Sailing Sweet Rucavideo
We Found The Problem & You Won’t Believe What Caused the Hydraulic Ram to Fail [Ep. 155]
June 23, 2024 · 23 min · 17K views · Rikatea, Mangareva
What this video covers
The crew of Sweet Ruca repairs a failed boom vang and disassembles a broken hydraulic autopilot ram while anchored in Rikatea, French Polynesia.11:14 After 24 years of service, the boom vang suffered from galvanic corrosion and aluminum wear, prompting the crew to fabricate a temporary topping lift using Marlowe D12 Dyneema line routed through the fourth reef position.11:28 The autopilot ram, which failed during a Pacific crossing after a heavy wave struck the beam, was disassembled to identify the cause of the malfunction.14:30 Inspection revealed a sheared internal set screw and a broken pin that held the piston to the shaft, causing the hydraulic system to lose pressure and the rudder to remain stationary.18:41 The internal cylinder walls sustained scoring from the loose metal components.20:24 Rather than attempting a field repair with epoxy, the crew plans to have a machine shop in Papeete machine a new shaft to restore the unit.22:31 Carrying a spare autopilot is essential for shorthanded offshore passages, as the failure of the primary unit could have resulted in more severe damage to the steering system.23:45
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