Sailing - Our night watches and diesel treatment - (2023)
8 January 2024 · 14 min · 3K views · Tarawa atoll
What this video covers
Night watch schedules on long-distance passages require balancing rest with safety, particularly in high-traffic areas or when navigating near hazards. On extended ocean crossings, six-hour shifts allow for a full sleep cycle, ensuring the off-watch crew member remains rested.3:12 Strict safety protocols mandate that the person on watch never leaves the cockpit alone; any maneuver, such as reefing or responding to a squall, requires calling the off-watch crew member.5:47
Diesel fuel contamination, specifically the formation of gelatinous sludge caused by biodiesel additives, can clog fuel pickups and damage injection pumps.8:27 When engine failure occurs due to fuel starvation, bypassing the main tank with a temporary jerry can confirms the blockage is within the primary system.10:29 Cleaning the tank involves removing the fuel pickup and level sensor to manually extract sludge.10:29 Using a shock dose of a biocide and dispersant, such as Sintoflon Bacteria Seed, liquefies the gel, allowing it to pass through the Racor pre-filter and engine filter without causing blockages.12:16 Regular preventative treatment during every refueling cycle maintains fuel system integrity.13:34
Boats in this video
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