Roberta and I have enjoyed our week in Taiwan, and are now preparing to depart tomorrow morning, early, for Hong Kong.
We have hardly left the boat this week. Both Roberta and I wanted some quiet time on our computers, plus Shelby, our dog, has been sick. We didn’t clear her into Taiwan, so she has been stuck on the boat all week, and seems depressed. She will be clearing into Hong Kong, and we’re confident that as soon as she reaches land she’ll perk right up.
The run to Hong Kong is a long one; a 375 nautical mile passage, which will take us two full days.
Once we are running, our location may be checked at any time via this link:
http://www.kensblog.com/aspx/m/Current_Location
There is one worrisome detail…
A tropical storm is headed our direction, called Conson.
You can track it on this site: http://www.typhoon2000.ph/
We are set to arrive into Hong Kong a good 24 hours before it is scheduled to hit. I don’t have enough history with these things to know if there is any chance it will arrive faster than planned, or the odds that it will be upgraded to a typhoon. We use a professional weather router (http://www.oceanmarinenav.com) who we will consult before making the final call on whether or not we depart. If there is any risk, we won’t depart.
More from Hong Kong!
Thank you,
Ken Williams
www.kensblog.com
N6805, Sans Souci
We have hardly left the boat this week. Both Roberta and I wanted some quiet time on our computers, plus Shelby, our dog, has been sick. We didn’t clear her into Taiwan, so she has been stuck on the boat all week, and seems depressed. She will be clearing into Hong Kong, and we’re confident that as soon as she reaches land she’ll perk right up.
The run to Hong Kong is a long one; a 375 nautical mile passage, which will take us two full days.
Once we are running, our location may be checked at any time via this link:
http://www.kensblog.com/aspx/m/Current_Location
There is one worrisome detail…
A tropical storm is headed our direction, called Conson.
 |
You can track it on this site: http://www.typhoon2000.ph/
We are set to arrive into Hong Kong a good 24 hours before it is scheduled to hit. I don’t have enough history with these things to know if there is any chance it will arrive faster than planned, or the odds that it will be upgraded to a typhoon. We use a professional weather router (http://www.oceanmarinenav.com) who we will consult before making the final call on whether or not we depart. If there is any risk, we won’t depart.
More from Hong Kong!
Thank you,
Ken Williams
www.kensblog.com
N6805, Sans Souci
4 Responses
Derick:
Here’s the answers to your questions. I hope this helps!
-Ken W
1. When you took delivery of the boat did you find the propeller performance correct and optimum or did you make modifications to the Hung Shen OEM specifications?
*** I wasn’t smart enough in those days to know about things like “propeller pitch”. I was new to owning a trawler and wouldn’t have thought about it. I don’t remember any issues whatsoever with the prop, nor did anyone else on the boat ever mention anything. My guess is that the new owners after me decided the prop was over (or under) propped, and tried re-pitching it.
2. If you did make any modifications do recall what they were and or who did the modifications (company name, location and approximately the date)?
*** Nope. This is the first I’ve heard that it was re-propped.
2. Do you recall Max RPM at full throttle and was it 2100 rpm?
*** I don’t recall. Most of the N62s have the Lugger engine, so the Nordhavn message board might be the best place to ask this question. My vague recollection is that 2,100 rpm was the limit, and I cruised between 1,650 and 1,800 rpm, but it has been so long that this could be completely wrong.
3. What was your preferred cruise speed, rpm and fuel consumption.
*** I don’t remember. Generally, I was never worried about fuel consumption, and always wanted speed (the Atlantic crossing being the exception). Maybe I’ve mellowed with age, but I remember cruising fairly fast on that boat; around 8.5 to 9.1 knots most of the time. My book on the Atlantic crossing might have some of the stats from the trip. I think we averaged 8.25 knots. I also think the boat had a floscan unit, which wasn’t very accurate, so I was seeing consumption that was misleadingly high.
4. Did you add the hydraulic pump to the tail of the Twin Disc transmission after you purchased Sans Souci 1. The shaft coupling won’t pass by the bottom of Hydraulic pump so it appears I will have to remove the pump to pull the shaft.
*** No. That said, James Knight did a major overhaul of the boat in Florida. I don’t remember what all was done, and definitely don’t remember anything having to do with the hydraulic pump or the props. James might remember if there was anything with the pump. You might want to call him. Mickey Smith managed the project, and also might have some memories.
5. Since I am going to this much effort, I am changing the cutlass bearing, drip less seal and checking the shaft. What brand shaft seals are you using on Sans
Souci 2?
*** I use the Tides dripless shaft seals on Sans Souci. Thus far, I love them. It is MUCH nicer having a dry bilge. I still don’t completely trust them. I constantly monitor their temperature, and worry whenever it varies. So far, all has been fine. They ran around 60 degrees in the Aleutians, and are now running 105 in the 90 degree water here.
*** Sorry not to have more information. I was pretty green when I had that boat, and delegated virtually all of the maintenance details. Boating has been a learning experience for me, and I’m still learning! It sounds like someone who owned the boat after me decided to ‘improve’ it, with dubious results.
Hello Ken,
I hope all is well in Hong Kong. Did you head closer to the coast to get out of the currents that were hindering your speed?
Again, I want to thank you for taking the time to call me the other evening, you were very generous to do so.
I don’t want to be a pest to you, but you are extremely knowledgeable person regarding long rang cruising vessels and particularly with Sans Sousi 1 .
I have had to pull Sans Souci 1 out of the water to deal with this vibration/cavitation problem before causing any potential damage.
At this point I have hit a wall and cannot go any further without more information.
I may have found the cavitation problem. It appears that one of the blades is not correctly pitched and may be causing air/bubbles to be introduced into the prop and this could be where the noise is coming from.
Unfortunately all that the prop company can do is put the prop back to the Hung Shen OEM specifications (41” x 24”) which I found in your original paperwork. However I don’t know if this specification was optimum or if you modified the propeller after taking delivery of Sans Souci 1. If you would so kind as to answer a few questions it would greatly help my situation:
1.When you took delivery of the boat did you find the propeller performance correct and optimum or did you make modifications to the Hung Shen OEM specifications?
2.If you did make any modifications do recall what they were and or who did the modifications (company name, location and approximately the date)?
2.Do you recall Max RPM at full throttle and was it 2100 rpm?
3.What was your preferred cruise speed, rpm and fuel consumption.
4.Did you add the hydraulic pump to the tail of the Twin Disc transmission after you purchased Sans Souci 1. The shaft coupling won’t pass by the bottom of Hydraulic pump so it appears I will have to remove the pump to pull the shaft.
5.Since I am going to this much effort, I am changing the cutlass bearing, drip less seal and checking the shaft. What brand shaft seals are you using on Sans
Souci 2?
I would sincerely appreciate any expertise and knowledge you can provide. Emailing to the address below is fine or if you would prefer to talk on the phone just let me know when it is convenient.
Sincerely,
Derick one of the baffled owners of Sans Souci 1
dwoolverton@b…
904 509 9693
Ken,
I am posting you as it is probably the best way to contact you while you are under way.
I hope that yours and Roberta’s trip is going well.
Since taking delivering of your former vessel in December of 09 we have experienced what seems to be an intermittent cavitation that occurs above the propeller tips on the underside of the hull above 1500 rpm going foreword. It occurs only after moderately or aggressively reversing the vessel such as in maneuvering situations.
When you open the hatches in the aft cockpit the noise is most predominate on top of the propeller
Sometimes it will go away by sitting overnight and other times by aggressively throttling forward.
Shaft alignment has been adjusted.
The vessel is going to be hauled on Wednesday for routine bottom work and to hopefully resolve this problem.
Do you have any idea’s as to what may be causing this problem?
Thank you,
Derick
904 509 9693
Hi,
Just want to say that I have been reading your blog on this trip and last years trip and am really enjoying them. I’m sure you know, but if you make it up to Shanghai, the World Expo is going on until October.