Fuel issues - 28 - 30 May 2011

Tashi Delek
Mike & Carol Kefford
Mon 30 May 2011 10:12

39:56.76N 009:42.08E

 

Before we left the anchorage at Capo Carbonara we noticed that the outboard engine for the dingy appeared to be leaking fuel.  We had used it without difficulty the day before so this was something new.  We had left the engine on the dingy overnight while it was still in the water and it had been a very choppy so our initial thought was that it had taken in seawater as a result.  We had no idea how much of a problem that was going to be but outboards do get slopped with seawater as part of their life so it  wasn’t promising that so much water/fuel had come out.  Nothing we could do there and then so we mopped up and got on with our day but

 

First thing was to motor into the nearby marina and fill up with fuel.  We had checked opening times the previous day and called them up on the radio as instructed.  No reply.  Still no reply.  Still no reply, let’s just go in and tie up then go and look for them.  The fuel dock seemed fairly straightforward and noting wind direction and position of pumps there was an obvious place to go alongside.  So we did; except that at the very last minute our engine cut out.  Yikes.  With a bit of jumping about we got the boat secure and then looked for the problem.  A very thick rope was wound round one of the bollards and then went into the water so it took less than a second to realise that that was what was round the propeller.  You always check for lines in the water on your way into a marina but we hadn’t noticed this one.  Mmmm.  Tricky.  Only thing to do is go over the side with the ships knife and cut the thing off.  Water very cold still although at least, for a marina, this was very clean.  Carol is the one with the wetsuit so won the opportunity to go over the side.  Mike then noticed a dive boat leaving the marina, took a deep breath and called them over then did the blag of his life and they, seemingly very happily, helped.  One of the divers put his tank and weights on and in he went.  It didn’t take him long but it would have taken Carol a very long time trying to do it one breath at a time. 

 

We raided the fridge and handed over a bag of cold beers which they seemed delighted with and struck us as a very fair exchange.

 

 

Without further drama we then headed north for a couple of days past glorious scenery and lovely beaches.   We had some good winds on the way so were able to try the new staysail that had been rigged and made last year.  It is the small one in the middle, with two red ropes coming off it.  We had used it on the passage from Turkey to Greece but the conditions had been pretty savage then so we had used it without really having the chance to ‘play’ with it and get used to it.

 

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We anchored in a couple more bays and came across this yacht that had come from Alaska.  Impressive.

 

 

Then into a marina to re-provision and try to get to grips with the still leaking outboard.  This was Arbatax.  Past spectacular red sandstone cliffs and into a very industrial harbour.  Large paper mill to one side and what looked like an oil rig being built next to that.  But in the middle was a delightful marina with blue and white clapboard buildings.   They were clearing up after the world waterbike championships which would have been a sight to see. 

 

 

We held our breath as we asked the price – 14 Euros!  Done, we’ll stay two nights.  For the first time ever we were taken on a guided tour by one of the staff.  He made sure we knew how to access the showers and turn them on and then gave me a run down on the relative performance of the two washing machines and dryers and which ones we should use.  In the showers he noticed a lady towel drying her hair so went over, took her by the hand and lead her over to the had dryer, turned the air vent upside down and then showed her that she should dry her hair using that!  We asked him where we could get help with the outboard so he took us to meet Paolo who would know what to do. 

 

Paolo duly came to look and, from the jetty without touching anything pronounced nothing wrong with the outboard, this was just seawater draining through.  Clean it, it will work.  Crikey; he could have tutted and muttered gravely and taken it away for two days and charged us 100 Euros and we would have been delighted and grateful.  As it was we were perplexed but set about taking it to pieces and have another go at working it out for ourselves.

 

 

Before much longer it was on its side on the jetty whereupon a French gentleman walks by, drops to his knees and asks what the problem is.  With Mikes sort of French and this chaps sort of English they took a look together.  Mike realised he was from the dive school and so likely to know about outboards.  He checked a few things (smoking, right next to the petrol) then he sniffed the fuel and announced that it didn’t smell good.  Carol meanwhile had been reading the outboard engine troubleshooter book looking for clues and had just read that fuel goes off after a couple of months.  Change of fuel and engine worked perfectly first time. 

 

The leaking fuel had been a mixture of seawater and stuff from inside the engine and no problem at all other than it needed to get out somehow.  Without that happening though we would not have looked at the outboard motor until next time we needed it to go ashore; it had after all worked perfectly two days earlier.  Then we would have been at anchor and needing the dingy to get ashore.  So,  the choppy night putting water into the outboard which then dribbled all over the back of the boat turned out to be a stroke of luck.  And Paolo was exactly right!

 

The washing was done in the best machines we have used for some time. 

 

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We walked to a tiny supermarket that nevertheless had enough to sustain us for the next few days but the real joy was the butchers shop next door.  Fantastic range of quality meat and then local cheeses, pancetta (the best we have tasted so far), eggs and what looked like home produced olive oil in stopper bottles.  The young butcher said it was from his house.  We stocked up and really enjoyed the produce over the next week at anchor.