screw it into the hole making its own thread as it
went in. I tried the first one, but it didn’t groove
the bronze hole enough to withstand the pressure.
I got out a larger screw and it threaded into the
hole perfectly; however it was too long and would
probably damage the spinning impeller. So I
backed it out, cut off the end and filled the hole
and the screw threads with 3M 5200 sealant. This
is a wonderful product to have aboard a boat.
The sealant works well, even in or under water,
remains pliable but seals completely, but it does
need time to “cure” overnight.
While letting the sealant dry, there was still a lot
to do to get my little Yanmar engine to work again
as it had a crusty layer of salt covering everything.
I got down the buckets and put fresh water and
a little liquid soap in each. I rinsed the engine as
best I could with clean water mixed with 50%
white vinegar to reduce the alkaline effects, then
wiped down what I could reach. After all this was dry I sprayed
The leak and
everything with the water displacing product, WD40. It looked
(inset) Mike’s fix.
clean again, but there was still some oxidation from salt on
the starter connections. And the alternator and the separate
regulator were encrusted with salt. I needed to remove them.
I do not have a spare starter motor but I did have a second
Balmar alternator with built-in regulator. I cleaned the starter
motor as best I could, re-installed it and waited for the 5200
smoothly but there was no charge coming out of the new
sealant to cure.
Balmar alternator. Doug said to call the Balmar factory and talk
After exactly 24 hours, I imagined that the sealant was
with their specialist Dale English. Doug would call him first and
dry and the screw would hold as well as could be expected.
explain the situation. 30 minutes later I called Texas and Dale
I tried to start the engine. nothing. not even the sound of
said the problem was that Hunter does not use the built-in
the solenoid clicking. I was stuck. My mechanical skills and
regulator on my model alternator but instead uses the separate
experience were at an end. I needed help, out in the middle of
Balmar regulator mounted on the firewall. I would have to take
an ocean.
the alternator apart and re-wire it to again use the internal
I have an Iridium Satellite phone and so called Eddie
regulator feature and bypass the external regulator.
Breeden at Hunter Marine customer service. He gave me the
After about two hours I was ready to try again; everything
number of the Yanmar specialist, Doug Dykens. Doug talked
worked perfectly.
me through a number of procedures and about a dozen
I was headed towards Miami again. I had been drifting for
trial starts but still nothing. Then “Dr Yanmar” said, “Let’s try
three days with no wind, no engine and a leaking boat. now
something. Hold the ‘Stop’ button in and jiggle the starter
the boat leak was fixed, the engine ran well, the alternator was
key five times, then turn on the starter key and push the stop
charging and the wind came back.
button in and out quickly five times. Let’s see what happens.”
At my predicted average speed of 6.5 knots I expected to get
I did just that. And it worked! My engine was running again.
into English Harbour, Antigua in five or six weeks. I only needed
Doug said to let it idle 10 minutes and check everything out
to cross the Equator into the Doldrums, go through a few storms
then run it in gear at 1500 rpm for 30 minutes, then call him
and motor or sail another 4,000 nautical miles with a screw and
back. When calling on the SAT phone from anywhere in the
some glue keeping my engine from flooding my boat.
world, including from the middle of the South Atlantic, the cost
I needed some luck. n
is US$2.50 per minute. But it was certainly worth it.
About 45 minutes later I called Doug back with the good next time: Discover how Mike fares on the final stage across the
and then the bad news. The Yanmar engine was running Atlantic to Miami.
48 YACHTWORLD.COM MARCH 2009
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