Thursday, February 25, 2010

It's Alive!

The generator that is and we are so excited - it works!

Installing the generator took Doug about a month - a very big project and it is great to have it behind us.

The generator: A Kestrel Marine Diesel D/C Generator purchased from The Watermaker Store has had a long life - without ever being used:
  • 2004: Steve and Ana purchased the generator and quickly put it in storage
  • 2007: We purchased it from Steve and Ana and quickly put it in our storage
  • 2008: Departed from USA, so stashed the heavy beast in the aft head - and promised to install it as soon as we get settled in Mexico
  • 2008 - 2010: The generator traveled (in the aft head) from San Francisco, Cabo, La Paz, Mazatlan, La Paz, Santa Rosalia, San Carlos, and back to La Paz (again) and all points in between!
So our generator has traveled many miles without ever being used. But, before we head to the South Pacific next year, it had to be installed so Doug has had his head (and butt) stuck in the engine room (or under our bunk) for a very long time.

This required rebuilding our exhaust system (and adding a new one) replacing our old fuel lines, integrating with our Yanmar engine, building the infrastructure, and lots of trips to the local marine stores!

After all of that, it worked within minutes of turning it on. Pretty amazing that it worked, but also that Doug figured it all out. I married well, didn't I?

A Very Happy (and tired) Captain Doug!

5 comments:

Jim and Heather on Meerkat said...

Doug is too darn funny. The only guy I know that would be SMILING while sweating and working in the engine room. You people are just beyond weird. So damn happy all the time. Oh how I miss seeing you around!

Anonymous said...

Damn, if I'd known it ran I would have asked more for it.

Anessa Collins said...

Doug~that sounds like hell to a claustrophobic (sp)! Next life you two will be able to build your own boat~from infancy!

Jaye said...

Damn! How impressed am I that you installed a genset? Very.

Ana said...

Don't you just love a "mission accomplished"?