The first work I took on was the genset. We need water, do laundry, and an efficient way of charging the batteries when solar and wind is not enough.

After removing the enclosures on the left side, I found quickly the problem. The cables of the brushes of the generator chaffed at the fan of the generator. Like I mentioned already in respect to another part of cable harness, the Onan genset doesn’t have anything to secure that parts of the harness don’t touch rotating parts of the diesel engine and generator. A pretty poor construction. I now made myself a holder and tied the pair of cables for the brushes in a position where they can’t reach the rotating part.

When I made the test run with the full load of the watermaker, the engine stopped after felt 30 min. The displayed failure code was “overheat”. I never made a test under full load for such a long time because I could not imagine such a problem.

The manual pointed to the thermostat. I also contacted Diesel-John in NZ who mentioned I should check the impeller of the sea water pump. Although I thought that the problem is not there, in followed the advice of an experienced engineer.

Results: seawater pump was OK and the thermostat was also well functioning.

Thus, where is the problem? The only element, which was left, was the heat exchanger mounted inside the manifold. I removed it.

When I opened it I saw sea salt and calcium deposits around the 2 x 13 cooling tubes. I found quickly that 3 of the 13 cooling tubes at the inflow side where blocked. These reduced the cooling seawater flow by 23 %. From the long time the gender was not used, deposits of sea salt an calcium blocked the water flow. I gave these and all tubes a lot of love by removing the deposits and also made sure the other tubes where clean. I spent at least half a day on it.

The first test run I made with the full load of the watermaker plus charging the batteries. I could keep the watermaker running for an hour than the tank was full. I still kept the watermaker running for another hour. No overheat.

Additionally, I used an infrared thermometer and measured the temperature at 3 points of the engine. The engine block temperature stayed stable at any 61 – 63 degC and the manifold in which the heat happens, was stable at 57 – 58 degC. This is a clear indication that the heat is properly transferred from the coolant to the sea water.

Thanks to Ken, the stainless steel welder I met in October. He organized me the infrared thermometer.

Job done!

The “and…” In the title points to not boat jobs other things.

The first is my visit at the dental department on Monday. The inlay is back in place. I’m grateful to the friendly dentist lady. Now, let’s see how long the inlay holds with the only material she has.

The second is an evening with Ralf, Nora, and their new crew member Tino for a dinner at the Basque Tavern; the owner is from the Basque country of Spain.

At the restaurant we met another sailing couple, Shane & Karina of SV Outrun. Ralf and Nora knew them from before. We talked about routes out of the Pacific Ocean and I explained my original idea of sailing via Hawaii to Seattle and then the US West Coast down to Mexico to continue to the Panama canal and my concerns about entering US waters. Then Shane mentioned that California is safe. He calls himself not an US American but Californian…

Yesterday, I started working on the broken reef 2 line and went to the local boat shop. Unfortunately they don’t have a line longer than what remains from my old reef 2 line. So I got the old line through the boom again and will continue today. I hope it’s just long enough.

Today the wind could be a bit too gusty for this work.

If there is too much wind, I’ll deal with the broken lines of the PRT side bow net. The new bow net are very good for standing, walking, and vegging out on them. But for waves coming from beneath, the ratio of the open to closed area of the net is too small. A wave ripped out one of the eyes for attaching the net to the hull, and then all the double lines I used where torn into pieces.

Cabines are also getting cleaned step by step. Every day a bit cleaning and laundry to get all ready for departure to Fiji.

Tonight I’m make the decision to which port of entry we will sail and send all papers needed to be send in advance. A cumbersome work created by the possibility of Internet. I wonder what the administrations in all countries asking for Advanced Notice of Arrival” will safe of work. From what I’m observed so far it’s just additionally work … But it makes people happy.