Kerry Kukucha
Member II
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Ah yes, the joyful innocence of our 1<SUP>st</SUP> sailboat & the excitement of Nakesa’s maiden voyage (last August) seems a distant memory; the harsh reality of the 20 year old mysterious, mechanized monster that lurks under the companionway has consumed us ever since! <o></o>
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Imagine our horror when, returning from Desolation Sound last year, the oil level on the dipstick was miraculously increasing daily! Had we struck oil? No such luck…& what was that strange, runny discharge spewing from a hose of unknown purpose atop the mechanized monster (enough to fill a beer can daily)? Let us also not forget the disconcerting high temperature encountered whenever we ran the beast over 2,000 rpm’s. Thank goodness for the Internet & the ever-helpful members of EY.O who provided comfort & knowledge during those early days of innocence lost! <o></o>
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Blowby, dieseling, oil analysis labs (15% diesel in oil)…………so many strange notions, so little knowledge. All of a sudden, I was humbled in the presence of our marine mechanic (or was he a Shaman), who I entrusted to exorcise evil sprits from the beast.<o></o>
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Round 1 - pull the injector heads: yup, they needed re-building; while this resulted in a reduced diesel content in oil (down to 4%), a sea-trial with the Shaman determined that we were not getting anywhere close to the maximum 2,800 rpm’s the beast ought to produce (would top out at 2,100). Oh, & the propeller felt a bit “odd” too. Knowledge gained – a prop’s diameter & pitch have a bearing on how an engine performs & as it turns out, the PO had put on a prop that was the wrong diameter, wrong pitch & designed for a powerboat!!! Might this also explain the overheating problem?<o></o>
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Round 2 – try a new prop (Campbell Sailor 15/9): Oh the anticipation………& the frustration! Sea trial #2, with the new prop & what happens? Nothing much beyond 1,600 rpm’s! How could this be? Hmmmmm says the Shaman – still could be a fuel supply issue.<o></o>
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Round 3 - pull apart the oil cooled, high pressure injector pump & replace worn out bits & pieces; new fuel lines & replace the low pressure electric supply pump (that was leaking air). <o></o>
Side bar: while the high pressure pump was apart, “someone” leaves the battery switch on & over Christmas, the ignition switch shorts out (the joys of rainy Vancouver) – 25 gallons of diesel in the bilge later & a new switch:<o></o>
Sea trial #3 – oh joy, oh bliss – 3,000 rpm’s & NO diesel in oil (or bilge)! But wait, the beast is still possessed – after 4 hours of running continuously, it overheats beyond 2,000 rpm’s AND max rpm’s drop to 2,600 – what the &%$!@?? Time to look at the cooling system - what is the dreadful “5432 running syndrome”, anyway? Oh, & the oil test revealed 40ppm Na/sodium in oil? This is starting to look like a Friday the 13<SUP>th</SUP> horror flick!<o></o>
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Round 4 – having taken a marine maintenance course through the local Power Squadron (really good if you want to hear an old high school mechanics teacher wax on about 1950’s cars), I am not afraid & will embrace the beast! Remove the heat exchanger, get it boiled out & pressure tested (needed some work), replace all hoses, make sure the hotwater tank in run through the thermostat housing, check the exhaust riser (previously replaced by PO - clean & clear), new impellor, raw water pump removed & inspected (all clear), new fresh water flushing bypass installed…it is time to run her again!<o></o>
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The birds are chirping, the grass needs to be cut, daffodils are up & the cherry blossoms are in bloom! Around the marina, there is a buzz of excitement – hulls are being cleaned & painted, boats waxed, oh the anticipation of a new sailing season! It is springtime in Vancouver AND hope spring eternal?! So, stand by for the results of Sea trial #4, coming soon to a computer near you & the continuing adventures of the Nakesa (cue soundtrack to Rocky)! <o></o>
fficeffice" /><o></o>Ah yes, the joyful innocence of our 1<SUP>st</SUP> sailboat & the excitement of Nakesa’s maiden voyage (last August) seems a distant memory; the harsh reality of the 20 year old mysterious, mechanized monster that lurks under the companionway has consumed us ever since! <o
></o><o
></o>Imagine our horror when, returning from Desolation Sound last year, the oil level on the dipstick was miraculously increasing daily! Had we struck oil? No such luck…& what was that strange, runny discharge spewing from a hose of unknown purpose atop the mechanized monster (enough to fill a beer can daily)? Let us also not forget the disconcerting high temperature encountered whenever we ran the beast over 2,000 rpm’s. Thank goodness for the Internet & the ever-helpful members of EY.O who provided comfort & knowledge during those early days of innocence lost! <o
></o><o
></o>Blowby, dieseling, oil analysis labs (15% diesel in oil)…………so many strange notions, so little knowledge. All of a sudden, I was humbled in the presence of our marine mechanic (or was he a Shaman), who I entrusted to exorcise evil sprits from the beast.<o
></o><o
></o>Round 1 - pull the injector heads: yup, they needed re-building; while this resulted in a reduced diesel content in oil (down to 4%), a sea-trial with the Shaman determined that we were not getting anywhere close to the maximum 2,800 rpm’s the beast ought to produce (would top out at 2,100). Oh, & the propeller felt a bit “odd” too. Knowledge gained – a prop’s diameter & pitch have a bearing on how an engine performs & as it turns out, the PO had put on a prop that was the wrong diameter, wrong pitch & designed for a powerboat!!! Might this also explain the overheating problem?<o
></o><o
></o>Round 2 – try a new prop (Campbell Sailor 15/9): Oh the anticipation………& the frustration! Sea trial #2, with the new prop & what happens? Nothing much beyond 1,600 rpm’s! How could this be? Hmmmmm says the Shaman – still could be a fuel supply issue.<o
></o><o
></o>Round 3 - pull apart the oil cooled, high pressure injector pump & replace worn out bits & pieces; new fuel lines & replace the low pressure electric supply pump (that was leaking air). <o
></o>Side bar: while the high pressure pump was apart, “someone” leaves the battery switch on & over Christmas, the ignition switch shorts out (the joys of rainy Vancouver) – 25 gallons of diesel in the bilge later & a new switch:<o
></o>Sea trial #3 – oh joy, oh bliss – 3,000 rpm’s & NO diesel in oil (or bilge)! But wait, the beast is still possessed – after 4 hours of running continuously, it overheats beyond 2,000 rpm’s AND max rpm’s drop to 2,600 – what the &%$!@?? Time to look at the cooling system - what is the dreadful “5432 running syndrome”, anyway? Oh, & the oil test revealed 40ppm Na/sodium in oil? This is starting to look like a Friday the 13<SUP>th</SUP> horror flick!<o
></o><o
></o>Round 4 – having taken a marine maintenance course through the local Power Squadron (really good if you want to hear an old high school mechanics teacher wax on about 1950’s cars), I am not afraid & will embrace the beast! Remove the heat exchanger, get it boiled out & pressure tested (needed some work), replace all hoses, make sure the hotwater tank in run through the thermostat housing, check the exhaust riser (previously replaced by PO - clean & clear), new impellor, raw water pump removed & inspected (all clear), new fresh water flushing bypass installed…it is time to run her again!<o
></o><o
></o>The birds are chirping, the grass needs to be cut, daffodils are up & the cherry blossoms are in bloom! Around the marina, there is a buzz of excitement – hulls are being cleaned & painted, boats waxed, oh the anticipation of a new sailing season! It is springtime in Vancouver AND hope spring eternal?! So, stand by for the results of Sea trial #4, coming soon to a computer near you & the continuing adventures of the Nakesa (cue soundtrack to Rocky)! <o
></o>
