A Day in the Life of Captain Goeran: The Hidden Work Behind an Expedition Yacht
- Goeran Persson
- Jul 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 12
Behind every remote anchorage, dolphin sighting, and starry night at sea lies the invisible but essential work of keeping an expedition yacht running smoothly. While guests enjoy snorkelling over coral reefs or sharing stories around a beach bonfire, Captain Goeran is quietly doing what he does best: ensuring that Quest is ready for anything.
Here’s a look behind the scenes at the daily dedication and deep experience it takes to keep our floating home—and expedition vessel—in prime condition.
Preparing for the Unknown
Every journey starts long before we leave the dock. As an off-grid expedition yacht, Quest must be completely self-sufficient. That means carrying all critical spare parts onboard: engine oil, oil and fuel filters, pre-filters, impellers, freshwater and seawater pumps, drive belts, starter motors, alternators—you name it. If it's vital, we have it.
We don’t rely on land-based services because we often sail far from them. Whether we’re navigating the island-dotted San Blas archipelago or heading into high latitudes, we need to be self-sufficient.
Pre-Departure Routine
Before any departure, we:
Fill the fuel tanks, including spare gasoline for the outboard.
Fill the propane for cooking. We have 30 kilo propane onboard.
Check the engine, oil, oil-filters, fuel-filter etc., including the generator.
Run full systems checks: bilge alarms, bilge pumps, safety equipment, rigging, etc.
Review up-to-date weather forecasts. Even though Quest is built to handle rough seas, a prudent sailor always avoids bad weather.
And—importantly—finish the rum. We don’t drink at sea.
Daily and Ongoing Maintenance
In San Blas, we use about 1,000 liters of freshwater per day, so the water-maker is one of our most vital systems. It needs regular attention: changing the pre-filters and fine filters for seawater intake, and replacing the membranes every three years.
The engine, too, receives meticulous care. In addition to regular oil and filter changes, we use two exceptional products from the U.S.-based company Maxodyne to keep it running like new. The first is FTC Decarbonizer, a fuel additive, and the second is Flushing Oil Concentrate, which we use with every oil change. Together, these products have worked wonders — despite the engine’s many running hours, it still performs as if it were brand new. We’re not sponsored by Maxodyne; this is simply a genuine nod to a truly outstanding product.
The same meticolous maintenance applies to the generator — a 380-volt, 16 kW unit used to power the dive compressor and supply electricity when the main engine is off. It requires just as much maintenance as the main engine.
Haul-Out Season: Annual TLC
Once a year, Quest is hauled out of the water for a few weeks of deep maintenance:
Hull inspection and bottom painting
Anti-fouling application
Checking through-hull valves and replacing propeller shaft seals if needed
As I often say, “She’s like a woman—she needs maintenance, but take good care of her, and she’ll shine.”
Built to last
As a steel-hulled vessel, Quest was sandblasted to SA 2.5 standard and coated with 1000 microns of icebreaker-grade paint—the strongest marine coating available. That means minimal corrosion and maximum durability, but still, every small spot is tracked and tended to.
With 2,200 liters of diesel onboard, a powerful water-maker, and full system redundancies, Quest is always expedition-ready.
And perhaps the greatest asset of all, is that I built her myself. I know every bolt, every wire, every system and every inch of her structure.
