The diesel bug

It was 4am. Dark, moon peaking through as I motored out the river mouth. As I cleared the bar two waves stood up, without breaking. over the first without incident, I throttled back for the second and then, silence.
The motor had stopped. I reached for the key, nothing. Dead. I quickly looked up to see if another set loomed, luckily our momentum, an outgoing tide and a light puff of westerly in the main i had put up earlier was enough to keep us moving. I rolled out the Genoa to assist and gave the helm to azza my first mate.
Time for a little look see in the engine room. Battery 12.8v OK, connections? OK 12.8v at starter motor. mmm must be in the loom. But that wouldn't stop the motor- I have started end run this motor without the loom at all...

I radio marine rescue Ballina to let them know I'm floating around without a motor, by now 0.8nm off the bar.
I said that I am OK but having engine difficulties, but sailing at present.

Back in the engine room I flick the fuel over to a second primary filter that I installed 5 years ago when I last had the bug... And mmm. The breaker switch on the instruments, once Reset, and we are go. Engine going again.



By now a we are sailing nicely 5 - 5.5knots hard on an 8knot SSW morning offshore. Beautiful, engine off. I let marine rescue know that all was well and that we were making for Iluka. Saved them lots of paperwork the chap joked, he was ready and willing to tow me back in if needed. A great safety net, luckily not needed.




All was well until the breeze died at 10:30. No start again. Checked the breaker. Still nothing. Out with the multimeter, showed that the breaker had died. A 5 amp fuse was installed with quick connects and bingo, Motor back on, we turned for the final 10nm into the Clarence. Not for long. The second filter lasted about 20min even in the flat conditions it had blocked as well.



Luckily, I had a good stock of fuel filters. 6 primary and two secondary. I fitted up two new primaries. Knowing now that we had a tank full of the dreaded bug, I needed clean fuel. I pulled the fuel return from the tank and filled two 5l plastic containers with "clean" fuel. Which I then put the fuel feed and return lines into.



This got us safely into Yamba.

Lessons learned. 450l of diesel in a single tank, minimal use for 18 months (since second child born) and perfect conditions for "the bug".

What now? Well decision time. Options are:
Clean old tank (again) and more biocide
new tanks (two smaller tanks) poly, removing the old tank.
One small day tank pre filtered from main tank.

Second lesson, there are often multiple factors that make up a disaster. Having a breaker fail and dirty fuel could have been super dangerous in a bar situation. Always have a back up plan, raise your main, have plenty of spares and keep your cool.
Finally, thank God for marine rescue. If all else fails, it's good to know they are there.

Santanasaga.

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MorningBird said..
I was taught to always have your main up when crossing a bar so you have some means of propulsion when needed. It hasn't happened to me yet but your experience reinforces the wisdom.

I'm with you Morningbird. My father who crossed more bars than hot breakfasts, taught me that you always cross a bar with main up and all hatches latched shut, life jacket on and harnessed to the boat, no matter what the conditions.

We make stainless steel fuel tanks and the one thing I insist on is to have a 6" access hatch to each chamber of the tank . This enables you to be able to inspect the tank and remove any contaminants if need be. After explaining this to customers I have never had anybody not wanting to pay the extra $100.00 per hatch. Most people would be horrified if they could see in their diesel tanks.
When filling my boat I always fill via a West Marine funnel that is fitted with a 149 micron stainless steel filter that will trap any contaminates including water. It may be slow at 18ppm but it's worth it as most times there are traces of contaminants in the funnel. I also add Fuel Doctor to the tank at each fill to take care of condensation in the tank.

Is Ballina your home port Santanasaga?

Just wondering why you were in there as everybody avoids Ballina because of the bar which can close you in for weeks!

I hope they sort it santanasaga as being able to cross that bar would make the trip to QLD so much easier and able to be done in day hops only.

At this moment heading to or from QLD usually requires and overnighter between the Gold Coast and Iluka for small yachts like my Top Hat.

I did get in there in 2011 and was lucky to get out 12 hours later the next morning. No marine services then either, had to go up into the town for diesel!

An extension of one of the walls might also make a difference.

My theory is that insulating the fuel tank will go a long way towards reducing diesel bug. An insulated tank maintains a more constant temperature, and there is less of a chance of cold surfaces condensing moisure let in by the breather.

Unfortunately it does not prevent moist air being sucked in by fuel slopping around, or from contaminated supplies.