One of all nightmares for a mariner

South Pacific Familyadventure 2008
Claes Brodin
Thu 28 Apr 2016 16:58
Coming in to Náousa on Paros we saw a congregation of saltcrystals on top of the toolbox of what seemed to be rests from evaporated saltwater. Suspecting a minor leak on the exhaustpipe I checked for that and saw 2 small holes in the weldingjoint of the saltwaterinletpipe. After some research I found Paros Yachtservice (Ricardo Sippl) who was on a job but promised to pass by late in the evening. Meanwhile I sent an e-mail to Randal (the former owner) for advise. Ricardo came and we agreed on the fact that there were 2 small holes in the weldingjoint and subsequently sealed them with Permatex "Wet Weld" (a 2 component epoxy "weld"). The day after (after 16hrs of epoxyhardening) I made a testrun of the engine and it was dry........for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes there was a stream of saltwater coming from the inside of the isolation. Obviously there had to be something more serious. I was now alone onboard since Björn left in the morning and there was a gale expected from the north in a couple of days.Northerly gales is the worst posibble direction for this little harbour with all swell from the Aegean Sea entering the bay. A crippled duck trapped in a badly protected harbour without engine. Damn ! I called Ricardo again who was on a diving job but promised to do everything posibble to find one of the 2 persons on the island who could weld stainless. Not an easy task during Greek easter holidays. It was just to wait...

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