On Watch

Despite a lifetime of guarding against salt water getting into any of the engines that I've installed, my nemesis finally won a round.

- CAP'N FATTY GOODLANDER

Exhausted IN SINGAPORE, FOR ALL the Wrong REASONS

Confession: I have an irrational fear. Not of heavy weather, but rather of having salt water back-siphon into my vessel's diesel engine. Weird, right? Actually, not so weird. On new diesel installations, I've found that a common cause of premature engine failure is exhaust-related.

Thus, a decade or so ago, when I installed a brand-new Perkins M92B in our 43-foot ketch, Ganesh, I paid careful attention to its exhaust system.

I not only repeatedly rubbed it with hundred-dollar bills, but I also consulted various marine engineers and exhaust experts, including "Diesel" Dan Durbin, formerly of Parts and Power on Tortola, the guy who wrote the excellent "Please Don't Drown Me" technical paper for Northern Lights.

I'm totally anal about my exhaust system. For example: I have a custom drain on my marine muffler (Centek Vernalift) so that I can empty it during severe gales, or at least monitor the water level during extreme weather or after a 360-degree roll. Not only that, but the large exhaust hoses going into and out of that Centek muffler are different sizes at different points to reduce back pressure. And, yes, I've physically tested the back pressure in my system to make sure it is within spec.

Even better, I have a water-exhaust separator (also Centek) mounted high up in my engine room, a setup that allows the raw water to flow out independently of my exhaust fumes. That's right-my exhaust gases exit through one through-hull, and my exhaust water through another.

Why so complicated? Because I am a poor man who sails in rough water with empty pockets, and I need my exhaust system to be bulletproof.

It is much harder for a hose without salt water to allow salt water to back up into your engine than it is for a hose that contains salt water.