19 oct1800 We finally just got the engine running.

Still diesel leaking at 2 injectors, so we tale things apart for last time tomorrow and hope to get it all running for good.. 

0034 I did not get the engine going jet, everything is installed but when I tried to start the engine it blew out pressure past the diesel injectors, problem now is to get the right tools to get them tight and leak free..

14 oct 1200  Ahhh, progress.. I got engine open on the side and there the cup was, I could  just pick it up and slide it back in place.. Great..

we go on...  I got rockers on now, but still does not fit very well, strange.. it ain't over until the thing runssssss.

14 oct 0710 Problems here, we put the head on and put the piston rod's in place. 

They are about 25cm long steal rods that runs the valves and are put in the block from the top, and are supposed to fit in a 'cap' or cup inside the block. You can not see them, and apparently one has fallen into the wrong place when the rods were taken out. Apparently this is possible, because the rod end is round and fits this way very well in the cup, and because that holds oil for lubrication, so if you pick up the rod you take the  cup with you untill it falls of, and back on to the place where it belongs. BUT it can fall wrong, and that's happened with one out of 8.

There is no way to enter the block and put it back in its place. It looks like I can access the side of the block with lots of work, with unsure outcome and also not sure if possible at all.

If the part has fallen in the carter I have to take entire block out to get the carter off and find the cup.

THIS IS NOT NICE.

I thought i did the sensible thing by replacing the head and see who the engine would do, this what now happened ..I never anticipated, and is big shock.

Do not know what to do now, sorry..

12 Oct Finally a head for Mercedes arrived, but there is already damage. A bolt on top (U fasten the top cover with them) is bend. The local dockyard  has maybe next week time, so we (me and Jan vd Bollemaat) will have a go at it tomorrow, and take internal water pump of the old head and put it on, transfer the injectors, and the rocker system. Them we will put it on, attach out and inlet, diesel lines, fix the whole cool system, return diesel lines, (glow plugs) put alternator an V belt back, put all electrics back in place, put oil in it and in gearbox, get everything on time etc..

Then we will maybe know more..

In the mean time internet is out, although I seem to be able to get this through. Last week Windows Media Player was corrupted, Sunday suddenly good internet, and after downloading Windows Media Player 11 it worked again and I had 24 hours good internet so I could see programs from www.uitzendinggemist.nl  and later could still follow the downfall of DSB, but since then no internet. Not nice.

27 Sept 0700, it's 1 year ago that I left Scheveningen... 8.5 days to Cascais, later 4.5 days to Lanzarote, 1 day to Las Palmas, 25 days to St Maarten, 4 days to Grenada and then 1 day to Trinidad... =  44 days sailing.

on shore.. Cascais 20+8, Las Palmas 20+8=  56 days living at 4m high..

Now place between 2 metal things in water and shore, palm tree 1m from my boat until 26th of October... Waiting for engine solution

NY was good to be, 55 FD's, and a lot of people I know, 8 nights in a normal bed, nice temperature... very good..

5-14 sept I'm to NY to sail Flying Dutchman races on the Hudson, next to the Statue of Liberty. All part of 400 year NewYork ..

If you need me, we stay at the Marriott down town, 85 West street.. www.ny400.org/events.php I sail with Peter van Veen in FD 69

3 Sept... Bigggg shit again, the new engine (revised Mercedes OM636 from Drinkwaard Rotterdam) I build in 12 month ago was no good. Problems led to take off the head of the engine and that was cracked. So it was losing oil and water through the crack, engine got to hot, and no parts or new head here available. I always thought this was one of the most used engines in the world, but now with serious problems again... no solution around. Since September 2008 it only was used 94 hours, 14 hours for moving the boat (actually exact 20 times needed for that, I remember them all..) and the rest used to fill the batteries..

Now I need a new engine, but propeller shaft is only 28mm, this was good for the 35hp Mercedes. Cheapest (8600us) and best is Yanmar 55hp 4jh4e but the propeller shaft is not strong enough.

A 42 hp Vetus is ok for the shaft, cost little over 8000e (ex) in Holland, here I have to pay more then 22000us, insane

A 37.5 hp Nani costs 12000us, but we stil wait for the price of a heat exchanger.. extra 

A Westerbeke 44 bobtail4  also something like 12, but they can not make it mass free (isolated ground) and that would be nice since I have a aluminium ship.. 

The Mercedes was also partly isolated, meaning the alternator is isolated, but when u start the engine it is grounded to the hull, not perfect.

Probably we will have to go that way again, since other solutions seem impossible..

I'm already 4 weeks waiting here and still no engine is ordered.

I have no response jet from Holland, deBruyn Watersport in Weesp, they would look in to the Mercedes problems. Most simple would still be a new Mercedes engine, now we have to change everything, mounts an lining up an electronics cooling water system, new instrument panel, bigger alternator.. 

And all my spare parts, like startengine (450e) etcetc are now obsolete..  

30 July OK, Condor is back at jetty at Peake, this means the bow is at a long line to a mooring and the back more or less pulled to the dock. The Laser is out of the davits to do it this way. But I have to keep a save distance from the dock not to hit it if waves push the boat backwards, and I have to walk over lines to get on and of the boat, a bit tricky but no problems so far..

Been working on the engine, do some more to day. Not sure it will fix the problems, but it is the way of try and find out if it works later.

  20  July  More then a week in Trinidad now, weather better as expected, it is warm, and if it rains it really rains. But then the sun shines again AND I have a cover over the entire boat now. This way the boat stays more or less dry, I do not have to worry that the hatches are open if it rains (only some water comes in) and the direct sunlight stays of the deck.. So simple blue Gamma sail does the trick..

Tomorrow I move to Powerboat where I'll be in calmer water, here at Peake it's rocking and rolling. There I'll be able to do some work on the mast etc..

Yesterday I was with friends at Macaras beach, nice drive to the other side of the island though the rain forrest. and then perfect big beach with the palm trees and nice waves to play in. 

3 july By now I've been more then 2 weeks at Grenada near St Greorges, perfectly anchored there with 45+ other boats. Everyone has come down to be out of hurricanes way and weather here very comfortable, so most stay here for a while like I do

Sailing down here from St Maarten was a 3 day trip, nicely up wind with no problems at all..

5 june St Maarten OK Almost leaving St Maarten to go south to Grenada and Trinidad..  SSB and pactor work so I can mail from the Condor .. So in future you have to look here AND at www.TeamHan.blogspot.com for info..  

The Condor made some big improvements, a 3rd reef in mailsail and all other sails and tents have been looked at and improved. I have some good ventilators now to survive the heat in Trinidad (and here) so that's all good news. The outboard (15HP) still does not work so it stays here, I have now 4hp 2 stroke and 6 hp 4 stroke to take with me.. and a smaller rubber, the old green one is dumped, same as the old fridge... replaced. And some more LED lights, make live easier..

The bridge on the Dutch side is closed for 4 weeks so I have go out the lagoon via the French bridge, I hope I get out that way since it is very shallow there, small canal to the bridge, Lennart will stand on the bow and look in the water for the deepest places I hope

So for the rest see  www.TeamHan.blogspot.com so save this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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more of past events and older see RECENT page  like this 'picture of the year' (so far)  

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