Equipment Failures

[GordMay]

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]

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]

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.