After having cleaned the whole exit area of the muffler, I sealed it with heat resistant cement. The additional leak at a threaded hole I could seal as well. With the first metal part of the exhaust mounted onto the muffler, I made a overnight test. Next morning not a single molecule of water came out from the muffler. I was happy!!!

Then, I began reassembling all the parts of the diesel engine for the genset. In the late afternoon I was ready. The enclosures I still kept away to see if all pipes and gaskets are tight.

For the test I only filled in fresh water instead of coolant. Pushed the start button and my genset started running as always. I also started immediately the water maker to get as much fresh water at possible just in case the leakage is still there.

After about 15 min the genset shut down with the same error code. Frustration par excellence!

To verify it, I removed the hose from the muffler and there fresh water came out. Frustration confirmed. The cement did not really seal the little hole which could not be welded. I think the vibrations of the diesel engine are just too strong. I gave up.

After a very short shower I dealt again with the spare parts from Onan NZ to find out that there was misunderstanding. I corrected it and was informed that the needed spare parts first need to be shipped from Onan AUS to Onan NZ and from there to my attention at DHL in Pape’ete.

Also my contact at Onan NZ is a really very helpful person he can’t do anything against the
spare parts set up in his company.

With my strong background in service operations I can say the Onan or the owner Cummins have not much understanding about optimization of spare parts stock and it’s influence to customer satisfaction and cost reduction. Cummins and Onan area selling generators. When such a device is down the owner is in deep troubles because he has no energy anymore. But spare parts deliveries are still in the way they were done 50 and more years again. I asked a few questions and now, without looking really into their figures, I’m pretty positive that I can reduce the sum of the stock of parts of Onan AUS and NZ and have all needed spare parts in NZ and AUS. It just requires a bit common sense and understanding on how to analyze data in an spreadsheet.

Here with my problem of needing a few parts, I suffer from that poor performance.

I’m just very happy that my contact at Onan NZ received the parts from AUS this morning and got them today to DHL. Now, as they are on their way to Tahiti – via the USA – I can track the parts and plan my sail back to Tahiti. Sailing back to Tahiti is the fastest way to get the spare parts and get my genset up and running again which enables me to make water again.

Here I also have to mentioned that my friend Tevai in Pape’ete offered me to pick up the spare parts at DHL and ship them to me by plane or ferry boat. Thanks Tevai for this generous offer.

What else happened in the last days?

Shigeo my old sailing friend from Japan came to Raiatea because it’s better to be here than in Bora-Bora. In Bora-Bora every day costs 4 000 CFP (=40 USD) plus 30 USD for using a dinghy dock a day. Here, MaRe floats in a wonderful environment for free.

I picked up Shigeo at the airport and we went to MaRe, where he settled in. I baked bread and did some things I could do while waiting always until the end of the next proofing time. In the afternoon we had freshly baked bread.

Although Shigeo is the chef on board I fixed us a welcome dinner. “Spaghetti-Roquefort”. A few month ago I got the idea to make a Roquefort sauce. I sauteed chopped onions, put a chunk of Roquefort into the frying pan, and saw how wonderful it melts. To get a bit more liquid I used a very thick milk made of powered milk and water. With a good amount of freshly ground pepper. I liked it, and since then, 2 more people like this spaghetti sauce.

BTW I didn’t apply for a patent, thus you can make it without any legal proceedings from my side.

The next 2 days after Shigeo’s arrival at went twice to Uturoa for shopping, and had twice a small lunch at my favorite “Pâtisserie Apetahi”.

I also got 30 l of freshwater from Marina Lu, the place where they tried to weld my leaking muffler. I was cautioned that this water is not potable. “No problem”, I answered “it’s only for laundry”.
When I tried to get 30 kg heavy water jerry can on my shoulder, an employee of this company, passing by with a fork lift, brought my water can to the dinghy dock about 250 m away. I was lucky!!!

Today, first emails to make sure the spare parts go on their way to Pape’ete, to me. Then cleaning the cockpit, which was still dirty from the days when I worked on the genset.

After a needed break, I changed the lazy stays according to an idea I got a few days ago. The sail bag looks much better now and I’m curious how the main sail falls into the sail bag when I put it down.

The last work of the day, I only could start, was mounting a new 12 V power outlet as it is used for cigarette lighters, at the panel of the navigation table. With all the devices, which need to be charged with USB cables I need one more power outlet to have all charging cables better streamlined and out of my way. Tomorrow morning I’ll complete it.

For today I say “goodnight!”