While headed east last Thursday, over around Marianne pass, I had a bunch of instrument malfunctions. Of the three compasses on the boat, autopilot, gps and the binnacle one, I had a variation at times of 80 degrees. My first thought was some kind of magnetic interferace. I called Chuck Creel, who runs a barge through this area on a regular basis and ask if he had ever run into such a thing in this area. Not to his knowledge. I had seen a voltage reading of 16V on the gps readout. Friday morning, I changed the alternator, and all went back to normal. Talked to the alternator shop yesterday, and he says the regulator is bad. Since the alternator is new and in warranty, an easy fix and no problem. Also along with the compass readings being out of the ballpark, both depth finders quit working about this time. So, high voltage can and will do strange things.
Along the same line. Fortunately I had a spare alternator on board, so I could continue the trip, and also an extra impeller when the new on spun the hub. Point is, have spares for important stuff on you boat at all times. More important than having them, is a good working kowledge of the systems, and how to do needed repairs. There is no help out there. Having spares, and knowing how to use them, made what could have been a disaster, nothing more than a little inconvience.
Along the same line. Fortunately I had a spare alternator on board, so I could continue the trip, and also an extra impeller when the new on spun the hub. Point is, have spares for important stuff on you boat at all times. More important than having them, is a good working kowledge of the systems, and how to do needed repairs. There is no help out there. Having spares, and knowing how to use them, made what could have been a disaster, nothing more than a little inconvience.
