Fuel Polishing

The polishing machine

Clean fuel is important for all engines.  That is no different on boat.  Making sure you get clean fuel can be a challenging at times.  This is true even at marinas and fuel docks in the USA.  Worldwide it can be a interesting challenge as well.

The assistant keeping an eye on things

Tom is very careful to monitor our duel Racor fuel filters, especially after a bouncy passage.  To date, they have done their job well by keeping water and gunk out of the engine.  However, we know that we have water in both fuel tanks.  While changing the drinking water filter under the sink, water spilled and flowed on top of the fuel inspection ports and eventually some seeped in.  Additionally, we have been purchasing fuel from various places throughout the Caribbean and living in warm, humid conditions.  It seems crazy to me but microbes can actually grow and thrive in diesel fuel.  Many seasoned cruisers get their fuel polished professionally every so many years as a good practice.

Getting into all the nooks and crannies of our unusually shaped fuel tanks

So, for these various reasons, Tom decided to have our fuel tanks professionally cleaned while here in Trinidad.  There is only one company that does this here and as you can imagine he is swamped with requests as all the cruisers return to their boats and prep for departure.  After a week of back and forth contacts, Sean Boddean of Chute D,Eau Marine, Ltd showed up around 5:30 pm at our boat.  Tom had done all the prep work of filling the tanks to near fully, calculating the amount of fuel in each tank and opened the inspection ports for easy access.  *Those two bilges smelled of diesel fuel that day as we waited Sean's arrival- ugh!  Wisely Tom had covered each port with a bucket so nothing could be accidentally dropped into the fuel tanks.  Sean laughed and said he was impressed as he has too often dropped things into the tanks on his own boat.  He quickly measured out some FluidKleen (I think) and dumped it into each tank.  He said it needed to sit in the tanks for at least 24 to 48 hours and they would be back in  2 days.  The slight movement of the boat in the slip actually assisting in the mixing process. 

Dirty fuel out, clean fuel in

2 days later, Sean and an assistant showed up with the cleaning machine.  A long hose was run through a portlight down into the aft fuel tank.  On the end was a long tube that resembles a long vacuum cleaner hose attachment - the one for reaching corners and vacuuming drapes.  Sean Velcro'd a white cover over the hose to protect the interior of our boat.  Another tube ran out of their machine and back into the deck fill for the aft fuel take.  He switched on the machine and began polishing the fuel - basically sucking out all the fuel, running through the machine aka a big, giant, special filter and then back into our tank.  The long attachment allowed him to get into all the nooks and crannies of our odd shaped tanks.  After two mins, they took a sample of what was coming out of our tank.  The sample showed some water and gunk consisting of sludge / dead microbes.  Then he showed us a sample of the cleaned fuel going back into our tank.  He would only guarantee 95% but it looked darn clean to us.  The color made it look like the artificially bright colored pink grapefruit drink that we make with our Soda Stream.  After an hour, they finished the aft tank and switched to the front tank.  It showed a bit more water but less gunk.  However there were a few living microbes in that tank - which still blows my mind.  Have you smelled diesel fuel?  How can anything live in that!  Yeah, I skipped that day in science class.  

Close up of tank 1 dirty fuel, tank 2 in background

During the two hour process we chatted away with Sean learning all about fuel polishing and the many clever modifications he has made to the two machines he has.  Additionally we talked about the major boat rebuild his company is working on here in the yard, fishing, boating, his 3 boys and various other topics about life in Trinidad.

Clean fuel - looks like pink grapefruit drink

While this wasn't an inexpensive service, we feel it was well worth it.  Thanks Sean.  

Bonus - (a week later) Sean stopped by the boat yesterday afternoon.  He had taken a Saturday off to enjoy his own boat and went out fishing.  He had success and presented Tom with some Wahoo and Mahi, Mahi.  Yum!  Thank you very much Sean!  

Perfect From Far But Far From Perfect

Pretty girl!

This is something I say often when I am referring to my canvas projects.  Especially those few canvas projects I do for others.

This is also something we are learning in a broader sense as we cruise into our second year living aboard.  Everything doesn't have to be perfect.  And more specific is doesn't all have to be RIGHT NOW - as in all the equipment, gear, setup, ext...we thought we needed for cruising.  We knew this and we told ourselves this often as we purchased the boat and worked towards living aboard.  However, looking back now, I think we let ourselves get caught (to some extent) by the "must have prior to leaving" syndrome.  Several seasoned cruisers have gently reminded us recently that they have been cruising for quite some time and it just takes time to get things figured out the way you want them on your boat and what works best for you.  This includes....well....everything.  Nancy on s/v Fawkes has said to me more than once, "Sabrina, you need to remember that we have been living aboard for 7 years now" when I comment on something well organized and thought out on their boat.

Besides the gentle reminders, we are finding that in regard to most things, you just need time on your boat.  Real time.  Despite having s/v Honey Ryder for 4 1/2 years, there are many things that we are just now finding the groove on since moving aboard and really cruising on her.  Solar panels is one example.  Watermaker, wind generator, dodger/bimni/enclosure, SSB, placement/storage of things in the boat, and even clothing onboard, just to name a few.  Other things we are still working to figure out - like where in the heck to store our shoes. 

It seems time and experience cannot be replaced.  

PADI for Tom

Suiting up

Underwater Works Inc. Ltd is located in the boat yard here at Coral Cove.  Before we took off for the states this summer, Tom had a discussion with them about getting his PADI diving certificate.  The main purpose being so that we can get some sort of a dive rig to clean the bottom of our boat.  Free diving on the bottom this past year has only got us so far this past year.  And it's exhausting.

Checking the gear

When back in the states, Tom read a complete PADI diving book and then went to the library on a regular basis so he could take, complete and pass the classroom portion of the PADI online.

Getting ready to go

A couple of weeks ago he completed his in the water stuff here in Chaguaramas.  I am very proud of him!  

Time to jump in

He worked a deal with Underwater Works Inc. Ltd for some of their used equipment including a tank.  Now he can clean the bottom of the boat anytime, put on zincs without running out of air, retrieve any dropped tool and easily add the replacement line cutter (once we order it and have it delivered).  He might even be persuaded into a dive for fun should we hook up again with diving fools s/v Somewhere or s/v Amiris.  

Waiting to go under

Sadly, it looks like my bottom cleaning days are coming to an end now that Tom has dive equipment.  Boo hoo, sniff, sniff.......NOT!!!  Although I bet the waterline will still be available for me to scrub.  

Update FYI - as of the date of this posting, Underwater Works Inc Ltd has moved out of Coral Cove boat yard.  They are planning to open on the boardwalk in Chaguaramas sometime in the near future.

Special Note -  We did not get our dive certificates prior to casting off.  Frankly we were too busy and there are plenty of good commercial divers around.