On our first day underway Monday April 1, we observed the alternator was not contributing to our boat’s system voltage underway.

With the alternator down, can also charge our main starting bank (3x G31 AGM) both from the generator OR from the sun / lithium bank. So I knew this alternator was something we had to fix, but it was not something that would hold us up… not imminently critical.

Monday night, on anchor at Blout Point, we were charging both battery banks with our generator. The dishes needed to be done, so I figured I’d turn on the water heater too. These are all on separate circuits and each have their own circuit breakers. There is also a main breaker on our distribution panel, and our experience is these breakers will operate as they should when an over-current condition exists.

Well, Monday night the generator failed. The symptoms were the GENERATOR’s own 70 amp circuit breaker tripped. Turning it back on did NOT work! So the preliminary diagnosis was, “The genset’s own breaker has failed.”

I determined that the accessibility (close quarters / confined space) made this project one that I could not handle. Dozens of calls were made to find someone who would service our 24 year old Kohler 6.5 kw generator that is obviously on our boat. No luck until I found Hinkley Yacht Services in Savannah GA. They said, “No problem! Bring it in next week.”

I explained to them that the diesel engine side of this system has been well maintained, and continues to work well. This electrical problem is simply something I needed their help with.

Then Gene asked me if he could have a look.

He has the same vintage Mainship 390 (m/v Galene) with the same generator. He also has more hands-on experience getting inside the electrical controls box atop these generators.

With some Sweat and Blood and Prayers, Gene found a wiring conductor failure right at the AC Breaker. The breaker itself tested fine.

Corrosion of the #6 or #8 copper wire made it unable to carry its full current capacity, so the wire overheated and failed right at the breaker.

The breaker did properly open to prevent a more disastrous end result. But the wire was toast, and resetting the breaker would not fix that problem.

So, with a replacement crimp connector from Galene’s ship’s store for this gauge wire, we were soon back in business, generating 120vac as needed.

Our battery banks were in good shape because of all the sun on Monday and Tuesday.

But, before this fix, being down to ONLY sunshine as a way to keep batteries up (BOTH the alternator + generator were down) made us feel VERY vulnerable.

In this way, Gene really came through for us right here at the free dock at Sister’s Creek ICW mm740!

Thank’s Gene! Next dinner out is certainly on us… but that’s not all.

Evidently the prayerful “deal” Gene made with The Almighty during this ordeal was that, God said to Gene, “If I help you make this work for Ray, he and Shelly have go worship at church with you and Patty at least once.”

Gene and Ray accepted the Good Lord’s terms, so “We truly have a deal to fulfill now!”