We departed Naples at dawn and headed south with the wind toward the Keys. Ideal conditions: fair winds and a following sea. We sailed all day with the jib and a reefed main.

All was well! Life was good! That is until a few miles from our destination. The wind lightened, and when we tried to start the engine, it made a funny noise: the normal whir of the starter engaging was quickly followed by a loud clunk and then nothing. The engine had seized. Peter freaked out and scurried below to figure out what the problem was, and I took the helm.

The initial thought was hydrolock which happens when seawater backflows through the exhaust system and into the engine cylinders. Not good. The combination of big following seas, being heeled to starboard where the exhaust outlet is, and just maybe a little too much stuff onboard which lowers us down into the water more than usual, was the likely culprit.

The fix looked like it might take a while and we were quickly losing our daylight, so I suggested that we stop pulling the engine apart and concentrate on finding the closest anchorage. We did and within minutes Peter had multiple grimy and sooty parts disassembled in his task of finding and draining all the seawater from the engine. Fortunately, our little Yanmar diesel engine is strong and simple and Peter had it reassembled and running again before sundown.

If we happen to meet the designers of the Yanmar 3GM-30 or the 12mm ratcheting box wrench down at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, we will happily buy them a drink.

Still sailing and motoring on. ❤️⛵️

      

    A job well done!