Welcome to the Marine Diesel Basics Blog

Welcome aboard this new blog – where I’ll be writing posts and sharing informal videos about the preparations for Ocean Five’s passage across the Indian Ocean – planned for January 14th 2021 This is the date I’m aiming for but, like everything in sailing and boats, all plans subject to change.  I’m steadily working through…

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V2 How does a Wind Vane Work?

Preparations for crossing the Indian Ocean single-handed. A windvane is a mechanical device to steer a sailboat – self-steering by keeping a constant course to the wind. It is essential equipment for single-handed ocean passage. The wind moves a “paddle” which moves a rod which rotates an “oar” in the water. The speed and force…

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V1 Where to place a liferaft?

First of an informal series of videos about my preparations for my passage from Thailand to the Seychelles planned for mid January 2021. This will be my first ocean passage and my first single-handed ocean passage. It’s about 3000 nautical miles The new liferaft – unfortunately through my own stupidity and poor attention, I ordered…

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