Run up to Friday 13th - lost bikini top and electric BOAT* issues

Our genset had been becoming slower and slower to start, with smoke coming out on the inlet manifold.  Eventually, on the Tuesday after New Year it failed entirely to start.  Richard embarked on a "top end overhaul" to restore compression and get it running again.  This was successfully done over a period of about 3 days.  Lack of the genset is usually a minor annoyance as we can charge the batteries using the main engine for about an hour a day to supplement solar and wind power.  In this mode "mains" AC is produced by an inverter.  However, attempting to make bread on two successive days resulted in flat unrisen pieces of dough.  Investigation revealed that the inverter, which is only 2 years old,instead of producing 230 volts at 50 Hertz, was producing 225 volts (OK), but at 100Hz.

With the genset working again, and breadmaking restored, we returned to Nai Harn, where the laundry service produces better results than that on offer at Panwa Bali and we can hire a car to go shopping in preparation for a trip to the Surin and Similan islands.

In the windier conditions Susan lost the top of her best bikini from the guard rail.

Unfortunately, the genset had still not finished with us.

The lower hole shouldn't be there!

While running the genset to charge the batteries, the bilge pump suddenly came on. Investigating the source of the water showed a steady stream coming from inside its enclosure.  Further investigation showed a spray of water coming from around the cylinder block.  Immediate reaction was that R had used the wrong O rings on the water channels when rebuilding the engine.  Off came the cylinder head, the O rings were checked and supplemented with a liberal dose of gasket sealant, the head replaced and the genset restarted.  The leak was still there.  Closer examination revealed that it was coming out in a powerful jet from the bottom of the water jacket of the cylinder block.  The engine was stripped for the third time, the hole cleaned up and patched with steel extended epoxy and the engine put back together again.  The current situation is that the epoxy has been allowed to set overnight, the valve clearances need to be reset and we will then see if the temporary fix has worked.

Watch this space!

* BOAT = "Bring out another thousand"- expression borrowed from SV Crystal Blues' blog.  Unfortunately theirs are Aussie dollars, ours are pounds, although the two move ever closer!

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