The Onan Genset Blues / 2812 Hours

Fault Code 41 - It's a slow blues in E, with a fat bass line and lots of open space between the notes.....those open spaces represent the quiet times when the generator doesn't work.  OK, so I'm really really cynical..... but the music stopped at 2812 hours, as you can see on the meter reading at left.

Onan MDK-AU Installed

10 years ago we bought a shiny new Onan generator, model MDK-AU, and (stupidly) paid to have someone else install it in the boat.  Whilst the installation problems were sorted out eventually, the inherent defects in the generator were beyond repair.  Just twelve months later the good folks at Cummins Power Generation (who had recently purchased Onan worldwide) agreed that we had a lemon and gave us a new unit !  To their enduring credit they paid for everything - berthing, labour, cranes, technicians etc.  So, nine years ago we started again with a new unit .... the only problem was this unit had most of the same problems the old unit did.  Last month it finally stopped producing power, again.  The great Kubota engine is willing, the alternator is willing, but the Onan control board is faulty.  Should we spend over A$2000.00 on a new control board ?  No way.  We decided it was time to say goodbye.

Sailing Is In The Family

NS38 Moneypenny On Port Philip Bay

I learned sailing from my father Dean, as did my brother Peter.  He sails his North Shore 38 Moneypenny from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, in Williamstown.  This great photograph was taken during Geelong Race Week over the Australia Day weekend.  Peter tells me the snazzy red hats let him find the crew in the bar after the racing ....

Things That Work For Us ..... Turtle-Pac Flexible Tanks

Whilst we aren't happy about the demise of our Onan genset (more on that in the future), we are rewarded when we see other systems that work as advertised .... and keep on working.  We're also pleased when we get great manufacturers support.

Turtle-Pac Water Deck Tank

Eleven years ago we installed four Turtle-Pac flexible water tanks inside our re-finished steel water tanks.  They're still going strong, and were recently expertly serviced by Turtle-Pac in Queensland.  In 2004 we added two more tanks for fresh water and in 2007 one more as a black-water waste tank.


We also have two deck tanks - one for fuel and one for water - of 200 litres each.   These are filled and tied down under the boom for long passages, then rolled up and stored away when not required.

That's First Mate Ray Pitt stowing away a 200 litre water tank at left.

They're very lightweight and easy to stow.

Double The Crew, Double The Fun

A couple of weeks back we were joined on board by good friends Ray & Jan Pitt, veteran Crystal Blues holiday sailors and determined thrill seekers. As you can see from this photograph, they're very comfortable onboard.

That is Ley and Jan at left, having fun at the Hippy Bar on Ko Phayam.

What a time we had - a week at beautiful Ko Phayam and then a slow cruise south to Phuket, including Ko Ra, Ban Tap Lamu and the Similan Islands.

Ray has become a great First Mate on Crystal Blues, whilst Jan continues to perfect her role as Galley Bitch Extrordinaire - when they're not sleeping of course. 

Check below for images from our cruise with Ray and Jan.

Onan Genset Blues

Fault Code 41 :  There is no way my hands will be clean for days - have just removed the control board on our Onan MDK-AU genset, which took about 4 hours.  Tomorrow I'll put it back again, after cleaning, in the vain hope that it might work.

This is very frustrating - the generator runs perfectly, when the controller will let it.  But an intermittent fault in the control board now prevents it from starting, most of the time. The controller reports that the rotor (field) is grounded (fault code 41),  however when we test the field circuit it is not grounded.  So the control board is faulty.  We've heard of similar problems with Onan control boards, but even knowing we're not the first, its still VERY frustrating.

A phone call to Onan back in Australia revealed that a new control board would set us back $2700.00.  Yikes. 
If anyone has any clues on this issue we'd be pleased to hear from them !  We hear that our friends on SV Sea Bunny and SV Tweed are also working on their generators, so we're not the only ones nashing our teeth.

Offshore Sailing With A 406 EPIRB - What Price Safety ?

Like many cruising sailors, we've been is Asia for some time, in our case over seven years.  We frequently look westward, hoping that the piracy problems will go away and allow us to continue our voyage towards Europe.  Unfortunately the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden are still not safe, as confirmed in recent sailing advisories. There is a strong trend amongst cruising boats to travel westwards on a safer route, via Rodriguez, Mauritius, La Reunion, South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.  A loose but effective communication network has been established for those boats, supported with great energy by Richard & Susan Kidd on SV Sea Bunny, who are this year maintaining a list of vessels planning to head west, and sharing information on weather, anchorages, pilotage etc.

Here on Crystal Blues we're busy servicing and checking everything we need to cross oceans safely.  As cruising sailors we absolutely depend on our primary safety tools - a sound vessel and responsible seamanship.  However when things go really wrong we would turn to our secondary safety systems to help us out - life jackets, life rafts, radio communications and the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or 406 EPIRB. 

This is the first of several stories discussing the recent changes in technology and the challenges we have selecting the right safety tools for a life afloat.

406 Emergency Beacons

Ten years ago we invested significantly in the latest and greatest EPIRB, a 406mhz device with built in GPS, designed to alert the rescue services and tell them (accurately) where we were.  It cost over $2,000.00 !  This year, we wanted to replace the battery, as required, preparing the unit for further service.

Here Is What We Found .....

First of all, a "certified" new battery installation for our beacon, installed by the nominated agents in nearby Singapore, will cost around US$750.00.  However, a brand new McMurdo 406 GPS EPIRB, a later generation with improved specifications, will cost about $20.00 less !  Other brands have similar options.  Understandably, many cruisers are opting to buy the new product, though we've now found there is an attractive option. Our research has also uncovered some interesting gaps in our understanding and some surprises regarding the performance of existing EPIRB products!

Gong Xi Fa Chai

The year of the snake is upon us ... it started a few weeks back with a green and yellow sea snake trying to climb aboard the dinghy at Kata beach in Phuket.  No photos I'm sorry, we were too busy trying to discourage it !

However this year is set to be an interesting one for us - we're up to our necks in planning a departure from Asia, after seven years.  The current plan (and it may change of course) is to head down to Singapore in May, then move down through Indonesia to the Sunda Strait, Krakatoa and then the Cocos Keeling Islands.  From there we'd head south west, across the Southern Indian Ocean to Rodriguez, Mauritius and La Reunion, about 4000 nautical miles in total we estimate.

I Love My Onan Genset ....?

So everything is being serviced and updated in preparation for our first long distance voyaging in some years.  This rush of activity has not been helped by yet another genset breakdown - working on it this morning I couldn't help but remember the sea snake that called our genset home for a few days back in New Caledonia - quite exciting to remove him.  This year may well be equally exciting !

We're presently anchored at beautiful Nai Yang Beach in northern Phuket, ticking off maintenance jobs and updating all our safety systems for the voyaging ahead.

The list of changes and updates required is a little daunting, and it includes some new technology that we hope will improve crew safety at sea.  We'll post news on that work over the coming weeks.  Visitors are expected later this month, so we hope to cruise back to beautiful Ko Phayam again in a week or so.

Nai Yang Beach & Anchorage

.

Our iPad On Board

iPad Can Display Your Existing PC Navigation System

Many cruising sailors have PC's installed onboard, running navigation applications such as Fugawi, C.Map, MaxSea, OpenCPN or other programs.  Then along came the iPad and muddied the waters somewhat.... well quite a lot actually !

The iPad is great for reading e-books, handling email, web viewing, skype calling, music listening, video replay and a million other tasks. It connects simply to our PC and has changed the way we communicate with others.

Like many other sailors, we use the excellent Navionics HD charting application on our iPad - it's a great tool.  Intuitive and simple to use, it keeps getting better with every upgrade.  I understand that Navionics sales via the Apple iTunes store are enormous.  Of course with the Navionics app the iPad is not linked to the boat's instrument systems, so it won't display ARPA or AIS targets, wind, depth or any of the other NMEA data relating to the boat or its environment.  But the mobility of the device is attractive - we can use it anywhere on board, subject to prevailing weather. 

However there is a simple way to have the best of both worlds - the mobility and convenience of the iPad and the complete suite of information that is already displayed on your PC screen.  You have two options ........

Gear For Sale - Pumps, Solar Controllers & More

Ley and I hate throwing good equipment away, yet somehow each year we accumulate items that just don't have a home aboard.  Over the past few months we've accumulated quite a hoard, and we want to get rid of it !

So, if you need a 12v watermaker pump or a 3/4" water strainer, or new valves for your inflatable dinghy, we've got a deal waiting for you.


Check the full details by clicking here.


If you need a solar controller, small pressure storage vessel, priming tank or a DC ammeter, give us a call. Its all functional and in good condition, some is new.

We'll gladly accept beer in lieu of cash - A$20 equals one IBU (International Beer Unit), which is 24 cans.  You get the idea.... and postage is extra !

A Room With A View

Ley reminded me the other day that it has been a few years since we were "serious" cruisers.  It's taken three months since we re-launched at Boat Lagoon, but it now really does feel good to be cruising "properly".  We're discovering new places, meeting new cruising friends and getting back into the regular swing of life afloat.

So I thought we should share this image, taken during our rigging inspection a few days ago at Ko Phayam. Those who've been following our work will pick the new solar panels on the bimini, but no one can pick the 30 or so plastic cable ties that needed replacing between the bottom of the mast and the top.  Fortunately I love the view.

Thai Trawlers

Clean & Tidy,  But The Smell ..... !

In this part of the world cruising sailors quickly become familiar with the local Thai trawlers and squid boats.  At sea they often move in unpredictable and haphazard directions, keeping us on our toes as we pass them off the coast.  They also often work in pairs, trawling a huge net between the two boats, and we do know of yachts that have been "netted" in this way - not a lot of fun !

Can You Keep a Secret ?

Buffalo Bay

We're anchored in a slice of paradise at Ko Phayam, near the Burmese border.  After a week, we now find a new excuse each day not to leave. There are a few jobs to finish where we need a quiet anchorage - tick. We have friends arriving soon...still waiting - tick. There is another side of the bay, yet to be explored - tick.  We could go on ....

We do love it here, and have to ask ourselves why it has taken us 7 years to sail here. It is some comfort that we met another boat that has been in Asia since the mid 1990's arrived here for the first time the same day we did.  Is this the best kept secret in Thailand?  Many say that Ko Phayam is now like Phuket was 30 years ago.

Our first anchorage was at Long Beach, which many cruisers have christened as "Wide Beach", as it shallows very slowly and at low tide the dinghy drag back from the high water mark is across a firm 50 meter beach. We rented a motor bike, criss crossed the island on the narrow concrete paths and dirt tracks.

There are no cars here, a few tractors that cart around drinking water and generator fuel, and many motor bikes. The paths took us through acres of cashew nut and rubber tree plantations and also natural jungle.

We rode across to the pier and the main village, purchased fresh fruit and vegetables, explored all points of the compass and then collapsed at the first village. Neil recovered with a massage, Ley with her book.

Cruising Into the Mist

Clear Water & Sandy Bottom At Nai Yang Beach

Last week we departed Phuket for a short cruise along the north western coast of Thailand, up to (but not over) the Myanmar border.

Our first anchorage was Nai Yang beach, where life is very sweet. The water is exceptionally clear, the bottom is sandy and a reef wraps around both corners giving reasonable protection.  There is a great afternoon market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, mini marts, cheap massage and literally a hundred restaurants either on the beach or lining the one and only road.

We had great wind on our sail to Nai Yang and then the following day to Ban Thap Lamu. 8 to 12 knots, usually from a friendly direction, so our sailing moments have changed into endless hours of delightful sailing in flat water. 

Power To Live

Eco Friendly Power

Here we are at anchor, with the new solar panels and wind generator putting amps into the boat systems.  Just as well, because our house batteries are DEAD, having lasted exactly 4 years and 7 months.  They were Trojan AGM batteries, admittedly not too expensive, but they didn't last very long. Our first AGM batteries, made by Lifeline, lasted 8 years....

Fortunately the sun is shining and the wind is blowing in beautiful Nai Harn Bay, so the wind generator and the Kyrocera solar panels are earning their keep. Life is fairly normal, electrically speaking, during the day.

However night time is a different story.  After the evening genset run to chill down the refrigeration system we turn into amp-misers, turning off everything that we can.  Fortunately the anchor light and cockpit lighting use low current LED lamps, and the Fusion sound system draws very little.  But other creature comforts (like fans) are banned.

Sailing at Last

Phagna Bay Sailing

We went sailing last Sunday - what a joy.  There was no destination in mind, just wherever the wind would take us.

It had been 9 months since we last hoisted sail, so the thought of silently moving through the water was enough to get us all motivated early that morning.

Neil and Ray checking out the sails

Ley and Ray raised the anchor, washed off the sticky sausage of mud that coated the chain, secured the anchor and then slowly we got ready to sail.  Oops the wrong sheet was tied to the genoa in our dash to splash, so that was taken care of.

Then the wind started to blow, sucking us towards a storm front in Phagna Bay - we gladly took what it offered.

Flying towards the storm front

Flat water sailing at 8 knots on our first sail since March, good company, what more could we ask for.  All systems working, we raced towards the storm enjoying the exhilaration.

The wind increased as the storm grew. Then it started to rain over the northen end of the bay so we tacked about and headed home, back to Koh Yao Yai.  By the time we entered the anchorage the wind had died, leaving us a sweet memory of our first sail this season.