Silkapvideo
DIESEL ENGINE FAILURE during a long Panama-Mexico crossing | sailboat Silkap
22 October 2023 · 13 min · 2K views · Gulf of Papagayo
What this video covers
The crew of the sailboat Silkap faces a potential fuel shortage while transiting from Panama to Mexico, having consumed half their diesel supply within the first third of the journey.3:17 With light winds forcing heavy reliance on the engine, the pair calculates their remaining range to determine if they must divert to Honduras for refueling.5:02 They compare two methods: one based on nautical miles per liter and another based on engine hours and average speed.7:06 After covering 277 nautical miles, they hold 180 liters of diesel and estimate a remaining distance of 492 nautical miles to their destination.7:43 They establish a critical threshold for diversion, planning to reassess their fuel status upon reaching the latitude of Honduras.5:39 After 23 hours of sailing, they confirm they have sufficient fuel to cover the remaining 309 nautical miles, even if wind conditions fail and they must motor the rest of the way.11:53 Calculating fuel consumption against remaining distance and engine hours provides a reliable buffer for long-distance passages.
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