick.

Oops.

So I "shocked" the tank, and that's when I started having problems with fuel feed. I ended up with a friend cleaning the tank out for me (I can't get down there). I handed him a piece of "engine diaper cloth" (about 1/4 of a large diaper cloth. Weighed next to nothing. When he passed it back up, it weighed at least 2 lb., all sludge from the bottom of the tank.

The close timing between the algae treatment and the start of fuel feed problems convinces me that ... duh ... the manual was right! (I read the parts about fuel again, obviously, and then looked at the label -- ooops, wrong brand!)

I went to the Yanmar dealer and they confirmed that some brands are better than others. Sorry but I'm laid up and I'm not going to go dig it out of the lazerette right now. But check your manual in case it has a similar warning.