What a DRAG!

The captain and crew of the sv Exit Strategy were finally on the initial leg of their passage down island for the hurricane season. The vessel was forgivably motoring eastward to allow an easier sail once the captain turned southward toward Guadeloupe, their first stop. Thirty miles out from St. Thomas-USVI the engine grew progressively louder and unusual vibrations could be felt through the cockpit floor. The captain went below and opened all three access panels that surround the engine to inspect.  Nothing looked amiss.  The engine growled with more intensity and the rumbling noise made the first mate feel that it was imminently close to blowing. The captain remained calm.
 

Soon afterward, the crew discussed the engine while dining on cold rotisserie chicken and crudités under the soft glow of solar lights in the cockpit.   The first mate respectfully suggested that they had two choices: 1. continue on and hope it settles down or 2. head for St. Martin (approximately 70 miles away) where a capable mechanic could be found to fix the engine quickly.  The captain listened to the mate, but remained undaunted.  Suddenly, the mate thought of a third choice and said, “OR maybe we should turn around and head back the 30 miles to St. Thomas and get it fixed.”  The captain tossed his last chicken bone into the sea and sighed heavily as he knew his first (& LAST) mate wouldn’t let him rest until the engine quieted down.
 

Upon checking the chart plotter data, the captain discovered that whatever was wrong with the engine was causing a loss of power moving forward and THAT was a problem. The boat was throttled down to idle and stopped to only be moved a bit by the waves and current. It bobbed about turning almost 180’. The captain got his snorkel and a flashlight, as it was nearly dark by now, and climbed down the swim ladder to see what he could see.  Nothing was on the propeller or the rudder or what he was able to see of the keel.
 

Back on board, the captain powered the boat up to 1000 rpms.  The engine responded smoothly.  He slide the throttle forward to 1500 rpms and she purred like a kitten.  Finally, he eased it up to 2000 rpms and there was no vibration or excessive noise! 
 

It was finally figured out that a probable build up of Sargassum Weed had built up on the keel and impeded the smooth flow of sea water back to the propeller.  When Exit Strategy was stopped and turned 180’ the grass slipped free and took the stress off the prop.  It was a DRAG, but a lesson was learned and the crew found it necessary to slow and turn the boat several more times a long the way to free the grass.

We generally like to fish mahi mahi when we see these mats of grass, but our freezer was full. (Google Image)

[Rosie’s Note: Thank GOODNESS we figured this one out!   I was envisioning another repair like the one we had done last summer in Spanish Waters, Curacao by a recommended boat mechanic.  Yeah- I’m guessing he was recommended because he was the ONLY mobile mechanic in the bay.  I won’t ID him out right, but the chain-smoking Dutchman’s business name rhymes with “No Boat Jerks.”

IF you are a cruiser reading this blog, for a really skilled and dependable marine mechanic in Curacao, have the folks at Curacao Marine fix it in Wilhemsted.]