Hi
I am the new owner of V2417 I purchased her last month in Juneau and in the past 9 days brought her to her new home in Sitka. A little background on me I am 70 and have not sailed since my teens racing snipe class. My wife and 9 kids convinced me that now would be a good time to buy the sailboat I have always wanted and quit riding my motorcycle because of my age. So I bought the boat (but still have the motorcycle). So off I go to Juneau and prepare for my trip, changed oil, filters flushed fuel tank and lines and changed fuel filters and away I go (probably too excited to better prepare, oh well). In a heavy rain nearing Chatham strait sudden silence and it is now nightfall, a quick check rveals that my battery is dead, the wind dies and I am now adrift in a heavily travelled area with BIG cruise ships speeding nearby. While working on the problem a ship passes by while I am in the cabin and it's wake hits me broadside in surprise resulting in me doing a faceplant wood wins and I wind up with tear in the side of my nose a swollen eye that is bleeding a cracked rib and a wretched knee. I spend the next few hours stopping the bleeding and shining my flashlight on the radar reflector and sail. I have no running lights no radio, no GPS, and am about out of TP before the bleeding is reduced. The wind returns with a vengence 25 to 30 in heavy rain and 3 to4 ft seas but I manage to get the jib up and a double reefed main, I do this with a harness attached to the Stearns immerssion suit and crawling any time I am out of the cabin. Before dawn the wind dies and I am back to drifting. I am able to flag down a fishing boat and they tow me 12 miles to Tanakee where I am met by the EMT's no doctor or clinic available so we just apply compressess and clean the blood, I decline the suggestion to call the Coast Guard for a helo medevac. I rest and the the next day I buy a second battery and charge both batteries will shorepower at the dock. I discover that the engine oil is overfilled so I drain and change it again. cannot resolve charging problem, the starter/ALT has been replaced with a German made unit that is a starter/GEN. So on my way again good wind, no wind, rain always, I get into Angoon wet tired hungry and spend the night. In the morning I find that the oil is overfilled again so another change. Off again on my trip and the is used about 3 hrs and sail the rest, total trip time 9 days. Doctor said the eye was bleeding from a cut on the inside of the eyelid and would heal fine the nose had lost some meat so it is too late for sutures and I might just as well get used to my new look, the knee will heal without any treatment. Where is my oil increase coming from, I'm sure it's diesel? Anybody have a wiring diagram for the genarator and voltage regulator? I am looking forward to a lot more sailing but without the problems, my wife will come with me if I guarentee a hot shower and B&B once a week. We plan to cruise SE Alaska next summer but for now it's varnish and repair.
Remember we must all grow old but I refuse to grow up!
Frank Vega #2417
I am the new owner of V2417 I purchased her last month in Juneau and in the past 9 days brought her to her new home in Sitka. A little background on me I am 70 and have not sailed since my teens racing snipe class. My wife and 9 kids convinced me that now would be a good time to buy the sailboat I have always wanted and quit riding my motorcycle because of my age. So I bought the boat (but still have the motorcycle). So off I go to Juneau and prepare for my trip, changed oil, filters flushed fuel tank and lines and changed fuel filters and away I go (probably too excited to better prepare, oh well). In a heavy rain nearing Chatham strait sudden silence and it is now nightfall, a quick check rveals that my battery is dead, the wind dies and I am now adrift in a heavily travelled area with BIG cruise ships speeding nearby. While working on the problem a ship passes by while I am in the cabin and it's wake hits me broadside in surprise resulting in me doing a faceplant wood wins and I wind up with tear in the side of my nose a swollen eye that is bleeding a cracked rib and a wretched knee. I spend the next few hours stopping the bleeding and shining my flashlight on the radar reflector and sail. I have no running lights no radio, no GPS, and am about out of TP before the bleeding is reduced. The wind returns with a vengence 25 to 30 in heavy rain and 3 to4 ft seas but I manage to get the jib up and a double reefed main, I do this with a harness attached to the Stearns immerssion suit and crawling any time I am out of the cabin. Before dawn the wind dies and I am back to drifting. I am able to flag down a fishing boat and they tow me 12 miles to Tanakee where I am met by the EMT's no doctor or clinic available so we just apply compressess and clean the blood, I decline the suggestion to call the Coast Guard for a helo medevac. I rest and the the next day I buy a second battery and charge both batteries will shorepower at the dock. I discover that the engine oil is overfilled so I drain and change it again. cannot resolve charging problem, the starter/ALT has been replaced with a German made unit that is a starter/GEN. So on my way again good wind, no wind, rain always, I get into Angoon wet tired hungry and spend the night. In the morning I find that the oil is overfilled again so another change. Off again on my trip and the is used about 3 hrs and sail the rest, total trip time 9 days. Doctor said the eye was bleeding from a cut on the inside of the eyelid and would heal fine the nose had lost some meat so it is too late for sutures and I might just as well get used to my new look, the knee will heal without any treatment. Where is my oil increase coming from, I'm sure it's diesel? Anybody have a wiring diagram for the genarator and voltage regulator? I am looking forward to a lot more sailing but without the problems, my wife will come with me if I guarentee a hot shower and B&B once a week. We plan to cruise SE Alaska next summer but for now it's varnish and repair.
Remember we must all grow old but I refuse to grow up!
Frank Vega #2417