Captain’s log 10-27-06
Departure Point / Start Time Norfolk VA 11AM
Arrival Point / End Time Great Bridge ICW VA 2 PM
Distance Traveled / Engine 15NM
Today we made a quck leg up the ICW to a place where we found a FREE dock. Just as we cleared the Lock and the drawbridge we stopped. One of the cruisers advised us on the radio that this was the last good stop for the next 50 miles or so. We grabbed the last spot on the dock on the seat side of the river. Yeah!. I had some problems with the engine leaking fuel and alternator running sporadically. I took off the fuel sender unit, which was the reason we leaked gas. I tried using the form-a-gasket sealer to help seal off the leaks at the top of the tank. Unfortunately I never realized that the material takes a long time to dry off. The next day I added more sealant and I am waiting for it to dry off. Meanwhile, I installed the temperature shutoff switch. If the alternator temperature becomes too high the regulator starts intermittingly shutting off the alternator. Better way, per manuals recommendation, was to install a toggle switch that shorts out the temperature sensing terminals on the regulator. We tried it and it works. I can cut the output of the alternator by a half, giving more horsepower to the engine, by flipping a toggle switch when needed. The next 500 miles we’ll be motoring in the ICW and we will probably need more horsepower than electricity. I think this was a good decision, but it remains to be seen.
Arrival Point / End Time Great Bridge ICW VA 2 PM
Distance Traveled / Engine 15NM
Today we made a quck leg up the ICW to a place where we found a FREE dock. Just as we cleared the Lock and the drawbridge we stopped. One of the cruisers advised us on the radio that this was the last good stop for the next 50 miles or so. We grabbed the last spot on the dock on the seat side of the river. Yeah!. I had some problems with the engine leaking fuel and alternator running sporadically. I took off the fuel sender unit, which was the reason we leaked gas. I tried using the form-a-gasket sealer to help seal off the leaks at the top of the tank. Unfortunately I never realized that the material takes a long time to dry off. The next day I added more sealant and I am waiting for it to dry off. Meanwhile, I installed the temperature shutoff switch. If the alternator temperature becomes too high the regulator starts intermittingly shutting off the alternator. Better way, per manuals recommendation, was to install a toggle switch that shorts out the temperature sensing terminals on the regulator. We tried it and it works. I can cut the output of the alternator by a half, giving more horsepower to the engine, by flipping a toggle switch when needed. The next 500 miles we’ll be motoring in the ICW and we will probably need more horsepower than electricity. I think this was a good decision, but it remains to be seen.
posted by sundowner-cruise at 9:21 AM
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