Volvo Penta
We have two D1-30s with saildrives. We began to have problems with one engine before we reached Spain, air in the fuel system and we were continually having to bleed the system. Eventually the air bleed screw broke - it was a very weak design with a hole across the shaft of the screw rather than flanges up the side that some air bleed screws have. The screw was a non-standard size (3.5mm) so we couldn’t improvise a repair. With great difficulty we managed to get a replacement screw after much prevarication and mistakes by the suppliers. As we approached the Canaries the bleed screw on the other engine went. When I went in to order new ones the Volvo supplier was so familiar with the problem he knew the part number from memory and we replaced both screws with a stronger design.
Off Panama one engine wouldn’t start. The Volvo supplied diagnostics were of no help so following Calder (Mechanical and Electrical manual) we narrowed the problem to the solenoid switch. We tried to remove the solenoid to attempt a repair but it was fitted with anti-tamper bolts (unlike the rest of the engine that had hex bolts) and we couldn’t get it off. We ordered a new solenoid to be ready for us in the Galapagos. When we arrived there it took two mechanics over 30 minutes to get the solenoid off before they could replace it with the new one. We than discovered that the solenoid was not the problem, and after some more tests determined that in fact the relay switch was the problem. This was an electronics component that was mounted on top of the engine (is it a good idea to have an electronics circuit board inside a marine engine compartment ?). We ordered a new relay and picked it up some three weeks later on another Galapagos island. Unfortunately Volvo had sent the wrong unit, although there is only one relay switch on our type of engine. It took another 3 months before we managed to get the correct component. I wrote to Volvo and suggested that non-standard screws, anti-tamper bolts and engine manuals without part numbers are a potential safety issue for offshore sailors and they wrote back saying that ‘if I had any problems with my Volvo engines I should take them to a Volvo qualified engineer’.
Antal
We have antal track and blocks on the boat. One of our blocks came apart off Spain, on inspection we discovered that the sex screw screws that hold the blocks together were loosely fitted on about half of our blocks and it appeared that the glue that had been used was turning to dust. Antal declined to replace anything however our supplier sent us a new block gratis.
Lewmar
Three of our Lewmar hatches have leaked or failed. Lewmar reluctantly sent a replacement for the one that failed within the warenty period.
Our Lewmar windlass failed in the Socities, it had been assembled incorrectly at the factory. Lewmar refunded the cost of the repair.
TackTick.
Our wind instrument has failed twice. Tacktick were very helpful in replacing the unit both times.
Raymarine.
Our Raymarine autopilot console died after 5 months. We sent the unit back to Raymarine and they repaired it under warrenty, the process was rather slow and we had to buy another unit to save waiting for the repaired one to get back to us.
Vetus
Our Vetus deck hatches developed leaks over time. In retrospect I can see their frames are too light for our deck which flexes a little. I have since reinforced the frames with more aluminium.
Z-Spars
Our rig is similar to a standard Fontaine-Pajot Bahia. Off New Zealand the toggle strap at the top of the starboard shroud broke and the stay came down. If we hadn’t been sailing on the starboard tack we would have lost the rig. Z-Spars refunded us the cost of the repairs. The rigger who did the repair told me that broken toggle straps were not unusual, clearly cats with 3-stay rigs are taking a risk.
We have had a lot of chafing on the topping lift from flanges at the top of the mast. The problem is a design issue with the masthead unit.
Gas
The grill on our Smev hob burnt out after 15 months, also the burners required extensive servicing and new parts. Our Cookout barbecue leaked from purchase. Our US aluminum gas bottles developed a leak through the regulator which we have had to replace.
Charging systems.
Our ADVERC system for charging the house bank from the engines has never worked. The OSCAS we had to charge our starter batteries from our Ni-Cad house bank never worked and were returned.
Andersen
Our Andersen winches are the best equipment on the boat and have always worked perfectly !