Salt & Tarvideo
Salt & Tar: Ep.292- Hull & Soul
28 June 2024 · 20 min · 44K views · Isabela Island
What this video covers
The crew of the sailboat Red Aviva manages a persistent engine coolant leak during a multi-day passage from the Mexican mainland toward the Baja peninsula. After the Westerbeak engine overheated near an island, the crew discovered a slow leak in the heat exchanger, which they had previously serviced but not replaced. To prevent further overheating, they limit engine operation to five-hour intervals, topping off the coolant as needed. The passage involves light-wind conditions, requiring the crew to alternate between motoring and sailing, including the use of a symmetrical spinnaker. They maintain a watch schedule with 15-minute alarm intervals for micro-naps when near shipping lanes, while using Starlink for weather updates and navigation. By the fifth day, the crew reaches their longest continuous time at sea, successfully balancing engine maintenance with sail adjustments to maintain a four-knot average speed. Monitoring engine temperature and fluid levels remains a critical, ongoing task for the duration of the crossing.
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