A Question Of Seamanship. February YM

Depends a bit on where you are heading for, but I can't think of a good reason to turn back. With any uncertainty about boat or equipment I would much rather be heading for my home port than anywhere else. Even lack of nav lights wouldn't really bother me
 
Uricanejack said:
February A Question Of Seamanship.
I was just reading Februaries YM. It's one of those long winded dick and Jane went sailing stories. Before it gets to the point.
Sailing from France to Uk. Jane tries to start motor. it struggles to turn over and won't start. Unfortunately main switch was on both.
Then the what would you do bit. I cheated and went straight to the answer page. It was all about plotters and turning back or caring on. I guess the point he is trying to make is about charts and navigation.
I never thought of any of that stuff. The first thought to cross my mind though wasn't about navigation. I would just try opening the compression levers'. To see if it would get going.
What would you do?
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Had similar problem some years ago, doing a delivery of a Moody 38, from Alicante to Gib. Boat had been left there after returning from Caribbean, a few years previously, then purchased by my owner.

Left Malaga ok, then problems started. No engine, because batteries were carp, fuel system full of jelly, no nav lights, no instruments, more importantly, no breeze, so spent the day drifting offshore whilst ferries dodged us. Only chart, was for western med, so little detail of inshore. When it got dark, could see lights of a town to starboard. Slight breeze came up, to enable some sailing. My solution, was to head for shore lights & when close enough to lose any remaining nerves, switched on depth sounder & waited until it showed 5 metres. When it did, dropped hook & repaired to bunks until morning (sunday), to be awoken by all the local tradesmen noisely going past us for their days fishing. Managed to get one of them to come to our boat & persuaded him (sign language) to take owner ashore with old battery. New one purchased at nearby filling station, fitted & managed to get engine started & going long enough to get to Club Nautico. Hours then spent changing fuel filters, to clear system, which was refilled with fuel from filling station. Oh, shortly after setting off, mainsail split & major repair needed. Eventually reached Gib & boat left there, until all problems sorted. Managed to get owner to abandon carrying onto Poole, I was not keen to cross Biscay with duff boat in December.
 
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alant said:
Had similar problem some years ago, doing a delivery of a Moody 38, from Alicante to Gib. Boat had been left there after returning from Caribbean, a few years previously, then purchased by my owner.

Left Malaga ok, then problems started. No engine, because batteries were carp, fuel system full of jelly, no nav lights, no instruments, more importantly, no breeze, so spent the day drifting offshore whilst ferries dodged us. Only chart, was for western med, so little detail of inshore. When it got dark, could see lights of a town to starboard. Slight breeze came up, to enable some sailing. My solution, was to head for shore lights & when close enough to lose any remaining nerves, switched on depth sounder & waited until it showed 5 metres. When it did, dropped hook & repaired to bunks until morning (sunday), to be awoken by all the local tradesmen noisely going past us for their days fishing. Managed to get one of them to come to our boat & persuaded him (sign language) to take owner ashore with old battery. New one purchased at nearby filling station, fitted & managed to get engine started & going long enough to get to Club Nautico. Hours then spent changing fuel filters, to clear system, which was refilled with fuel from filling station. Oh, shortly after setting off, mainsail split & major repair needed. Eventually reached Gib & boat left there, until all problems sorted. Managed to get owner to abandon carrying onto Poole, I was not keen to cross Biscay with duff boat in December.
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Wow! Doesn't say much for your preparations.
 
I would hope that on a passage my position would have been noted every hour, just in case of GPS or electrical trouble. Then I would consider how far I've got and what wind I may expect, having written out the last forecast before departure, so carry on or turn back. Torch for shipping, shine on the sails.
 
Uricanejack said:
Sailing from France to Uk. Jane tries to start motor. it struggles to turn over and won't start. Unfortunately main switch was on both.
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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!
 
fisherman said:
I would hope that on a passage my position would have been noted every hour, just in case of GPS or electrical trouble. Then I would consider how far I've got and what wind I may expect, having written out the last forecast before departure, so carry on or turn back. Torch for shipping, shine on the sails.
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Tried that off Falmouth one night & ship ignored any attempt to communicate, passed about 100' away, at speed. Think he was in a hurry for his nooky.
 
alant said:
The owner had been in Alicante for a month preparing & all seemed to check out.
Sometimes you can only find the faults by using things, sitting in a dock checking is no guarantee anything is A1.
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Well, sorry but I have to wonder how much actual checking was done, prior to setting out. Obviously, with any boat which has been lying unattended for years, the batteries and the fuel and fuel system would be suspect. It's a bit late to find out, after leaving, that the batteries are duff, and the fuel is jelly. But you know that now.
 
NormanS said:
Well, sorry but I have to wonder how much actual checking was done, prior to setting out. Obviously, with any boat which has been lying unattended for years, the batteries and the fuel and fuel system would be suspect. It's a bit late to find out, after leaving, that the batteries are duff, and the fuel is jelly. But you know that now.
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How would you recommend checking a boat before the start of a delivery?
 
capnsensible said:
How would you recommend checking a boat before the start of a delivery?
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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.
 
lw395 said:
I prefer to carry a competent crew to avoid this very scenario...
Last time I tried actually starting a diesel from a jump pack, I was less than impressed.
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I have used the power pack twice with my old batteries, it worked fine, just as it would jump starting a car. My diesel is only 10hp though.
 
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