"DSK" wrote in message
...
Capt. JG wrote:
...... upside down inside the engine, one hand
on a cell phone dying battery, flashlight in my mouth, trying to
listen/talk to the yard so their "mechanic" can direct me, the other hand
trying to reach the stupid wire.

Well, look at it philosophically... every small piece of knowledge is
good... it won't be the last time you hang upside down hugging the
engine... hopefully you will learn all details of the boat's wiring and
can correct other little problems before they so rudely interrupt the fun.

I'm hoping to learn the wiring diagram with the Braille method. Then, I
won't need the flashlight.


..... Oh yeah, and they didn't reconnect the low-oil and temp alarms
either.


See what I mean?
Actually disconnected alarms are the best, they never go off and cause
problems & worry.

I was thinking I should disconnect the fuel gauge and depthsounder also. I
bet I could sell them and buy cockpit cushions and have money left over.

Congratulations. Look's like a nice boat. You've come a long way in ten
years.

--
jlrogers±³©
"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). 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. Fortunately, not much
vessel traffic where I'm floating, so I heave-to to a starboard tack (give
myself at least some status), open up the engine compartment, and I go
upside down inside the engine, one hand on a cell phone dying battery,
flashlight in my mouth, trying to listen/talk to the yard so their
"mechanic" can direct me, the other hand trying to reach the stupid wire.
Finally, found it, tightened it, and then she started no problem. Oh yeah,
and they didn't reconnect the low-oil and temp alarms either.

Got past the bridge, the wind picked up, so killed the engine and started
sailing again. Got about 20 kts steady wind the rest of the way, mostly
port tack. Finally had to jibe to avoid a tug/barge coming out of the
Richmond area, and the rest was easy, even did a passable job flaking the
main before I got to the dock.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I finally concluded the purchase of a new, used boat. She's a Sabre 30,
Mark II, built in 1983. Except for a few minor problems, she's in great
shape. I'll probably be putting a furler on in the next couple of weeks,
but there's no huge rush as the current setup is pretty easy.

Here are a couple of picture links... on the hard and then me
single-handing to her new home in Richmond, CA.

http://sailnow.photosite.com/excalibur/
http://sailnow.photosite.com/Excalibur_maiden_voyage/

The cockpit is nice... 7'2" :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

I have? I only moved once. I still miss my Cal 20 and Windrider.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"jlrogers±³©" wrote in message
t...
Congratulations. Look's like a nice boat. You've come a long way in ten
years.

--
jlrogers±³©
"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). 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. Fortunately, not much
vessel traffic where I'm floating, so I heave-to to a starboard tack
(give myself at least some status), open up the engine compartment, and I
go upside down inside the engine, one hand on a cell phone dying battery,
flashlight in my mouth, trying to listen/talk to the yard so their
"mechanic" can direct me, the other hand trying to reach the stupid wire.
Finally, found it, tightened it, and then she started no problem. Oh
yeah, and they didn't reconnect the low-oil and temp alarms either.

Got past the bridge, the wind picked up, so killed the engine and started
sailing again. Got about 20 kts steady wind the rest of the way, mostly
port tack. Finally had to jibe to avoid a tug/barge coming out of the
Richmond area, and the rest was easy, even did a passable job flaking the
main before I got to the dock.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I finally concluded the purchase of a new, used boat. She's a Sabre 30,
Mark II, built in 1983. Except for a few minor problems, she's in great
shape. I'll probably be putting a furler on in the next couple of weeks,
but there's no huge rush as the current setup is pretty easy.

Here are a couple of picture links... on the hard and then me
single-handing to her new home in Richmond, CA.

http://sailnow.photosite.com/excalibur/
http://sailnow.photosite.com/Excalibur_maiden_voyage/

The cockpit is nice... 7'2" :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Capt. JG wrote:
....I still miss my Cal 20 and Windrider.


But they were great stepping-stones


DSK