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Hi John,

Thanks for the piston rings vs. valves advice as well as the "Blaster" idea.  I think that I'll try putting in the fuel "anti-gunkadditive" in the gas tank as well as trying the "Blaster" for a few days and then I'll try that test that you were describing.  I'll keep you all posted on how she's doing.  Hopefully, she'll be coughing up some burnt diesel fumes sometime soon and I'll be sailing shortly thereafter.

José

Now, how did I know that it was going to be stefan_d to respond first?  Great to hear from you.  The mechanic did a cursory check on the valves and didn't really know what was causing the low compression.  They seemed fine so he did exactly what you described.  He poured varsol down the top end and it pretty much just went down to the bottom which meant the piston rings weren't sealing which pretty much eliminates any significant compression needed to ignite diesel.  I've also been in contact with the ex-owner and he had the very same experience eight years ago when he bought it and it took him three weeks until she fired which tells me that the rings have a tendency to get stuck in their grooves.  He claimed that he added a fuel additive which un-gunks and frees debris from the system and I'm hoping that this is just deja vu.  After that, he never had a problem getting her started.  As far as wear, the boat was never really used much and it was re-built once in 1991 (from 1976) and put on the hard in 1995 where she sat for three years.  Judging from the fact that they run these engines 24-7 for generators and in the fields in Europe for wells, I rather think that wear would not be a likely factor from what I know regarding the chronology above.  I'm hoping that the rings free themselves but the head mechanic said that it could take another week or so of trying Varsol or other penetrating solvents to get her free and then we'll pull the cylinder out and see what's ailing her. They said that it could cost at least $ 2000.00 with parts and labour (Anybody know what a kidney goes for on e-Bay these days?). I don't mind re-powering her but not this year as the boat was pretty much an unexpected purchase.  If I can get at least one season out the Farymann then I'll be very happy to look at switching powerplants next year but you never know.  Miracles do happen, after all.  Thanks for the response, Stefan.

José

p.s. any tips on used yanmar 1gm, Bukh or Beta Diesels which fit Tessa please alert me.  Thanks all.

Is there anything that we could possibly do to help you, Shannon?  Although Rhiannon may not be with you much longer, the knowledge that you've imparted in this forum forever makes you one of us so don't just disappear.  After all, you've made Rhiannon what she is today and you'll no doubt pick it up again hopefully in the near future.  We're all thinking of you in your time of need.  Stray strong and positive.

José

Grazie Mille, Shannon!

With vinyl lettering, it's easiest I found to use hair dryer to heat the adhesive and the stuff just comes off.  The adhesive, on the other hand, just stuck out like a sore thumb and I have a very limited amount of time to clean off the hull of adhesive goo, wash her down and wax, then buff + apply antifouling before she goes in the water on Sunday aft. I'll definitely  try your remedy tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again.

Jose

p.s. Are you the country singer/model at shannonrae.com?  Just wondering......;-)

Hi Adrian,

What I've described above is pretty much what you have to do as it has happened to me first hand and thanks to the good folks at Transport Canada and Clifts Marine, I was able to put enough documentation to properly register my vessel.  People don't seem to realize that registration/licensing is a necessary component to operating a marine vessel much like owning and driving a car.

José

Hi Aja & Jens,

You've done the right thing by contacting the last registered owners of Uhuru.  In short, you have to get an act of sale form which can be downloaded from the Transport Canada/Marine Division website which I've provided for you and have the last registered owners of Uhuru fill out the form with whatever address they had in the registry for continuity's sake if they've moved since then.  You now have to both put your names down in this form as the buyers (for the amount, put down a dollar + other considerations) and submit the original document (in ink and not a copy) to the Ship Registrar's Office (Nanaimo) and pay the fee for the transfer/registration/name change if you should choose to do it and before you know it, the vessel is officially yours.  Just tell the old registered owners that they're stilll on the hook for the boat if ever an accident were to happen and that should pretty much give them the incentive to do the transfer.  One requirement, however, is that the buyers (Aja & Jens) must be Canadian Citizens in order to federally register the vessel in their names.  If not, the vessel must be de-registered by the old registered  owners at which time you as the new owners must get a licence for the vessel.  As for the previous owners between you and the last registered owners, they don't really matter at this point as they don't appear in the registry's records.  As far as Transport Canada is concerned, they've never really owned the boat.  They just paid long term rental for its use.  You'd be surprised at the frequency of this very same ordeal.  Hope this helps.

José

Welcome to the group, Aja & Jens!

There's nothing wrong with your ballast as she is heavily ballasted with more than half her wight below.  It would appear that you were just over canvassed for the wind conditions you've described.  Since you're new to sailing here are some suggested sail selections that you may consider depending on the true wind speed which might exist:

0-12 Knots--------------------------Genoa and Full Main

13-18 Knots-------------------------Jib and Full Main or Genoa and Reefed Main

19-26 Knots-------------------------Jib and Reefed Main

26-32 Knots-------------------------Jib or Reefed Main

The others may have other suggestions but it gives you an idea which you can adjust to suit your sailing comfort zone.

José

Hi Adrian,

Looking forward to sailing Tessa with you on her maiden voyage with me and I'll let you know definite times closer to the date.  Andris is helping me rig her the day before so as everyone can attest to, this forum rocks!  It has definitely made my life easier.

Hi John,

As you've probably read above, Tessa is still on the hard at PCYC (Port Credit).  She splashes down on May 6 (I've been told anyway) and Adrian and I will sail her to Harbourfront the next day.  Let me know when you'd like to come aboard and I'll be there.  Maybe I'll take a peek at Galaxaura when I go down to the marina this week.  Keep in touch.

José

Hey Adrian!

Congratulations on the sale of Kefi and thanks for letting me on board before you relinquished her and a second congratulations on your Alberg 29.  When you do take possession of her?  I'd love to take a peek at her and see how much bigger she is than my Tessa.  I'll e-mail you the last pics of you stepping Kefi's mast for the last time. Sniff..sniff....;-)  Also, May 6-7 weekend is not, I repeat, not Mother's Day weekend so if you still want to make the trip from PCYC to Harbour  West then I'll bring the libations.  Cheers!

Hey John!

I just got Tessa so you're welcome anytime to sail with me.  I'm at Harbour West in Hamilton.  Maybe you can show me how to light the stove without any major explosions?  E-mail me directly if you wish.

José

Hi Sam,

Congratulations on your purchase of, "Varuna".  That's quite the responsibility owning such a significant piece of sailing history not to mention being the venerable "holy" grail of Contessa's around the world.  Doesn't it just blow your mind or hasn't it hit you yet?  Please post pictures soon and often.  Have a great season!