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Long ocean passages usually don't require
an engine; it's the ports and headlands at each end that may demand some
expert sailing. -- Hal Roth
He was now convinced that the most valuable sail on board was the diesel.
-- Ray Kauffman
A keelboat may contain a number of boat
systems which may not only break on a voyage but have inherent dangers
which can cause serious problems if not tended to properly. Common boat systems are as follows:
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1)
The Engine.
2)
The Head and Sewage.
3)
Fresh ( Drinking ) Water System.
4)
Electrical System - Both DC and AC shore power.
5)
The Galley and Stove.
6) Steering and Rudder.
7) Hull and Rigging.
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Deck fills and
through-hulls transfer liquids into or out of the boat. A deck fill
is a capped opening on top of the deck. Most boats have three types.
Fresh water intake, fuel intake and holding tank pump out (to transfer
sewage at a pump-out station). Through-hulls can be above or below
the water line. Above water through-hulls are for the engine exhaust
and cooling system,; the bilge pump and sometimes shower and sink drains. Below water through-hulls
are for the shower and sink drains, engine raw water intake, head (marine
toilet) water intake and macerator (sewage) outflow. Below water
through-hulls have a seacock or valve next to the hull. If the seacock's lever is parallel to the pipe, the through-hull is open. If
the lever is perpendicular to the pipe, the through-hull is closed--see
photographs below. If the boat is taking on water, one of the first
places to check is the integrity of the through-hulls. In case of a
leak, through-hull plugs should be located nearby. |
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 Open
Through-Hull
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Closed
Through-Hull
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There are several pumps on the boat which can fail.
1) Fresh Water Pump -
Provides water pressure for the sinks and showers. Some boats will
have a seawater pump to provide seawater for showering and initial
rinses of dishes. This helps to conserve water on off-shore voyages.
2) Sump Pump - Pumps water from the shower's floor
overboard.
3) Manual Bilge Pump - Usually located in the cockpit so the
skipper can pump and steer the boat at the same time. This will pump
excess water in the bilge (bottom of the boat ) overboard.
4) Automatic Bilge Pump - This is a small pump which will
automatically remove small amounts of water from the bilge.
This pump will come on intermittently to remove water that has leaked
around the stuffing box (the seal between the propeller's shaft and the
boat's hull).
5) Raw Water Pump - Pumps seawater which is used to
cool the engine's coolant.
6) Circulating (Engine Closed System Coolant) Pump - Pumps the engine coolant which distributes heat from
the engine to the raw water system.
7) Fuel Lift Pump - Pumps fuel to the engine.
8) Macerator - Macerates, treats and pumps sewage from the holding tank
overboard.
9) Head Pump - A manual pump which pumps water into and waste out
of the marine head.
Many of these systems can
produce gases which can be either explosive or toxic.
1) CNG or Propane:
Stoves run on one of three types of fuels: Alcohol, Propane, or
Natural Gas (CNG). Alcohol is non-explosive but takes a long time to
heat the stove. Propane is a heavy explosive gas which will sink to
the bottom of the cabin and into the bilge. It is readily available
in most marinas. Natural gas is a light explosive gas which
rises and easily vents out of the sailboat. It is not readily
available in all marinas.
2) Methane: This gas can be found in the holding
tank. This is the reason holding tanks are vented to prevent gas
buildup.
3) Hydrogen :
Battery.
4) Diesel or Gasoline: One of these two fuels are used
to run the inboard engine. Most sailboats run on diesel since it is
less explosive and not as likely to produce carbon monoxide as gasoline.
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