Sailing Gentlyvideo
EXPENSIVE MARINE FAILURES
August 7, 2024 · 28 min · 7K views · Caribbean
What this video covers
A 20-year-old Beneteau 323, *Gently*, suffered multiple equipment failures during a passage from Martinique to Guadeloupe.0:16 The anchor windlass motor failed, requiring a replacement sourced from SVB.0:21 During the transit, the vessel encountered sargasso weed, which fouled the propeller and required repeated shifting into reverse to clear.2:42 Upon arrival at Prince Rupert Bay, the anchor was lost when a connector link failed.5:25 The crew subsequently experienced a jammed headsail furler and a malfunctioning Raymarine Evolution autopilot that repeatedly disengaged in 30-knot winds.9:30 Repairs in Bas-du-Fort, Guadeloupe, included replacing the forestay and top roller furling gear, and tightening the autopilot clutch mechanism.13:33 Additionally, the Raymarine ES78 chartplotter touchscreen proved inoperable in wet conditions, locking when exposed to rain or wet fingers.20:10 The crew ultimately relied on manual steering and the plotter’s physical control knob to navigate.21:53 The experience highlighted the unreliability of touchscreen interfaces in marine environments and the limitations of the Raymarine autopilot motor in gusty, seagoing conditions.23:20
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