{"id":43761,"date":"2021-01-04T16:43:59","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T21:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=43761"},"modified":"2023-05-06T17:41:30","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T21:41:30","slug":"sailing-totem-engine-heartache-where-diy-diagnosis-ends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/story\/people\/sailing-totem-engine-heartache-where-diy-diagnosis-ends\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing Totem: Engine Heartache\u2014Where DIY Diagnosis Ends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"headsail\" <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Getting that headsail bent on!<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Engines<\/a> are the boisterous beasts that sailors love to hate. We\u2019ve known purists who pulled the noisemakers out; later they mostly pulled out their hair. Overwhelmingly sailors determine that this dependable power is essential, even if we officially refer to engines as \u201cauxiliary.\u201d Ours has put good service in, but this thrum from the heart of the boat is giving us heartburn at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Our 2020 was headed towards a high note in late December. With the whole family on board, we departed Puerto Pe\u00f1asco on December 22 between strong northerly wind events. Jamie refers to it as the splash-and-dash. Possibly, it wasn\u2019t a kind wakeup to our Yanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Isla <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Isla Smith \/ Isla Coronado; dawn approach to Bahia de Los Angeles.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

The first leg was an overnight sail (odd how transits are typically referred to as a sail, even though we motored or motor-sailed almost the entire distance) to Puerto Don Juan, where we waited out a three-day blow and celebrated Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"preparing <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Yule fire! Niall prepares our drone\u2019s swansong flight. It\u2019s warm when the wind\u2019s down.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

The next leg south was to Santa Rosalia; we left the first day possible. To be clear, we aren\u2019t fans of cruising the Sea of Cortez in the wintertime. It is cold, and the opportunity isn\u2019t so much to \u201ccruise\u201d as to \u201cscoot between safe harbors when it\u2019s not blowing stink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Getting south wasn\u2019t just to get warm: it was in the hope our permits for passes to the awesome Revillagigedo islands<\/a> would come through, and get there ASAP. Also called the Socorros, these islands 350 nm south of Cabo are a marine preserve biosphere of spectacular underwater life. Sharks \u2013 lots of sharks! Giant manta rays. Schools of pelagic fish (no fishing, that\u2019s OK \u2013 we like to watch). Whales of the piscine and mammal species. How utterly awesome it would be to experience this as a family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Sea <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Wintertime blues in the Sea of Cortez<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Arriving in Santa Rosalia in the wee hours of the morning, we anchored to wait for light to enter the harbor. In internet range again, we learned that our permits came through. The island would JUST fit into a detour from Baja to get Niall to his flight from Puerto Vallarta back to school, mid-January. Next weather window we\u2019d continue to La Paz, hook up with friends there, and buddy boat to the Revs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Jamie continues the tale from here.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

First Signs of Engine Trouble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Just before hauling the anchor, I checked the engine and noticed the coolant expansion tank was weirdly dark. Removing it, I found it looked like the inside of a holding tank. Thumb-sized lumps of shiny oil floated in coolant stained dark from the ingress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"sludge\" <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n That\u2019s from the coolant expansion tank\u2026 not good.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

And the story goes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n