Sam Holmes Sailingvideo

Realigning the engine offshore

6 December 2023 · 26 min · 55K views · Dodecanese

What this video covers

While sailing offshore toward Croatia, the owner of a 2gm 20-powered sailboat attempts to correct excessive engine vibration by realigning the propeller shaft.6:02 After removing the coupler bolts, he identifies a gap in the alignment and uses a feeler gauge to adjust the engine position.7:12 He discovers that the front and rear engine mounts are severely degraded, preventing a precise, permanent alignment.7:48 Despite tightening the front mounts, the vibration persists at higher RPMs, causing the PSS shaft seal to spray water.12:06 The vessel experiences extended periods of calm in the Dodecanese, resulting in minimal daily progress and battery depletion.11:28 During the passage, the owner loses a new frying pan after a bowline knot fails while soaking dishes overboard.16:03 He concludes that the compromised engine mounts require full replacement to resolve the shaft alignment issues and restore reliable motoring capability.12:14

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