Salt & Tarvideo
Salt & Tar: Ep.313 - The Key to All Our Problems
23 October 2025 · 20 min · 46K views
What this video covers
Garrett and Ruth return to their George Buehler sailboat after a nine-month hiatus to address engine maintenance and system restoration.0:16 The primary mechanical challenge involves a failed impeller shaft key, which the crew replaces by hand-filing a custom bronze key from a wood screw to achieve a precise press fit.1:54 After installing the new key and a fresh impeller, Garrett clears the raw water intake by reversing a vacuum to blast air through the through-hull.9:48 The crew monitors the starter battery voltage via the Victron Connect app, confirming a 12.1-volt charge, before successfully firing the engine.11:45 The engine runs at operating temperature without leaks or cooling issues.15:40 To finalise the engine test, Garrett manually scrapes barnacles from the propeller to ensure the transmission can engage in both forward and reverse.16:49 The crew plans to remain in their current hurricane hole for several months before departing for further cruising.16:08
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