Captain's Blog

    More from the exciting world of Marine Diesel Maintenance!      For a diesel not many things can be more important than clean fuel. To start my own timeline, my next project was to change out the fuel filters. My Camano has 2 primary filters a RACOR 75/B32009  (2 MICRON) and a secondary on engine (10 MICRON) fuel filter. Not sure why the 2 primaries are 2 Micron, that is what was on there when we purchased it. Usually the primary is a larger Micron, but for now I left it the way I found it.     I started with the secondary and used a NAPA substitute that fit fine. The NAPA unlike the VOLVO has a small water drain at the bottom.  Not sure I would use that, If I thought water had gotten to there, I would see it in the primary RACORs first.  Water like crud is death to the engine!  If I really wanted to delve into how dirty the filter was, I could have cut it open but frankly that's a PIA. It took just a few minutes to remove the existing filter, fill the new one with clean fuel,

    The long trips will be some time from now while we get a whole lot of necessary (and some just for fun) repairs done to Pau Hana. But today, July 4th we decided the Camano is perfect to view fireworks in King's Bay with friends.     After a fun cookout of hotdogs & hamburgers, we loaded up Pau Hana and another friend of mine's boat and headed out the canal to anchor up in the bay before dark.  The City of Crystal River annually puts on a fireworks show which is set off from a barge in King's Bay. It is always the best time, there is just no way to get a better fireworks show than up close and out in the open like this. Apparently the City cancelled the fireworks but some local businesses stepped up, bought the fireworks & put the show on. I love this town!      The flybridge on the little Camano makes a great place for lounging and easily held 6 of us and a few teenagers (who spent quite a bit of time diving off the top). The show was by far one of the best, the

    The Heat Exchanger , much like the radiator in your car, cools the engine by using the sea water that constantly flows through the raw water portion of the engine.  Sea water travels through the core or tube bundle to transfer heat away from the engine coolant.       Since I don't know much about the history of this engine, I am going through each portion of it to set a baseline.  I have been "itching" to get to the Heat Exchanger as I felt that what it looks like inside will give me a good indication if I'm up for some trouble with an engine that may have been neglected.  The removal if done methodically and with plenty of buckets to collect the 4+ gallons of coolant and gallon or so of sea water is not too bad. Once I got the unit out of the boat and removed the end cap I was pleasantly surprised, the tubes looked great. There was a little "ocean gunk" in there but overall it was obvious that it was in good shape and sea ready. It helps me confirm that