Mojo rides again

t21

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Hanging out in Lanza again with transat planned in late Nov, which will be my 16th crossing I think...

Recap - MOJO is 60ft sailing catamaran, manufacturer = Fontaine Pajot, model = Eleuthera, 2004 build Hull#3 (or 4?) which I bought from first owner in late 2017.

Feels like I've replaced/renewed almost everything now, mast off repaint and new standing rig in 2020, new rudders and bimini 2020, new nav in 2018-20, lithium+2kw solar, binned the old generator but big alternators on twin Yanmar 4JH3-HTE turbodiesel motors each with just under 2000 hours recorded runtime. Eco-tec watermaker, replaced all 4 bilge pumps, internal refurb, refurbed sails and new running rigging, 190sqm Parasailor for downwind.

Proactively (ie to stop sh!t happening)
A Big stable boat, renewed rig and rudders, extra fuel tanks
B AIS and radar linked to super-loud interior alarm.
C Helm at deck level (no flybridge), galley up, up/down dining table converts to large saloon berth almost “within” helm area
D AIS vessel name changed from MOJO to “MOJO SOLO SAILOR” and this definitely gives more attention/room from other vessels
E 2 x satphones with data options for forecasts and 500+ minutes on each
G Secondary GPS/nav with computer and handheld GPS

Reactively (if it does happen...)
1 Up to date with renewal/maintenance and good built-in redundancy with two hulls/motors
2 Renewed+uprated bilge pumps with always-on option, plus engine-powered bilge pumps as below
3 Firefighting- overspec 5kg CO2 canister
4 Flares, tools, spares, medical kit

And if that all doesn’t work...
5 New 2020 Vito lifejackets and solid LJ’s, plus other older LJs which are good to plug holes…
6 Viking liferaft (and spare date-out Viking liferaft), spare 3/4 full (floatable) roped-together fresh water bottles
7 Comms : 2 x Satphones pre-programmed with MRCC number...

New this time :
a) Primary seawater inlet bypasses to both engines i.e. a motor-powered bilge pump option on each motor; open the bypass (eg to empty engine bilge) and close seawater inlet valve.
b) extension to above: pre-primed 20metre pipe attaches to either motor makes extended roving bilge pump
c) spare 50m anchor chain (and primary anchor x 2)
d) spares for 4x engine services as availability might be limited these days
e) renewed stainless rod ends for rudder arms

Have I missed anything? There’s no limit to how much gear and spares one “needs” and any ideas/suggestions welcome...
 

DeepKeel

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You are just trying to make us jealous!! That's an impressive list.

But, of course any sailor can always dream up more toys and gadgets, so I will have a go. Do you have a means to swap out and change fuel filters in case of problems? eg 2 filters in parallel with a means of sending fuel through one or the other? Do you have a means of measuring pressure drop across a filter in order to detect an impending filter clog? Do your engines share a common fuel tank?

Offshore, I always carry some form of pre-prepared drogue. In a cat that needs a well thought out bridle arrangement. On a long passage, I typically set that up during the first day in open water and check very carefully that it will go out cleanly.



AIS vessel name changed from MOJO to “MOJO SOLO SAILOR” and this definitely gives more attention/room from other vessels

Great idea! I am copying that.
 
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DeepKeel

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This is a brilliant "up yours" put down by T21 in response to the attack he had to suffer from the forum socialists on his last visit. Way to go T21 ex (TCM.)


Wait, have I been taken-in by a forum in-joke? I'm new here, I did wonder if it might be a wind-up, but I hope it's real.
 

BurnitBlue

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T21 ex TCM is quite famous for his pranks. Nothing is what is seems. His post is real and super informative. But he realises that there is room for improvement no matter how prepared a boat can be. So he invites any additions. Read his blog about his on board table tennis table. I think it a pity he stopped regular postings. Always entertaining. Pity about the socialists though.

BTW i only know him via his blogs and postings. Never met him.
 

MapisM

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any ideas/suggestions welcome...
Load the thing on a ship, and follow her with a jetliner.
An equally boring way to travel of course, but much shorter.
Hey, you did ask for any ideas, didn't you...? :)
 
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Roberto

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What happens when everyone or a lot of boaters adds "solo sailor" to their boat name so that they get more attention?
It gets fancy they get called "Vendee globe" or "Minitransat 6.50" :)
Have a look on Marinetraffic at Baiona port now (Spain), lots and lots of "solo sail" all together waiting for better weather, not that "solo" :)
 

t21

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Do you have a means to swap out and change fuel filters in case of problems? eg 2 filters in parallel with a means of sending fuel through one or the other? Do you have a means of measuring pressure drop across a filter in order to detect an impending filter clog? Do your engines share a common fuel tank?

Offshore, I always carry some form of pre-prepared drogue. In a cat that needs a well thought out bridle arrangement. On a long passage, I typically set that up during the first day in open water and check very carefully that it will go out cleanly.

The two engines share common fuel tank which I had some guys flushed/polished etc last year. I have 8 spare primary paper filters, 4 spares of the finer ones on the motors. No, I wouldn't be able to measure pressure drop across the filters... I would just swap filters if that was suspected as in the "slowly coughing, dying engine" fuel-starvation gig. I did once have puzzling problem similar to fuel starvation which turned out to be a twisted square-section o-ring on the Racor filters. Big motors kinda wolf the fuel rather than sip it which might mean less in the way of fuel clogging-type starvation, not sure, but I feel ok in this department. Should I?

Drogues etc ... I'm on easy waters, trade wind etc in the right season so likely too little wind being the problem, not too much. Big Parasailor can fly ok in real 40knots although the boat would be doing solid 15knots (making apparent 25) it's vented, fly it high and dead astern in squalls to minimise apparent .... I think drogue stuff comes more useful with truly breaking waves and I'm really unlikley to find such conditions - it's prevailies, 10-20 knots with evning squalls to max double that for v short time. With a squall i throw dishwasher powder around the cockpit and get free cleanup. Ok, yeah, I'm light on drogues... altho again, I have lots of room and plenty of notice with forecatss to stop or go in other directions if a weather Freight Train came my way. So my solution would be Not To Be There. 18m boat ok in any sea to 40% of length they say, alright call it 1/3 so yeah, 6m sea from behind is big but ok..."

thanks for the questions!
 

Zing

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The Racor vacuum gauge is a very good thing. It shows you a building problem well before the SHTF. It has helped me greatly.
Racor RK 19669 RK19669 Vacuum Gauge, -30 to 0 Hg Bottom Mount

A second autopilot is a must have unless you are stuffed with crew. I’m surprised you didn’t mention that.

I also like the idea of a second watermaker. Or a complete set of parts, which actually is the same thing, but more expensive, so not as good. It was such a pain when it broke and it has, multiple times.

I plan to rig a hose to the fresh system to work as a fire hose and to be instantly deployable.

Also a central fire alarm is in the plan. You can get WiFi linked smoke detectors and I would stuff them everywhere there is a reasonable chance of a fire starting.
 

t21

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The Racor vacuum gauge is a very good thing. It shows you a building problem well before the SHTF. It has helped me greatly.
Racor RK 19669 RK19669 Vacuum Gauge, -30 to 0 Hg Bottom Mount

A second autopilot is a must have unless you are stuffed with crew. I’m surprised you didn’t mention that.

I also like the idea of a second watermaker. Or a complete set of parts, which actually is the same thing, but more expensive, so not as good. It was such a pain when it broke and it has, multiple times.

I plan to rig a hose to the fresh system to work as a fire hose and to be instantly deployable.

Also a central fire alarm is in the plan. You can get WiFi linked smoke detectors and I would stuff them everywhere there is a reasonable chance of a fire starting.

Racor vac gauge ok... with two motors this isn't vital, but i'll have a look.

2nd autopilot ... the steering is fully hydraulic so it wd just be spare electronic box... I'll ask a guy here if it can be set up. I lost autopilot on another boat transat and again not terminal, just drifted while asleep.

2nd watermaker (or parts) ... I'll be getting more parts in Trinidad where they make the Ecotec w/m ... Im not screwed without it, big tanks, spare bottles etc

Domestic water pump "fire hose" hum this would only work rather weedily, and only if battery and pumps and piping all unaffected by any fire. Big CO2 canister for me, and if anything - another one! A French boat inspector years ago steered me off the just-legal small powder things and said best really get something that will def put the fire out. Also I have some AC power ... so shooting water around wouldn't be "instant" for me.

Thanks for your thoughts

In answer to another ... yes I have a fair load of medical stuff...
 

dslittle

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T21 ex TCM is quite famous for his pranks. Nothing is what is seems. His post is real and super informative. But he realises that there is room for improvement no matter how prepared a boat can be. So he invites any additions. Read his blog about his on board table tennis table. I think it a pity he stopped regular postings. Always entertaining. Pity about the socialists though.

BTW i only know him via his blogs and postings. Never met him.
I have. Well equipped crossing playing Jenga en route…
 
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greeny

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You need to get yourself a selection of anchors. Ask on the forums for the best advice available. Oh, and a snubber as well.
 
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