One issue that is sometimes discussed in trawler forums,is if you should change oil and filter during an ocean crossing.

On Dora Mac we change oil polish filter every 150-200hrs and the crossing leg 2 is around 340hrs.

The question then is if you should shut down your engine mid ocean,change oil/filter and then start up again, or continue with old oil with all it´s toxic metabolites that will put some wear and tear on the engine.

We are lucky with an oil change system that allows us to be under way while changing oil polish filter and pumping in new oil which we did 200hrs from Cape Verde islands.

Moreover around 2600litres of fuel will be polished through the fuel polish filter and if high readings on the gauge it needs to be changed. As one can see on the photo there are some signs of debris on the polish filter. When the Racor 1 (prefilter) start to show high readings it´s time to switch over to the neighbour(Racor 2) and when Racor 2 shows high readings it´s time to change prefilter.

This can also be done while under way since the diesel injector pump is designed to swallow some air that inevitably will enter the fuelsystem if changing prefilter under way.

Finally I needed to get up in the mast and sort out a block that was twisted on the top of the paravane boom. The new running rigging we bought in Las Palmas for the paravanes , is to elastic which makes it twist easier.