| Living on a sailboat is a fun way to live or retire. Some | | | | messy but a skill anyone can master. Always carry |
| may be put off on this sailboat cruising lifestyle | | | | spare filters and oil. Do not skimp on the oil you buy |
| because they are not mechanics. It is necessary to | | | | either...it is a false economy. |
| know a little about how your inboard diesel motor | | | | Since I was not a great electrician, we had a spare |
| operates...but the list is not long. | | | | alternator on board with the appropriate spare belts |
| Most sailboats have inboard diesel engines. In my | | | | and a crow bar to get the proper tension on the |
| opinion you should know how to bleed air from the fuel | | | | alternator when you had to change it. Be careful using |
| system; how to change the oil; how to work on your | | | | the crow bar to not damage the alternator itself. With |
| alternator and how to keep the water cooling system | | | | a spare alternator you can take the bad one to any |
| operational. | | | | auto repair store and get it fixed. Take it to the marine |
| Our sailboat, an Island Packet 35, had a 3 cylinder | | | | store you pay through the nose. The word marine |
| Yanmar that put out 35 HP. Since we waited for calm | | | | doubles the price on repairs...do not fall for this rip-off. |
| seas for interisland passages we ended up motoring | | | | Water is used to keep the engine cool. Whenever we |
| or motor sailing at least 50% of the time. Remember, | | | | turned the engine on we immediately checked to see |
| Murphy being a sailor, the wind would invariably be on | | | | if water was going through the exhaust outlet. The |
| the nose. All that talk of glorious broad reaches never | | | | system is belt driven; keep the proper spare belts, and |
| seemed to occur when we went island hopping. | | | | a spare impellor or two. Again we kept a spare water |
| Air in the fuel line. Diesels just flat will not work if air is | | | | pump assembly. If we had a problem we changed the |
| the fuel. Our engine had a bleed screw right before the | | | | entire assembly. You can rebuild the bad one at your |
| fuel pump. It took a good sized Phillips screwdriver to | | | | leisure. This makes more sense than doing it offshore. |
| open and close. It is imperative to have the proper | | | | Living on a sailboat is very enjoyable. You will feel |
| screwdriver...you do not want to strip this puppy. You | | | | better about going cruising if you know a few |
| will know if the engine has air in the fuel when you | | | | maintenance basics. I could barely change a light bulb |
| open this screw a little and see bubbles and hear | | | | when we left. I picked up a lot in living aboard for 8 |
| hissing. Open the bleed screw until you see no | | | | years ...you can too. Don't let lack of mechanical ability |
| bubbles...pure fuel. | | | | keep you from enjoying the sailboat cruising lifestyle. |
| I will assume you can change the oil and oil filter. It is | | | | |