Is It Fresh or Salty?
26 February 2013
A small water leak on the engine

Our last month has been busy and spent mostly at anchor around the islands and a good WiFi signal has given us a chance to catch up on emails and other things that get consigned to 'tomorrow' like reconciling credit cards and bank statements.
There's also the regular checking of Alexia's internal parts such as filters, pumps, gaskets, flanges and valves and anything else you can think of. Thankfully, apart from one item, all seems well.
The one thing which needs attention is a waterleak on the engine..
A few days ago we noticed a pool of water in the reservoir below the engine. Is it fresh or salty? asks William. The thought of taking a sip from the murky puddle didn't enthuse me but I stuck my finger into the liquid and tasted - it was salty.
With nothing obvious to be seen we started the engine and a= trickle of water appeared from the end of the oil cooler. Loosening the pipe clamp and pulling back the pipe we could see nothing until we scraped away at the green paint to reveal hidden corrosion. The extended pipe of the oil cooler was about to sever itself from the main unit.
The boatyard which had dealt with Alexia's problem two months ago were brilliant and within three days we refitted a neatly welded and repainted oil cooler.