Well today has to be one of the most expensive frustrating sucky days i have every had. It started out normally enough I was up early running the genset (panda 6KW), checking weather (there is a tropical 72 hours out). Then I heard the genset slow a bit, concerned, i unloaded it, moments later it died and when i tried to restart it it would not turn over. i immediately expected and feared the worst, that the engine had run out of oil and seized. this should not be possible as there are two separate oil pressure systems. one is a light on the panel and one is a sensor that automatically shuts the genset down in the case of low oil, coolant or exhaust over heat.
there was much cursing as i checked the light on the panel. to my dismay it was out when the panel was powered up. not sure when this failed, i should have been checking it before starting the engine but i was not and had not noticed the failure, arg arg. i also confirmed, no oil on the dipstick. finally i summoned the courage and got a breaker bar and tried to turn over the engine. it would only move about 15 deg either way and then hung up, arg arg arg arg.
a made a few more profanities told aimee our cruising days where over that we would have to go get a job, that all our saving attempts where worthless as in on minute i had destroyed a $16,000 part of our boat. it was even more frustrating as i had recently got some more oil filters for the genset and had change the oil on my list. aimee tried to help me out of my death spiral of despair but i shook off her offers to buy us a wind generator or help pay for a new genset. just the thought of getting the damm thing out of the boat is overwhelming let alone trying to get the motor seperated from the generator or fixing/replacing the motor.
while i took some photos in a vain attempt to find the serial number sietse called to say they where inbound so i had to take a break from my despair and go give them a hand anchoring. i expect this despair to continue for for ever at this point but hopefully that will not be the case!
any ideas other than, “you should really check the oil regularly” would be appreciated!
