Got Her Started!
05 September 2008 | Gig Harbor, WA
Rick
I was able to get the engine started!!! Yahhh! I'm not sure if it was the extra hour of solar charging or the three attempts to turn her over, then pow! she turned over! Darn electrons!
I ended up going out in the Channel for an hour or so to test out the autopilot and knot meter. The autopilot worked....sort of.... I could engage a course and she would more or less take a straight line, with an occasional wild turn thrown in to make sure I was paying attention. I tried to get into the setup program, but it just won't let me...! I'll call Raymarine tomorrow to see if they have a solution-hopefully not "you need to buy a $1,500 NEW unit"!
The knot meter seems to work, but it's hard to say if it's accurate or not. There is ALOT of current here, so I made a few turns and tried different directions to compare with the GPS. The knot meter would hold a constant 5.2, while the GPS would swing from 3.2 - 8.5 knots... so, I need to get in a slack tide to try it without the current.
The engine purred away at 2500 rpm's... I went down below to check the dripless shaft bearing... still throwing water everywhere! ugh! I really don't want to mess with it while I'm in the water. If i mess it up, the boat could go to the bottom. So, I'll probably schedule a haul out and mess with it and change out a couple thru-holes and give her another coat of bottom paint and change out the zinc.
I was heading out the entrance of Gig Harbor with a large powerboat behind me. He was over-taking me outside the entrance with no wake... Just before he got along side me, he guns it and puts up a HUGE WAKE!!! The waves hit me and I had stuff flying all over the inside of the boat!!!! JERK! He couldn't wait 30 seconds to pass me.... Power-boaters... Please be aware of that initial humungous wake you throw up near other boaters... thanks!
I had another excellent docking!!!! Cha Ching! Confidence is on the rise!!
Cheers!