Gotchas
One big tell this photo essay points out; the Generator system has the greatest impact on our time / money and the second greatesest is the refrigeration system. Some of thes photos were preludes to potential disasters. Others simply
Stainless bolt wear on generator
Replacing the Alternator Bracket
Aluminium bracket wear on generator
All the salt deposits slowly appear after several hours run time
Broken SS bolt
The Bushing simply broke in half
After 5 minutes overheating the Aluminum Head had no more strength
Replacing the Generator Aluminum Head
Magnetic Clutch Replacement
Always needed to replace impellors
Faulty Oil Pressure Switch
Aquamarine Generator wire soldered. SMH
Broken + Wire on Alternator
Each year I replace a few of these SS clamps
Attempted repair of a Caframo Fan
I try to avoid chafing lines, here I failed
An Old Hose Fan
All he rage, but as shoes for cruisers they just don't last
After 4 years I needed to have the 1/2 hp motor rebuilt
Heat is not a friend of electrical connections
A hot motor is not a friend to plastic
A short time outdoors and this lock froze
A rarely used faucet from a marine store began to leak
Forespar pole slides don't last
Nothing in the manual how tight to make bolts on plastic
Issues occur between SS and AL
Fuse didn't blow, simply melted away
A fuel pump hose conneciton failure is a dangerous thing
Exhaust must go outside the boat
Upon launch in Panama the engine room filled with exhaust smoke and salt water
Elbow flow was constricted
With exhaust leak studs being to rust
Mechanical sender for tach broke
Mechanical sender for tach broke
Plastic Hose barb ened up simply breaking off
Spring holding the brush to the armature failed
Spring on Schaefer block broke in the middle
This connection is way to small for any serious boat application
A close up of an inadequate 12v connection
Corrosion at the pickup tube in the tank
Closup of the corrosion
Same mfg numbers but the item is not the same
Bent strut on turning point for Windvane
Two broken wires were discovered on the head stay
Generator cooling water pump broke on the Pacific Crossing
2hp Impellor went bad
Aquagen wiring sub par
Wiring harness connection
Groco Anti Siphon needs frequent replacement
Perkins Header Tank Bolts
Header tank bolt failed to remove
Yamaha impellor replacement
Sistering a crack in the bow pulpit
Buggered up Fuel Fill
Sun worn thread
Sun worn thread
NFD
Nothing is faster than disaster! (NFD) Many of the items shown were just those of inconvience. Not real disasters. Some, if let go, could have sunk the boat. Others were minor inconviences and a few more so, being discovered in places and times we just did not wish to deal with them.
Cruising is NOT all Margaretti's and Sunsets. There are those times and each is wonderful in their own right. And yet the cost of beautiful skies, friends and laughter times are often balanced but the discovery of something breaking, something missing.
We wouldn't trade any of the good times, a few of the NFD's we would have loved to avoid. For Example getting struck by a ship in Suva, Fiji, or the loss of my steering oar on passage from Grenada to Bonaire. For now, each even is a reminder to stay diligent, stay awake and repair, replace every chance we get.
