Kerosene Leak
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 28 Jun 2024 03:28
Course: SE Speed: 7 knots
Wind: NW, F5 - fresh breeze
Sea: moderate Swell: NE 2 meters
Weather: overcast, cool, showers
Day's run: 135 nm
We have enjoyed fair winds for the previous 24 hours, which makes for a nice change compared to our passage from Sydney to Adelaide. We made our departure through Backstairs Passage around midnight after a comfortable run down the Gulf of St Vincent. Overnight the wind has gradually freshened and backed into the NNE, such that we are now running wing-on-wing with one reef in the main and 50% of the jib poled out to port, making good a respectable seven knots.
A minor problem occurred this morning. When I woke to the 0800 alarm I could smell kerosene. My immediate thought was that one of the oil lamps was leaking but a quick cast of eye upwards showed they were not the culprit. The only other source of kerosene was the cooker. I arose to investigate and found that indeed kerosene was leaking from the back of the oven. This problem has occurred in the past when I have accidentally left a burner slightly open but in this instance the burners were all closed. Further perusal revealed that the flexible hose from the tank to the cooker had developed a leak. I was surprised at this as the hose is reinforced with a spiral metal jacket.
Fortunately I had a spare hose so, after assuming some contortionist postures to get to the connection inside the cupboard where the tank is located, accompanied by a few grunts and the odd curse (like the broken hose, I am not as flexible as I once was), I had removed the old hose and secured the new one in its place. Hopefully the new hose will last as long as the old one, but I shall be ordering a replacement to add to the spares kit asap, just in case.
While having to replace the hose was a nuisance, I consoled myself that at least with kerosene I could smell the leak and that a little bit of kerosene in the bilge is nowhere near as dangerous as a gas leak, which is by far the most common fuel used for cooking on recreational vessels. Furthermore, I could undertake the repair myself at sea whereas a gas hose would have had to have been replaced by a qualified gas fitter.
Now the next problem is whether we will round Cape Northumberland before the cold front arrives sometime early tomorrow, and how much south will be in the change (it is forecast to be S to SW). We will be approaching Robe just before sunset so I will need to decide whether to seek shelter there and wait for the next favourable wind, or whether to press on and hope that we will have rounded Cape Northumberland and that the wind shift will be more SW than S. My inclination is to press on but I will reassess later this afternoon.
All is well.