Well I just finished re-reading the last two days entries and yesterdays is way off base. The most salient news is how the engine is going. I don't have time to re-write the entry for the 23rd but I do have the time to put the record straight here.
The engine is Fab. But this being the Almighty Compromise problems are afoot. Mainly the leaking stuffing box. At 6 knots the shaft sprays a cone of water all over the fly wheel (back) of the engine. It takes about 7 hours to fill the bilges. I got a bit of a fright when I discovered it I can tell you. I am now tied up in Marina Santa Cruz waiting for the engineers to show up. I did do a bit of an emotional nose dive the other day but I have so much to do I don't really have time to feel sorry for myself.
OK. So this is the positive side of the new engine. The alternator is awesome. What used to take 4 hours to re-charge a 100 amp hour battery takes an hour and that is while running other services like the cabin lights, GPS, radio, and water maker. This will be a real benefit for the Atlantic crossing. The general output is awesome as well. The boat can cruise at 6 knots and the range has been extended with all the fuel on board to 500 miles or 84 hours of running time.
Irritating details: I know longer have a silencer so sound a little like a fishing boat. Solution: Install a water baffle/silencer. Should not be too difficult. Also the prop is oversized for the engine which means we are running at a low RPM. Nothing to worry about in the short term but in a season or so I should consider going to a smaller prop. This was a real surprise as we all assumed the prop would be too small for the new higher horse power engine..
Last but not least the stuffing box. Could be an engine alignment problem or not re-set properly. I can't budge the stuffing box cap and am waiting for my engineers to save the day. Will have to sort something out though, in case of leaks in the future. At least now it is not leaking when the boat is at rest.
The last item which should have me spitting tacks is the new fuel tank pictured above. Looks a little MadMax like don't you think? Well I had them recondition the tank, clean it, put in an inspection hatch + a new filtration catch at the fuel inlets but did this stop the bozo’s from damaging the seal on the top of the tank. When re-installing it. It leaks fuel when full and at sea.
So there you have it. I am still like Job, suffering boat maintenance problems. I promise over the next couple of weeks I will stop going on about it and talk a bit about the run up to the ARC, the crew, who will be sailing with me and most important, a bit about the sailing! Be warned gentle reader, I only recount this so that you know owning a boat is more about maintaining it than sailing it! Well at least that is how it is looking from my jaundiced eye, bellow decks on this rainy and blustery October day.