Wildly Intrepid Sailing · video

What this video covers

A Westerbeke alternator on a cruising sailboat fails to charge the battery bank due to a loose grounding bolt and a corroded, snapped lock washer on the tensioning bracket.7:16 The initial failure manifests as sparking and intermittent output, caused by a poor ground connection between the alternator casing and the engine block.0:26 After the owner attempts to troubleshoot the unit while underway in the Pongo River, a second issue arises: the loose tensioning bolt allows the alternator to shift, causing the drive belt to slacken and preventing the regulator from reaching the necessary voltage to initiate charging.7:57 Additionally, the loose bolt compromises the seal on a coolant assembly, resulting in an antifreeze leak that produces smoke.7:16 Replacing the corroded lock washers and properly tensioning the belt restores the alternator's output.10:19 The experience confirms that a loose drive belt can prevent an alternator from spinning at sufficient RPM to trigger the internal regulator, even if the unit appears to be rotating.11:06

More from Wildly Intrepid Sailing

We Got LOST in the Pirates of the Caribbean Indian River! E398Sep 2026ROUGH Sail to Dominica But it's WORTH IT E397Sep 2026Hidden Hot Springs & Sailing life of a family in Guadeloupe E396Aug 2026Our 4-Year-Old Started DIVING in the Caribbean! E395Aug 2026

From Wildly Intrepid Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.