4 The likely explanation for our broken engine was a hydrolock - water had got into the cylinders of the engine block. With limited resources on the island, we set out to try and fix it ourselves.
Boat Projects
4 
We had arrived after a boisterous sail from mainland Portugal to the island of Porto Santo. However, on approach to the island, the engine had failed to start. We'd managed to sail into the anchorage outside the harbour, where further tests indicated we definitely had a broken engine. What follows are our attempts to diagnose the problem and find a fix
A Sailboat With a Broken Engine
At long last, the time had come to leave the boatyard. After almost a year, far longer than we'd anticipated, the long list of boat jobs were finally complete. We just had to hope she floated once she was placed back on the water.
Boat Refit: At Long Last It’s Time to Leave the ...
The first part in our 2021 refit series. In order to get Emerald out of the water, we have to endure the heart-clenching experience of seeing your precious home be lifted into the air. We look at the factors involved in choosing a boatyard and the types of liftout available for boats.
Refit Part I: Choosing a Boatyard
2 After several boat toilet fails, we began to research alternatives. This year, we bit the bullet and chose to install a custom built composting/waterless toilet.
Choosing and Installing A Composting Boat Toilet
If we wanted to spend a winter at anchor, it was essential to replace our anchor chain. After 11 seasons of use, the old chain was noticeably deteriorating. This blog looks at our choices and the swapping over process
Emerald’s New Anchor Chain
Whilst sailing from Ibiza to Mallorca, the wind died and we had to motor. Just after switching on, the engine stuttered and died. Diesel bug had blocked one half of our fuel system. Read on for how we dealt with this.
Attack of the Diesel Bug
We were finally able to leave the marina two months later than planned and headed out a short distance to Cabo Tinoso. Emerald wasn't going to let us relax however, and threw several unexpected problems our way.
Little Steps to Freedom 2020
Emerald has inward opening ports, held open by a hook hanging down from the ceiling. There are 14 of them in all, which with most of them open in the summer provide plenty of entry points for small, evil buzzy, biting mosquitoes. I made the first version of the boat […]
Instructions for DIY Boat Mosquito Screens
20th July: A very relieved Emerald crew are now floating again and so far so good: the bilge is dry! We’ve bravely left the safety cocoon of Murter to venture a few miles north for a few easy days. Life in a boatyard can be hard work – physically from […]
Boatyard: Leak Busting and a Bora Wind
There are many bad things that can happen to a boat. Earth (running aground), water (sinking) and air (wind and lightning) are all enemies to our floating home and it was water that was threatening us now. Alerted by a hideous, high pitched squeal as we motored away from the Krka river, we […]
Emerald has a Set Back
Thursday morning was mass exodus day from Marina di Ragusa – the first calm weather day since Saturday. We were in the first batch of departees at 6am when the marineros came on duty and could help us and others without those new-fangled bowthruster gizmos to turn in the narrow […]