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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- A 24-minute narrated video preparing Dirona for the 2,801 nautical mile North Atlantic transit from Newport Rhode Island to Kinsale Ireland. We first show storm plate (clear window protection covers) installation at the dock using the tender as a working platform on the port side. Then we move the SCUBA tanks below and secure them in the lazerette, plug the furnace exhaust to prevent flooding the boiler, install 8 stainless steel deadlights (port light covers), secure the anchor using a stainless steel pin, secure the refrigerator contents for rough sea usage, install the deck fuel bladders in the cockpit and Portuguese bridge, and finally take on 2,000 gallons of diesel and do the "ready for passage" visual survey.
More Information:
-- Additional work done in Newport prior to the passage: mvdirona.com/20...
-- How we manage fuel and the fuel bladders: mvdirona.com/20... and mvdirona.com/20...
People don't understand the difference between crossing the southern Atlantic and the northern Atlantic!!. The two of you ARE LEGENDS!!!
We have crossed both the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic and, that small sample, strongly agrees with your assessment. The North Atlantic can pack a punch. Admittedly our timing for the South Atlantic crossing was more careful since it was a long 3650 nautical miles so they aren't directly comparable but the northern one was definitely more challenging from a weather perspective.
Interesting to see the fuel bladders. I've been running the numbers on taking a Ranger Tug across the Tasman Sea using a cockpit fuel bladder. Nice to see someone else using them also. You guys are a masterclass in open ocean trawling. Keep up the great work. Thanks for the content.
Thanks for the feedback. A great source for fuel bladders is ATL with a broad selection of standard sizes and they also do custom designs. Our experience is that the key to a stable bladder is fully filling it. We have had ours out in heavy weather and they never shifted. As an example of how full we aim to get it, we have a picture of me standing on one where I'm hard sinking in at all. Good luck with your project.
That was so educational, a tad bit of a transatlantic crossing and how to prepare. Thank you
Thanks for the feedback.
You two have such a great aura! I love listening and learning from you both! We hope to buy a Nordhavn after I retire and go up and down E and W coasts! More videos please! I’ve watched this one at least 4 times!😳😎😎😎👊👊👊
Good push. We'll get to work on getting another video posted.
Interesting. I always just assumed if your boat couldnt hold enough fuel you couldnt go. I didnt even think about carrying extra fuel bladders! learned alot, thanks for sharing!
It's a common trick from the aircraft sector where short distance planes need to rarely need to do a larger hop. The military is another frequent user where they often need to store fuel at temporary locations. Another popular use of fuel bladders is in high speed sports fishers that need to run out a hundred miles or so to get out past the continental shelf on the US east coast. These are fuel hungry boats running at 20 and sometimes even beyond 30 kts so bladders are frequently used.
this is really cool to see the process of running a boat.
Thanks for the feedback on the video.
This is the best yacht vid I have seen. Tells what reallity is over the walk thoughts. Besides, I have owned half those yacht but always have to stop daydreaming and get back to earning the rent.
Yeah, it's true. There is never enough time for everything.
Y'all are so blessed to joy coursing across the ocean this way.... I've loved large boats as long as I can remember, but my wife of 40+ years is as scared of water as I am heights...LOL. I got her in a 14 foot fishing boat out on a small lake one time. All was go until the motor failed and the wind kicked up. I tried to paddle the boat back to shore but the wind was blowing us into the middle of the inland lake. She was freaking out. A couple of guys in a canoe towed to a near by dock and gave me a ride to get my truck and trailer. That next day the boat was sold!!! LOL... But I use to get out on out big old Lake Michigan on a friends 30 foot charter boat when ever the chance came my way... But no more physically able to do it. but at my age riding my 3 wheel motorcycle now and then is fun enough...LOL,LOL.. Her and I have ridden motorcycle for 38 years together. But she has always had to ride her own Harley which she's in love with...LOL...
Oh well I've rambled on enough. Have fun, be safe, and most of all be blessed as y'all cross the ocean and your time in Ireland... May the Good LORD bring y'all into safe harbors...
I'll be laying here watching for your vlog updates... BBE...
I'm not sure motorcycles are safer than long range cruisers but it's super hard to have an interesting life without accepting some risk.
We're currently enjoying a nice slow run south through Scotland's Caledonian Canal: mvdirona.com
Absolutely love all the prep work. Thank you so much for making this video!!!!
Thanks.
I've had a little boating experience on friends boats and always enjoyed it---but I've never dreamed or wanted to own a boat until recently watching your Dirona videos.
Absolutely brilliant video's you both do,I have a narrow boat that I travel round the inland canal system in and my favourite part of my trips are crossing tidal rivers and the Wash Boston to the Fens on a calm day of course.Thanks again and keep the video's coming.
Thanks Les. We do plan to post another video this weekend on a night time pass through the Brunswick lock in Liverpool.
Thorough preparation is the key to travel success! Fine!
I agree. And, when doing longer open ocean crossings, choosing a good weather window is even more important.
I Love the Thoughfulness and planning that goes into your videos. This has taught me quite a few helpful pointers, as I too will become a Yacht Operator.
Thanks for the feedback on the videos.
Thanks for sharing! I've seen pictures of your boat and other Nordhavns, but seeing you crawl around in the engine room really helps understand the scale. Safe travels!
Boats are tight places but most places on Dirona are surprisingly easy to get to. However, as on all boats, there are a few service tasks where more space would really be welcome.
Matt Cross i
you are my new heros !! real skippers ..... not a mickey mouse bayside captain !! impressive !!
Dude, you are my hero, I appreciate your Bob Dylanesque all black outfit when fitting the shields... epic and totally something I would do.
Yeah, I've got a bit of a Henry Ford approach to style: any color you want as long as it's black :-).
Fascinating video! Thanks for sharing!
And I couldn’t help but keep thinking “Hey! It’s Robert Plant!!!”
Now to watch the videos of the crossing.....
Most of our ocean crossings where great but we made the North Atlantic crossing at a less favorable time of the year so we saw some weather. Nothing dangerous but it was quite rough: th-cam.com/video/guEnTp2a6Sc/w-d-xo.html
I really learned a lot thank you. He explains really good what he does.
Thanks.
Just subscribed! I love watching nordhavns in their element, one day I hope to have a nordhavn of my own! Coming from a guy that has no experience in owning a boat, I have to say that nordhavn yachts are the best trawlers out there, and that's saying a lot... Lol love your videos, keep up the good work!
Really nice, everything has its place aboard your boat, electronics and electrical lay out is a electrical engineering feat! can’t understand the 41 miserable souls who put thumbs down?
This guy is my spirit animal 🤙
What a great boat. A machine built for functionality has a a beauty all its own.
We'll take strong over beauty all day long and we're kind of partial to a vaguely commercial look.
I certainly agree with this comment I love the functionality and I am also partial to the commercial look! What a great vessel!
Great organization and video. And a sparkling clean lazz! Bravo!
Great video. I have seen the fuel bladders used before on old DC3's in the Canadian Arctic to get fuel to remote locations.
Yes, fuel bladders are used frequently to extend the range of small aircraft. It's a nice solution and there are a lot of different applications: atlinc.com/rangeextender.html.
We used a 2500 gal bladder on the minesweeper I was on from Long Beach CA to Pearl Harbor during Vietnam.
Yes I was also wondering how you transfer your fuel from your bladder. What a great idea. I've never seen fuel bladders before now.
The fuel bladders are connected to a bulkhead fitting via short fuel hoses with cam lock fittings. There is a fuel transfer pump inside the boat that is responsible for pumping fuel between tanks. From inside the boat, the fuel can be transferred from the bladders into the tanks below. More details on the process here: mvdirona.com/2012/12/fuel-for-the-crossing/.
Long range fishing on a smaller boat people will head out on a loop drop a bladder with a beacon in the ocean do your loop , refuel load the bladder and head back in
I hadn't heard of this before but I suppose diesel is lighter than water so it would float and so it would work. Makes sense.
Great content, well narrated. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed it.
Hey guys, great boat and interesting video. I like your faith in the crane ! Keep living the dream.
Great video to showcase how much better suited sailboats are for blue water crossings. Fuel bladders, storm covers, oh boy. Give me an equivalent length sailboat any day of the week.
It is true that more sailboats than powerboats make the trip but, having crossed every ocean in this boat, there are some upsides in comfort. In storm conditions, it's really nice to be inside a warm and dry pilot house.
@@MVDirona Oh, for sure and everybody to their own of course. You guys do an amazing job and your choice of vessel clearly works for you.
Personally, I tried to love powered boats and never managed to. There's magic to the moment you switch off an engine and the wind takes over. I love how a boat just tenses and relaxes at the same time.
And of course, there are very nice sailboats available with a pilot house. ;)
Really enjoy this video👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 thank you for taking the time to post it. Safe journey
you are not a kid ,but you move around like ONE !!!!!! always believe a big boat is the best way to keep one fit !!!!! it takes TONs of calories keep a yacht in good shape !!!
I agree that, if you take care of your own boat, it does take some activity. Potentially an even more important factor is going to new places and seeing new things tends to make you more active both mentally and physically.
I sure as hell am a kid, whenever I’m on a ship, I’ll be walking around the whole thing but mostly at the bow or stern. Sound of the stern’s volume is highly increased from the engine.
I'm the same way when touring ships and, over the years, have toured some very interesting examples:
*Oil Tanker: mvdirona.com/2019/09/oil-tanker-tour/
*Scalloper: mvdirona.com/2016/11/on-board-a-canadian-scalloper/
*Container Ship: mvdirona.com/2012/06/on-board-the-hanjin-oslo/
*Cruise Ship: mvdirona.com/2016/02/behind-the-scenes-on-the-westerdam-2/
*Steamship: mvdirona.com/2019/07/historic-steamship-tour/
*Nuclear Submarine: mvdirona.com/2016/05/uss-california-distinguished-visitor-embark/
*Cable Layer: perspectives.mvdirona.com/2017/01/cs-responder-trans-oceanic-cable-layer/
*Ice Breaker: mvdirona.com/2015/01/on-board-the-aurora-australis/
*Arctic Research Vessel: mvdirona.com/2015/10/on-board-the-marion-dufresne/
Never realized Robert PlNt went cruising.😁
Billy Connolly putting the window cover on, nice 😉
I was thinking it was Brian May, but yeah, I see Billy there.
Enjoy your trip and God bless you.
Well done. I enjoyed your video and even learned a bit. Thank you.
Great stuff...I love videos like this...Thank you
Most enjoyable video--thankyou
Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for sharing
Did anyone else think that the first words out of his mouth would be, "great scott Marty!, if we don't fix the time machine we'll never get back to the future."
Very well done video !thanks
Just what I was expecting to find once on you tube ! Good shots, well done.
Thanks!
Fun video guys, thanks for sharing! I know you had a problem with flooding on the crossing but I'm sure James and Nordhavn will figure out the best solution you can come up with. I've enjoyed your Blog for a few years now. Doubt I will ever be able too buy a vessel like this, but it is fun to learn anyway. James attention to detail would do well in the Submarine Force, he'd fit right in. I spent 3yrs on a Submarine and I'm jealous James got to go out on the new Virginia Class Submarines. I haven't had the privilege. I'd love to see the changes made in the last 30yrs from my old Sturgeon Class Submarine.
I feel super lucky to have had the opportunity to take a trip on the USS California. I even got to crawl to the end of one of the forward torpedo tubes and sign my name on the outer door. Torpedo tubes look fairly big until you get down to the end :-)
What a great video! Very interesting. Thanks for sharing that. Keep em coming.
Thanks.
great video and very innovative to use a bumper as a exhaust cover.
How about adding a downward curve to that exhaust. Done
Great insight and education, thank you
That’s incredible! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. Another good informative video.
I am amazed that you could easily find the screws for the windows! Thank you for the video. Would love seeing your travels on the seas.
Parts of the North Atlantic crossing is in this video: th-cam.com/video/guEnTp2a6Sc/w-d-xo.html. It's a bit rough but you can find lots of relaxing ocean crossings up at: th-cam.com/users/mvdirona.
Very interesting video. Man, you really need a ton of knowledge and a lot of work to live this life safely.
It's hard to do it for many years without learning a quite a bit and I'm the sort of person that wants to know the "why?" behind everything but it's absolutely not required to enjoy the lifestyle at comfortable levels of risk.
Accumulated, first hand knowledge tends to stick with me best. Thanks for sharing. _Comfortable levels of risk._ Lol.
love your videos! thanks for showing us your life. i wish there were more videos!
We should publish more video. But, between work, fun, and posting on our blog (mvdiona.com), time is tight and videos take a ton of time to bring together. We plan to do a video on our transit of Scotland's Caledonia Canal soon. Real Soon :-).
i totally understand! thanks for the time you take to share! i love the blog too. i am very excited for the caledonia canal.
Excellent video. I am impressed with your videos. they are factual and show the amount of real prep that is required for a ocean passage. thank you for sharing your journey.
Very interesting and informative video. The smallest ship I crossed the Atlantic on was the Queen Mary. Hope you had a good one!
There is a lot to be said for the Queen Mary approach. When taking on weather, size really does matter. Small boats put control in your hands, give us flexibility to go where we want to go when we want to go there but the weather is a downside risk we need to keep an eye on. We have crossed oceans many times but this one was rougher than usual: th-cam.com/video/guEnTp2a6Sc/w-d-xo.html.
I'll post the changes we made as a consequence of that trip sometime this week or next to mvdirona.com. We think these engineering changes are sufficient to make the weather we saw on our North Atlantic crossing a non-issues.
Another great video, thank you for the great info.
Thanks for the feedback on the video.
Great boat🥰
I would cross the ocean with that guy!!!
Fantastic....
How about attaching a safety line to one of the bottom holes of the storm plate when attempting to install on the port side. That may save having to replace/dive for the plate in the event it slips. Once you have the top two screws in simply untie the safety line and carry on inserting the bottom screws. Just a friendly suggestion from someone who has dropped many things (mistakenly) into the drink!
I think your right that it would be easy to drop a panel and a safety line wouldn't be that difficult to install. It's a good suggestion.
I will let James captain my ship anytime! Cool Dude!!
what a nice video (for a skipper like me , i guess !!) what a nice toy is that little ship !
Thanks for a 'Reality Tube' on long distance voyaging. This is vital information for would-be boaters to come in contact with. Shipbuilder's crossing videos don't show the steps needed to fully secure windows at the cost of natural lighting and ventilation. What with the move to bigger windows at each level, I have been interested in just this detail.
You nailed it. All decisions in boat buildings are compromises. Small windows are better at sea but you mostly aren't at sea. Large windows are wonderful most of the time but aren't safe in extreme conditions. The solutions I like best are very thick windows or protection with storm plates.
A broken window in storm conditions could end it all so it's worth being careful.
Thank you, I've never heard of dead plates before.
It's the protective cover (essentially a shutter) over the windows with the design point being a broken window would remain sealed and not take water.
Great stuff. I'm glad that you guys took the time to show us how you prep your boat for long passages... I especially love the utilization of your fuel bladder for extra fuel for those far away excursion. I think that that's a great idea. Good for you guys! Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to state that I too would love to know, if you don't mind of course, how you transfer the fuel to your main tanks. I've visited the web site in which sells those bladders and seen that they have electrical powered fuel fill hoses and wonder if that's what you guys use?
Thanks for the comment Robert. We use a cool system where a passive hose is cam locked onto a permanently installed bulkhead fitting on one end and the fuel bladders on the other. Using the fuel manifold in the engine room, I can just pump the fuel below without going out side. There is a picture of the fuel transfer system in this article: mvdirona.com/2013/12/dirona-fuel-manifold/
I've outlined a bit more detail on the transfer process and advantages here: mvdirona.com/2017/10/preparing-dirona-for-the-north-atlantic-crossing/#comment-214735
I had no idea fuel Bladders existed very cool
Yeah, bladders in used frequently in military applications when deploying forces to new locations quickly. They are used to reposition short and medium range aircraft longer distances. They are in frequent use in the sports fisher fleets that need run longer distances to get to the pelagic fish. They are great tools to extend range.
Just come across your video I subscribed because I'm thinking about getting one myself as there is only 2of us. We would like to stick around and enjoy your everyday experiences have a nice trip.
That's the way we travel as well Billy. Just the two of us.
good luck and be safe , wacthing from kuwait 😉
Hello in Kuwait. We've long wanted to visit the Persian Gulf by boat but unfortunately, there is too much pirate activity ranging 100s of miles off the Somali coast and so, at least for us, it's a higher risk trip than we want to make.
You guys are awesome
Looks great. Safe travels. W
Of all the videos covering preparations for making a yacht sea ready yours was the most complete. The yacht turned out to be a Nordhavn a well thought out an complete package.
The crossing was one of our rougher ones and we had a couple of mechanical issues (th-cam.com/video/guEnTp2a6Sc/w-d-xo.html) but most of the time it's a nice relaxing run.
I'm struck by the passion with which you pursue your dream. This is the second video of yours I've seen. The mind boggles at what effect your impressive knowledge and self-preservation skills would have if they were refocused from self-indulgence to more selfless pursuits.
I work full time as an engineer but I get paid for that so it probably doesn't qualify as selfless :-). This is my day job: th-cam.com/video/AyOAjFNPAbA/w-d-xo.html.
very nice boat brother...........:o)
The yacht is a flammable cruise machine with all those fuel
The tanks are full of diesel which has a flash point of 126F and as a consequence, the fuel is considered combustible rather than flammable. Gasoline is a common flammable substance.
It still is true that a boat carrying over 2,000 gallons of fuel could fall victim to fire and, where that to happen, it would be difficult to control.
Hoping all is well. Noticing the weather for crossing not good !
Your right. There is currently a hurricane approaching Kinsale Ireland (where we made landfall after our North Atlantic crossing) and, even where we are currently are in Scotland (mvdirona.com) we have been seeing some big barometer swings.
good video cheers
Thanks.
Great video,keep it up.!
Thanks for the feedback!
great set of videos!! could i suggest you number them in the title it would make watching them in order easier
Of course there is an chronological order of production but, with all the different topics covered, we don't really expect them to be watched in any specific order but I can see the upside of numbering them going forward. Thanks for the suggestion.
Nice video. How do you transfer fuel out of the bladders to present to the engine?
The transfer system is a fairly nice setup that avoids having the fuel tanks open to the weather or there being any risk of a spill. Nobody even has to be outside. There is a camlock connection on the bulkhead and on each bladder. A short hose connects the bladder to the bulkhead connection. Once there is space in the below decks tanks, we open the safety valve on the tank and then use the fuel transfer pump on the boat (it's use to move fuel around between tanks or to filter fuel in a given tank) to transfer the fuel from the bladder to the tank. This allows a risk from transfer and the bladder can be vacuumed down flat so it's totally empty and all fuel is filtered before it's put below decks as part of this process.
@@MVDirona very nice setup indeed. I always enjoy hearing about long haul journeys like this and the mechanics and prep that goes into them!
Getting small boats able to comfortably cover long distances takes a bit of work and thought but, clearly, starting out with a well designed and well thought out boat is crucial.
Glad you have ample co-ordination.... hehe I do not! Glad it went well for you! Being an ex Navy Nuclear Reactor Operator, I absolutely love your control systems! NICE! Cheers!
Our control systems are less life critical than those found in navy ships you have in your background but we try to employ the same focus on care, training, and automation that the US Navy uses in it's nuclear fleet.
I did get an opportunity to do a dive on the USS California (Virginia Class attack submarine) when we were in Florida: mvdirona.com/2016/05/uss-california-distinguished-visitor-embark/. Amazing boat!
Thank you for the link, loved the story. Truly is an Amazing Boat! Both of them...
MV Dirona wow!! How in the world did you get invited for a ride in a submarine? That was so cool.
My brother has a beautiful 55 Nordhaven. There's a lot of boat for its size. They are heavy and ride deep in the water. Crossing the North Atlantic takes a lot of balls, knowing the storms, currents and high seas one can encounter. The one thing that caught me when reading your intention, was the power this boat has, or lack there of. An adventure of this magnitude and the fact these boats have only one engine, with very limited power, concerns me. The trawler is a low and slow endeavor. Getting out of harms way may not be possible at the speed this boat has. One would suggest, making the crossing with other boats should you have engine problems. As I understand it, Nordhavens are built for riding up and down coastal waters, long distances, in great comfort. A long and dangerous open water jaunt shows, you are either very brave, or, well, let's leave it at that. Good luck!!
The 55 is a nice boat. The high level design point for a Nordhavn is safe, comfortable, and able to go anywhere in the world and cross any ocean. Not all of them cross oceans but nothing makes for a safe coastal cruiser better than designing for open ocean conditions.
Many have crossed oceans. Some of routing is unusually long which makes for slightly more logistics (like needing deck fuel). 1 of our ocean crossings was in a difficult time of the year so we took more rough weather but none of those are required so it really doesn't require much courage.
On that North Atlantic crossing early in the season, it was rougher than most crossings: th-cam.com/video/guEnTp2a6Sc/w-d-xo.html. But schedule was set by us knowing we would see a few low pressure systems.
@@MVDirona Thank you for thaking the time to share your knowledge with me. I think, I just want to have my mind set at ease should my big brother go off and tackle such an awesome task. Before my brother purchased the boat, I thought I was the only one in our family interested in offshore adventures. Seeing him jump in, with both feet, purchasing this monster of a boat had my head spinning! It takes a rare individual to do what you did. In my younger years, I traveled the world as a Hollywood stuntman. I knew, I was capable of doing questionable things. My brother, not so much. I am proud to see him find himself with the purchase of such a fine vessel. Perhaps, someday, the two of you shall cross pathes and remember our little conversation. Be well!!!!
A Hollywood stunt man? Yeah, you'll be fine crossing oceans. Anyone who can get shot and fall out of a second floor window in the morning and roll a car three times that afternoon, will have no problems with fear when crossing oceans :-).
@@MVDirona I was the stuntman. My brother, and new owner of the Nordhavn, is a lawyer.
Yes, I'm just saying crossing oceans isn't any more courageous than one of your previous jobs. Probably considerably less so.
MV Dirona, sounds like "My Sharona"
Good to see The Knack hasn't been forgotten!
Wonderful video. I may have missed it, but do you use the bladder fuel first to free up deck space?
We do move the fuel from the bladders down below as soon as we can. It does free up deck space but the primary reason we move the fuel down below is that is the most stable configuration for the boat. Just the below deck fuel load weighs more than 5 tons. For stability reasons, we want this weight as low in the boat as possible. So, as soon as there is space below, we pump the bladders empty, clean them up, and put them away. If you are interested in more details: mvdirona.com/2019/03/deck-fuel-and-vessel-stability/.
So impressed with your videos. Thank you. I am particularly impressed with the content. I am curious how you transfer fuel from the bladders and what ranges you achieve with and without their use. It looks like the bladder systems according not for 800 additional gallons of fuel for transit. Love to see some of your thoughts on fuel management, transfer, etc. Thanks for the great content!
The fuel capacity of the boat is 1,750 gallons below deck and 2,710 when carrying all it can. The furthest ocean crossing we have ever done is 3,800 nautical miles and the boat range with reserve is just over 4,000 nautical miles with deck fuel. Just using the built in fuel tanks, the range is 2,500 nautical miles.
Fuel transfer is a super simple arrangement that doesn't even require going outside or opening up the tank deck fittings and possibly getting water in the fuel. We have a bulkhead cam lock fitting. We just snap on the hose at the bulk head and snap the other side of the hose in a cam lock fitting on the fuel tank. When the tanks are hooked up like this, they can be pumped out by opening a valve in the engine room and turning on the fuel transfer pump. The same pump that transfers fuel around in the boat is also used to transfer fuel from the bladders to the main tanks.
You can find a picture of the fuel manifold and controls here: mvdirona.com/2013/12/dirona-fuel-manifold/
Advantages of this approach:
*The tanks are drawn and all the fuel is sucked out making them very light and easy to fold up.
*No water can get in the fuel
*All fuel is filter prior to leaving the bladders and being brought down below for storage in the main tanks
*No need to go outside and fuel can be pumped in rough water without risk to personal or the fuel load
We have a nice fuel transfer system for the bladder fuel where we connect a cam to a permanent fitting on the bulkhead via a short hose section to a cam lock on the bladder tanks. When it is time to pump the fuel, the standard fuel transfer pump moves the fuel from the bladder, through the transfer filter (25 micron RACOR FPO-10), and then is directed into one of the main tanks. This has the advantage of allowing fuel to be pumped with nobody outside, doesn’t require the tank filler to be open to water ingress, filters all fuel as it leaves the bladders, and allows the bladders to be pumped completely dry so they are light and easy to handle.
When fueling the main tanks, the fuel is brought in directly. We filter all fuel that is transferred from the main tanks to the day tank (wing engine) or the supply tank (all other engines) using the same 25 micron RACOR FPO-10) transfer filter and high capacity fuel pump.
If you are interested, there is a lot more information on the fuel management and transfer systems used on Dirona here: mvdirona.com/2013/12/dirona-fuel-manifold/
Coffey Beans ii
How do you transfer the fuel from a bladder to the engine. Thanks for the interesting video.
It's a pretty cool set up where, before leaving, a custom made hose is attached to each bladder by cam lock fittings and then connected to the aft bulkead also by cam locks. Then when it's time to transfer the fuel we just adjust the fuel manifold in the engine room to "Fuel Bladders" and do the transfer without going outside. Much more detail in this posting: mvdirona.com/2013/12/dirona-fuel-manifold/.
@@MVDirona what is your total on board fuel, l was guessing 3,400 usg?
Below decks we carry 1,750 US gallons and, when fully loaded with deck fuel, can carry 2,710 USG.
Very informational video! I have to ask....how many port side pieces of plexiglass have you dropped while doing the port side from the tender?...lol
I haven't lost one yet but enough people have argued that just turning the boat around in the slip is probably faster and is definitely easier. We may just give in to low tech solutions and declare that the new standard operating procedure :-).
Nice job nice practical boat ..
I can't believe you drove those screws without dropping any, or the screwdriver, into the water!
Yeah, your right. I've done it several times and it doesn't seem that hard but, when I saw the video I kind of agree with you. It would be very easy to drop a screw driver or fastener.
While I'm not much of a fan of water, I think boats like this are fascinating. I'm a mechanical / technical kinda person and all the systems to work with and stuff to do would be loads of fun for for me.....too bad my budget and land location will likely never allow for anything bigger then a bass boat! LOL!
If you like mechanical things, boats are full of them. In my distant past, I was an auto mechanic and more recently I work on data center infrastructure hardware and software. The experience from both is useful on the boat.
Your experience shows. I could tell in the video that you're more mechanically adept than a lot of cruisers I see on You Tube! Not many would call out the spec's / brand of fuel filters!
How do you manage drawdown of the bladders? Fill the main tanks several times or wait till you can drop the entire stern bladder contents into each tank at one time? How do you transfer the fuel? How do the full bladders affect your stability?
Good question. We run until we have room below decks to bring a full bladder down. Once there is room to bring one down, we do it.
The bladder pump down is super easy. There is a cam lock fitting on the bulkhead so pump down just requires plugging in the hose and, once that done, the tank can be pumped down without going outside. It's transferred by the central fuel transfer pump (same pump used for moving fuel between other fuel tanks) with the nice side effects of: 1) all fuel is filtered on the way below, 2) there is no chance of water ingress or fuel spills, and 3) don't need pumps outside etc.
I've posted the fuel bladder stability data below but the short answer is it can still pass ISO Category A All Oceans when running with full bladders: mvdirona.com/2019/03/deck-fuel-and-vessel-stability/
I didn't know you can store additional fuel like that ! Interesting.
Yes, fuel bladders are heavily used in military applications where they want a quick base. They are used in military helicopters where they have special self healing properties that can allow them to take a shell and continue to hold fuel. They are used in race cars to allow massive collisions with less likelihood of fuel spills. They are used in recreational aircraft applications to move short range aircraft over longer distances. They are used by high horsepower sports fish boats to make long runs to deep water for pelagic fish hunting. And, of course, they are used by recreational boaters to increase range. Not super common but they can make a big difference. We have a 2,500 nautical mile range with good reserves in rough water which is sufficient to make any crossing but you need to chose routings carefully. Carrying deck fuel, we can reach 4,000 nautical miles under the same conditions.
Another important limitation is vessel stability. Carrying deck fuel will reduce the stability of the boat and the amount of fuel that can be safely carried by a given boat depends upon boat design and worst conditions encountered. Here's some more data on our boat and the impact of deck fuel on stability: mvdirona.com/2019/03/deck-fuel-and-vessel-stability/.
@@MVDirona thank you for the information. I only knew about the land-based applications of bladders and also in combat helos. I'm an engineer by trade so I was indeed wondering about how bladders would raise a boat's center of gravity. I would expect you use the fuel from the bladders first, but I've just watched one of your videos where you explain your fuel system and it doesn't seem that's what you're doing. But maybe it isn't necessary, I suppose the limits you mention take into account the weight of the fuel in the internal tanks.
We effectively do what you are saying. We run the main tanks down 400 gallons, and then pump down the 360 gallons forward. Then we go until we have 650 gallons available below decks and pump the 600 gallons on the aft deck down. At that point, there is nothing left on deck (other than empty fuel bladders).
@@MVDirona thank you, nice to know I had the right intuition. Those Nordhavn yachts are really starting to interest me. It's probably going to be my retirement plan, in another 20 years or maybe even sooner.
A bit before retirement might make sense in that it takes time to know what you like, make sure you actually like boating, and then get a boat equipped and setup as you like for the kind of trips you plan. But, overall, your plan sounds like a good one.
It would be my luck to drop either a screw, screwdriver, or the storm plate into the water.
I do have a few extra screws but haven't needed them yet. Someday I probably will drop a screwdriver.
That boat looks top heavy.
The boat goes down 6' 7" below the surface and it weighs 55 tons so it's more stable than it looks. It meets CE Category All Oceans. Generally it's a pretty solid ocean boat (for it's size).
PS, I was fascinated by the fuel bladders for long voyages. Really interesting as I only know about aviation applications. How do you pump into the tanks? Do you cross pump - ie run port tank low then pump starboard bladder into port tank to maintain trim?
Jjaus, we have a fairly simple fuel transfer system for the bladder fuel where we connect a cam to a permanent fitting on the bulkhead via a short hose section to a cam lock on the bladder tanks. When it is time to pump the fuel, the standard fuel transfer pump moves the fuel from the bladder, through the transfer filter (25 micron RACOR FPO-10), and then is directed into one of the main tanks. This has the advantage of allowing fuel to be pumped with nobody outside, doesn’t require the tank filler to be open to water ingress, filters all fuel as it leaves the bladders, and allows the bladders to be pumped completely dry so they are light and easy to handle.
When fueling the main tanks, the fuel is brought in directly. We filter all fuel that is transferred from the main tanks to the day tank (wing engine) or the supply tank (all other engines) using the same 25 micron RACOR FPO-10) transfer filter and high capacity fuel pump.
When transferring fuel we pump from the left side bladder to the left side tank and the same on the right side. This keeps the fuel on the same side so the fuel movement doesn't affect trim. The stern just rises slightly.
If you are interested, there is a lot more information on the fuel management and transfer systems used on Dirona here: mvdirona.com/2013/12/dirona-fuel-manifold/
Ahh, makes sense. Will read your link tomorrow (sans red wine, it's Sat night here and almost bed time). We're planning buying a Prestige 550 fly and the CE rating is B. If we want to motor from EU to Carribean via N America, is it worth all the hassle and money or paying to transport it, then fly over? So many variables and new skills needed for trans-oceanic voyages. We are frankly too scared to motor from Australia to Europe through all the piracy zones, so have decided our adventure will begin somewhere in the Med.
Like you, we won't go anywhere near to any reported pirate activity. Never within 100s of miles. There are routes from Australia to North America that stay away from all pirate activity but it will force you to round South Africa which requires care with weather. We've done it and you can get lots of detail on the trip up at: mvdirona.com/Trips/indianocean2015/IndianOcean1.html. This links shows the Indian Ocean crossing but you can see the full trip by moving the map out to show the world and selecting the leg you wish to see in more detail.
Certainly starting in the med is an easier plan and, generally, the run between Australia and North America is a lot of open ocean time.
Awesome videos .. I subscribed :)
You have a great taste in beer my friend.
The world beer markets are getting considerably less boring with every greater variety emerging. Wherever we are we always find something good.
If I calculated correctly, you took a total 2700 gallons of fuel. That's more than 10 thousand liters. According to the specifications of your boat, that's almost two distances you had to go. Why so much? How much you used from coast to coast?
There are two things going on. The first is manufacturer specifications are usually measures of boat range in flat water and real ocean conditions are remarkably worse. The real world range for our boat at more than 7 kts is 2,500 nautical miles. If you are willing to run much slower, it might be able to be stretched out to the full 3,000 nautical miles we needed to cover. It would be cutting it very close and we wouldn't be willing to do more than 2,500 nautical miles our selves.
The second issue is we like having more fuel on board to allow faster crossing speed or deal with mechanical problems that increase fuel burn. As an example, we used less than 1/2 of our tender fuel exploring up the Brisbane river in Australia. We bent the problem which limited our top speed a bit but otherwise didn't seem to be a problem. When we were part way back, we learned that our fuel burn with a slightly bent prop was 30% worse than normal and we didn't have the fuel for the full return trip. There were lots of ways to solve that particular problem on the way back into Brisbane but there wouldn't be in middle of an ocean crossing. We like having more fuel than we need when off shore in a small boat.
So dude what rock band did you play in during the 1980s you look like a famous rock star from That time have an excellent day
Very interesting! And what a beautiful boat. I think an electric screwdriver would be a huge help to you though!
Good point. It probably would make the job a bit quicker.
ATL fuel cell company made the fuel cell and Custom fill cap on my race car . I personally gave the owner Peter Regna Laps at Watkins Glen in his Ferrari F40
Great guy and great company
I've used ATL in race cars as well and I've seen some crashes that really underlines how solidly these fuel cells are built.
MV Dirona what cars and series were you racing ?
Just club racing but we had fun. We had a Brabham BT29 (#49) which we raced as a Formula B with an Alfa Romeo 1600cc engine, an Alfa Romeo GTV, and a mini-stock car. It's around the stock car tracks where ATL fuel cells are super common.
It's cool you had the owner of ATL out for a fuel laps at Watkins Glen. I used to go to the Glen for each US Grand Prix in the late 60s and early 70s.
MV Dirona very cool
I remember working at an exotic car dealer in philly at 17 they had a Formula B car in their garage I would sit in and dream about driving
I was at the Glen in 72 in the pits with the formula B pre races
In 1990 I was able to do the track walk of the street circuit with David Brabham checking for secure manhole covers in Phoenix at the inaugural F1 race
I was lucky enough to own and drive a1988 Lola Larrousse F1 car in exhibition for 6 years
I watch your videos which remind me of spending my early years with my Dad sailing are way up to a Pearson 54’ until about 20 years ago
Great memories (plus a few near death experiences)
Nice to know you !
You've driven some wonderfully capable racing machines. Working at an exotic car repair shop gave me opportunity to drive the odd Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. but having even an F1 car on the track would be pretty amazing. I don't recognize the Larrousse but I was going to the Canadian and US GPs at the time so I'm sure I did see them race.
Here's the Brabham we raced: mvdirona.com/jrh/EurocarRacing/.
Do you still travel as much with diesel over $5 a gallon now!! I just love all your technical explanations!
You're right it is getting expensive to fuel a boat but we never found diesel to be one of the dominant costs. Even 5 years ago we were paying nearly $7/gal in some locations (e.g. Northern Australia) and we wish it were lower but it was never even close to our biggest cost.
When operating a boat at displacement speeds, fuel burn can be kept relatively small. Lower costs would definitely help but world cruising is still practical at higher fuel costs.
When you were handling the storm covers for the side windows, i thought if they had a handle it would be easier. If it slips you have to get the scuba gear out.
I've considered using the suction holders used to install heavy glass plates in buildings. Having a handle would make handling those big, heavy plates much easier. I'll have to come up with something.
Wish you mentioned how much all of that fuel cost!
It's been awhile so I don't have the exact number but I suspect it will have been around $5,000. As you know, the price of fuel is much more in other parts of the world and, just filling the boat tanks without bladders in Australia cost over $7,0000. It can get pricey but it doesn't happen often. We have only filled the tanks twice this year and both times they weren't that low (over 1/3).