"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Here's a synopsis of Excalibur's maiden voyage from the
yard in SF to her
new home...

The maiden voyage was interesting... single-handed her
from SF South Beach
Harbor to Richmond. Engine started fine at the dock, so I
raised sails and
headed up toward the Bay Bridge. Near the bridge, the wind
died, so I go to
start the engine... nada... not even cranking, nothing.
After some
preliminary checks, like do I have juice, fuel, I called
the yard where she
had some engine work done (tune up, oil change, and the
like). Oh, it's not
our fault, maybe you're out of gas (no), maybe you don't
have her in neutral
(no neutral safety switch on this boat - something to
think about adding).

Don't, they're stupid.



Come back, and we'll look into it... of course, it's a
good hour or so in
such light winds, and guess what they close in 1/2 hour.

Frustrated, I called the former owner, who couldn't think
of any reason this
would happen. Never happened to him in 10 years. Must be a
disconnected
wire, but he's busy at work, and the manual is in my car
(note for later,
put manual on boat). Called the yard back... they said,
oh, maybe we forgot
to tighten the wire to the starter solenoid.
Unfortunately, I have no idea
where this wire is.


Sailing in the wee hours I noticed my nav lights dimming,
went to start the engine ( with the starter batt) and nada.
I also hove to as the battery was too low to trust the AP.
The selenoid wire had broken , right at the terminal end. I
stripped it and put it back on bare wire. Got a terminal 3
days later.


--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_