Generator plays up "14:54.06N 46:35.61W"
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Thu 9 Dec 2010 13:22
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Three bits of news today. Firstly, we managed
another 171 nm westwards to 0900hrs this morning. Unfortunately we are being
pushed slowly north as well which will eventually require us claw back to the
south, but not yet.
Secondly we are putting our clocks back another
hour having passed 45W; we are now on Central Atlantic Time ( a zone not used at
all by any country to my knowledge - it applies only to ocean navigators like
us). So we are now 2 hours behind UT (ie UK time). And thirdly, when doing
my pre-start check on the generator I found that some of the soudproofing
had come adrift and had been shredded making a lovely mess. Further
investigation revealed a damaged drive belt which had a loose cord flying
round - it was this that caused the disintegration of the sound proofing. I
have relpaced the fan belt, but then found three other problems. A small water
leak, a large crack in the plastic air intake manifold caused by someone in
the past overtightening the securing bolts(not spotted by our surveyor) and
the sealing gasket for the manifold had fallen apart. Ian fashioned a new
temporary gasket from cardboard, and we have taped up the crack. A new
drive belt was fitted from our on-board spares and the generator is back in
action. The saloon floor however is covered in the large metal plates that make
up the soundproofing box - I can't refit them until the genny has cooled down.
Lots of parts and more permanent repairs needed in St
Lucia!
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