A Question Of Seamanship. February YM

[Uricanejack]

I carry a car jump starter pack for this very scenario.

I have one of those. For the car, It was a mid range version. When needed it never worked. tried it on the boat. Not a chance.
We have good 24 volt version. Works well but you have to keep them on charge most of the time. When not in use.
Trouble with the car boot version. They loose their charge when left in the boot.

Now I just carry cables.

A spare 12 volt battery seems like a good idea. If you charge it regularly.

 

[Uricanejack]

I guess it depends how you look at it.
When I read the scenario and question.
I saw a relatively easily solved engine problem. I was a bit surprised by the book answer about solving an electronic navigation failure at night. Solving the engine problem would eliminate the electronic navigation failure. If I failed to start the engine and charge the batteries.
The failure of my electronics would be an annoyance. So I would just keep going.

The biggest annoyance my propane system has an electric solenoid shut off. No batteries=no propane=No tea.
This alone could make me divert or change plans.

I do a gass BBQ and one of those little butane stoves for backpacking. It's usually in my bag. Because I like hiking. And enjoy a cuppa at the top of the hill.

 

[Poignard]

What would I do?

Sail!

Turn off everything electrical to conserve what charge was left in the battery for when I needed to put the LED tricolour on (it only draws 200mA). If that couldn't work I have a torch and a paraffin anchor lamp to illuminate the sails.

I have a portable GPS that runs off AA cells so electronic navigation is no problem but otherwise I would navigate without electronics.

 

[Billjratt]

My 4108 has no decompressor or winding handle, so removing the air cleaner and blocking the air intake is our tried and tested method of getting 'free revs'. If there is not even that much power in the batteries, it is time for the wee petrol genny and shorepower charger as mentioned by a previous poster.
There is also the independent battery in the forepeak for the anchor windlass, but it's not an easy job to swap these things under duress.
I would focus on the engine as the boat's a motor-sailer and we have grown used to operating in that environment, although it does OK under sail.
In the case of a total instrument blackout, we even carry a proper lead-line to facilitate landfall, but I wonder if anyone has tried hanging the anchor on (say) 30 feet of chain and just heading for the shore reasonably slowly?
How many of us carry 2 black ball shapes to advise of our difficulty and/or beg for help ... possibly the two haves of your anchor ball tied to a paddle and waved from the foredeck would suffice- also a proper air horn (morse "D") as the electric one would be a chocolate teapot .
Night-sailing without electrics - interesting, where is the best place to hang the (single) paraffin storm lamp...? I think maybe the backstay to alert vessels sneaking up behind while I am focused ahead.

 

[NormanS]

How would you recommend checking a boat before the start of a delivery?

You jest, I hope?

 

[Bru]

This is surely an unlikely scenario? Whenever I suggest that 1-2-Both switches ought to be banned because of their possibility for confusion, leading to flat batteries, I get told in no uncertain terms that they're not a problem!

+1

 

[alant]

Turn shorepower off for a few hours will check the batteries.

Checking fuel isn't so easy as most of the muck won't show up until after setting off. If the fuel is really jelly then running the engine for a while might show it up.

Didn't just get on board, drop lines & go, trials off Alicante, prior to setting off, suggested that engine & batteries were ok.
Even mainsail looked good, until it actually split.

 

[alant]

Turn shorepower off for a few hours will check the batteries.

Checking fuel isn't so easy as most of the muck won't show up until after setting off. If the fuel is really jelly then running the engine for a while might show it up.

The batteries started engine no problem many times & engine ran for a day before showing jelly problems.

 

[alant]

You jest, I hope?

Why, can't you answer

 

[oldharry]

To anyone old enough to have sailed with a Stuart Turner engine, this was a normal scenario. Of course we only had paper charts in those days anyway.

No I do not regard them as the "good old days". I would have given my back teeth then for the modern GPS system!

 

[fisherman]

To anyone old enough to have sailed with a Stuart Turner engine, this was a normal scenario. Of course we only had paper charts in those days anyway.

No I do not regard them as the "good old days". I would have given my back teeth then for the modern GPS system!

Or an RCA Dolphin. People forget there was a time when there were no compact diesels for yachts and motoring long distances was not an option. The local lifeboat cox used to reckon on callouts on Sundays, as folk who had to be back at work on Monday ran out of wind.

 

[alant]

Or an RCA Dolphin. People forget there was a time when there were no compact diesels for yachts and motoring long distances was not an option. The local lifeboat cox used to reckon on callouts on Sundays, as folk who had to be back at work on Monday ran out of wind.

Didn't they call 'em 'auxiliaries' back then?

 

[NormanS]

Why, can't you answer

We seem to have gone off topic. Perhaps if you really do want advice on the appropriate checking of systems on an unknown boat which has been lying abandoned for some time, prior to setting off, you might consider posting a new thread.

 

[vyv_cox]

This is surely an unlikely scenario? Whenever I suggest that 1-2-Both switches ought to be banned because of their possibility for confusion, leading to flat batteries, I get told in no uncertain terms that they're not a problem!

It's people who are the problem, not the switches

 

[Topcat47]

It's people who are the problem, not the switches

+1. The trouble is, boats tend not to sail themselves.

 

[capnsensible]

You jest, I hope?

Nope. You are very critical of someone who has said the owner had spent a month on board preparing the yacht.

I know what I do to prepare for deliveries. I am interested in why you feel the necessity to criticise someone else.

I am also very aware that on every delivery, the smart sailor expects things to go wrong and has the confidence to deal with the unexpected. Which often doesn't occur until you have left the dock and are then putting the boat under strain that you cannot simulate alongside.

But I suspect you actually know all that..........

 

[prv]

It's people who are the problem, not the switches

But switches are a *lot* easier to fix.

Pete

 

[dom]

Nope. You are very critical of someone who has said the owner had spent a month on board preparing the yacht.

+1 Can't see what alant did wrong.

Take his fuel gumming: if asked to sail a boat that had been lying idle for ages I'd certainly open the fuel tank, drop a tube in and suck a bit of fuel out from the bottom and then drop it into a clear glass for a quick visual - if clear then fine. Re batts: shorepower off, check voltage, run fridge etc for a couple of hrs and if voltage consistent with 90% then fine. Re sail: quick look and a feel.

Despite reasonable precautions boats sometimes go wrong, big deal.

 

[[70521]]

This is surely an unlikely scenario? Whenever I suggest that 1-2-Both switches ought to be banned because of their possibility for confusion, leading to flat batteries, I get told in no uncertain terms that they're not a problem!

They are not a problem.

Has worked for me for some time, followed the concept of an American on the Cruisers Forum, have a big house battery on 1 and a smaller one on 2 and you will be fine. With 230Ah and a 110Ah, despite the foretellers of doom on here it has worked a treat.

 

[alant]

We seem to have gone off topic. Perhaps if you really do want advice on the appropriate checking of systems on an unknown boat which has been lying abandoned for some time, prior to setting off, you might consider posting a new thread.

That's a don't know then.