Water in Bilge
If you find water in the bilge, check whether it is fresh or saltwater; if it happens to be fresh water, it is likely from the boat’s plumbing systems, such as from the water heater.
In this case we operate the bilge pump and inspect the fittings of the systems and their pipes.
If it happens to be SALTY water check all sea intakes, bulb pins, propeller shaft or any leaks. We thus operate the bilge pump and try to close the leak with wooden cones or rags.
The bilge pump can be electric or manual and is usually located near the rudder.
Bulb leak: in the case where the water flow is under control but steady, in Italy we call the harbormaster (Capitaneria) with the PAN and request the nearest harbor for a crane to pull the boat aground.
In the meantime, the bilge pump and if necessary the hand pump are operated. If the situation becomes uncontrollable it is necessary to launch the MAYDAY and prepare to abandon the boat.
To immediately close leaks we can use:
– wooden cones
– rags
– blankets
– quick-setting epoxy putty
Lubrication circuit
Always check the oil with the engine off and well cooled. Constantly change the oil filter every 250 hours. To facilitate this, warm up the engine a little to make the oil run more smoothly, so drain through special pumps to top up again.
N.B.: Diesel engines have an ideal operating temperature of at least 75 degrees, to soften the metals and thus allow for better lubrication, but never above 90 degrees. If the engine is not equipped with a thermometer you can adjust by touching the cylinder head (>90 degrees you get burned by touch).
Engine electrical circuit
Consists of a battery for the engine and at least one battery for the services. The alternator allows the battery to recharge when the engine runs.
Failures:
– Low batteries, engine struggles to turn;
– Belt breaks, water pump does not turn well, engine overheats and white smoke comes out of the overboard exhaust. Also, alternator does not work and does not recharge.
Cooling circuit
It consists of the parts listed below:
– Sea inlet, should always be opened before starting the engine;
– Pump, has the function of pumping clean water into the radiator by means of an impeller;
– Radiator, or heat exchanger cools the hottest parts of the engine through a “jacket”;
– Muffler, functions as a silencer and contains a check valve for water;
– Overboard exhaust, drains exhaust gases and hot water;
Failure: No water comes out of the exhaust
Causes:
– clogged sea inlet (envelopes, algae);
– closed sea inlet;
– filter clogged with impurities;
– broken pump impeller (changed every 200 hours).
Consequences:
– Engine overheating > 90° (touch engine to check temperature);
– Light white smoke from exhaust.
Note: The color of the exhaust smoke is indicative to understand the state of the engine:
– black smoke: dirty injectors, nothing serious;
– gray smoke: if it “settles” on water we are burning oil, the engine is not in good condition and we should intervene as soon as possible;
– white smoke: if “thick” we have water inside the cylinder head, urgently turn off the engine.
Inboard marine engine fuel circuit
It is composed of the parts listed below:
– Sphincter, serves to keep the tank from depressurizing;
– Diesel filters, prevent impurities such as laying or water from getting into the engine circuit;
– Pump, provides the necessary pressure for the injectors to atomize the diesel fuel that compressed by the pistons at high temperature bursts;
– Air filter, provides clean air for combustion;
– Recovery tube, recovers excess diesel fuel from the injectors and returns it to the tank.
4-stroke diesel engine: Aspiration/Compression/Injection/Exhaust
4-stroke gasoline engine: Aspiration/Compression/Injection/Exhaust
Failure: RPM loss or shutdown cause
1: Diesel fuel mixed with water.
Consequences: white smoke from air filter.
What to do:
– turn off the engine immediately to avoid sending water into the cylinders and thus seizing the engine;
– change the naphtha filters and before restarting the engine manually pump clean diesel fuel.
Failure: Loss of revs or shutdown
cause 2: residual bottoms in diesel fuel (laying).
What to do:
– turn off the engine and change the filters (at least every 100 hours);
– manually pump clean diesel fuel before restarting.
Failure: RPM loss or shutdown
cause 3: air in the circuit.
What to do:
– check where the air is coming in; sometimes it comes from where there is diesel leakage;
– turn off engine and pump manually.
Keep the bilge and engine clean to locate any leaks.
Life raft
In case of a very dangerous situation between the PAN and MAYDAY prepare to abandon the boat and take the raft.
Throw it into the water from the leeward side holding it close until you are pretty sure that the boat is not about to sink.
Before launching the raft overboard tie it by its line to a rigging, then retrieve the line to the bottom and give the last tug to inflate the raft.
The one who goes up first will have to be nimble enough to jump from the middle of the boat with his arms crossed over the raft go to close the valves and facilitate the ascent from the rest of the crew.
Inside, the raft is equipped with, among other things:
– water
– freeze-dried food
– blankets
– paddles
– floating anchor
– mirror (for daytime reflected signals)
May Day emergency procedures
Causes: Serious fire, Serious leak, Serious injury on board.
Fire on board: in case of fire in the engine compartment, keep closed and discharge a fire extinguisher inside. The captain in case of fire is obliged to move the boat away from the docks and other nearby boats.
On-board equipment
On-board equipment consists of:
– Long-range crossing flare: can be used both day and night up to a maximum range of 40 mg (use only when you are sure to be spotted)
– Short-range smoke buoy: should be used in daytime when rescuer is seen (open and throw into water)
– Short-range fire: should be used at night when the rescuer is seen.
Engine spare parts to be carried on board
The following spare parts should always be carried on board:
– 20-liter canister of clean diesel fuel
– diesel filters
– water pump impellers
– alternator belt
– 4-stroke engine oil and oil filter
– distilled water for radiator