Southeast Alaska 2012 with Jay, Jo-Lee & the Hunkydory

Sam, yes I've considered the other options.  Thing is, we love the Wallas  when it's working & from what I've read the alternatives are not exactly trouble  free either.  That & a new hopefully more dependable Wallas would be virtually plug & play verses a much longer more evolved process of an alternative, when we just want to be out cruising.   Would much more likely be considering your suggestions for replacement if not on an extended cruise where minimizing downtime is a top priority.

Marty,  thanks for the well wishes & needed that chuckle from Yogi Berra.

Dutch, much thanks for the troubleshooting offer, but I don't have the confidence on this end to do it.  This 95 model is 12 years old with many problems in that time.  It's pretty well acknowledged the model is trouble prone & at this point I'm willing to spend even though still a gamble to try out the new model for hopefully much improved reliability.

Jay
 
Jay,
The best of luck to you on your adventure. We just passed by Jakes Corner several days ago. Did not turn though. Had a new boat to deliver to Anchorage.
When I still had my 1983 Classic CD my dream was to start out in Whitehorse and follow the Yukon River clear to tide water. Then sell the CD to locals, fly home and start over.
It never got done and now I have gotten too old but I still dream about doing it.
Go live our dreams for us and I hope your Wallas magically comes alive by itself.
I am following you on SPOT.
Jack in Alaska
 
Jack, I was keeping an eye out for you on the way & wondering about your whereabouts & how the trip up went for you.

The Yukon was & still is one of my dreams too.  Was able to do the upper 200 miles from Whitehorse to Carmacks & the Atlin lake sections where it starts at Llewelyn Glacier.  Talked to a guy that took a 26 foot Almar Sounder with jet drive all the way down & back.  He said once was enough for sure, due to more time spent getting off sand bars in the lower wide sections than cruising, so maybe between that & fuel cost the Yukon will just stay in my dream stage too.   Good to hear you & others are keeping tabs on the SPOT track.  I'll keep stepping them off.

4-28-12

Smooth water cruising from Hoonah to the Juneau area where we are presently anchored off  C- Brat Doc Steve & Colleen's house in a gentle rain.   We will  be ordering a new stove early Monday morning & then wait here for its arrival.

Gas prices;  Juneau $4.14 Hoonah  $4.82  Pelican  $6.00.   Makes it worth topping off with the 93 gal for when we head back to the Pelican area.

48 miles today & 482 total
 
Jay,

Are you carrying an electric heater by chance, fur use at a dock with power option? Sorry to hear about the Wallas too. Bummer. Wonder if Scan has any idea how many folks are following you on this trip? They did respond one time to a thread that was about the Wallas failures. I too am amazed at how much trouble that system has. I like mine and love the warm dry heat. You mention the new and improved vs the 95 model. What are you looking at there?

Thanks for the travelog. Really enjoy following. Stay safe and keep sending. Wish you the best on the Wallas issue.

Otters, OK, can make a mess, but bears -- keep the spray handy and keep your distance.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Harvey,

I carry a cord to connect to the Honda 2000 generator for charging up the batteries.  They take a extra boost now & then, especially with the one motor slow speed running combined with the low Honda outboard alternator output of only 10 amps max, but no, don't carry a electric heater.  Dock fees are cheap up here most places at $7 to $ 11 a night & an electric hook up runs an additional $15.  Only so much room in the boat & we'er more than maxed now.  Actually the propane Buddy Heater works great except for the moisture it puts out & at a dock don't really mind the fogged windows.

The newer model Wallas 85 supposedly is simpler with less electronics making it less trouble prone.   Scan Marine acknowledged the 95 is to complex & not holding up well in this kind of envirement.   With all the problems of the 95, I know I'm gambling against the odds with purchase of a new 85 & Pat for one among many, probably thinks I'm nuts.  I can only hope he's not right.  Think I will let them know theres a spotlight shining on this situation & purchase.

Jay
 
Jay, I keep a ceramic heater on board, but then i don't cruise for 3 months at a time, (yet), like you do. The 2000 generator would sure enough power the ceramic, but that seems like a long way around to get heat, for sure. At $15 a night, it would be cheaper to plug in than to buy a nights worth of gas, but 3 hours would probably go a long way in drying out the boat. It's all in the priorities isn't it?

Have a good night, always.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
Jay&Jolee,

Like every Wallas owner I've toyed with Wallas alternatives as well. Here's what I'm planning for this summer.

I've had a Honda 2000 gen for years, but have never used it on the boat, yet I Always carry a single burner electric hotplate and a small electric heater for those occasions when I'm in a marina with shorepower.

Last year I also bought a WAECO chest refrigerator/freezer (but haven't had an opportunity to use it on the boat yet). Hopefully it will replace the two 50Qt Igloo's that I've always carried.

SO ... the plan for this year is to take the generator and use it if/when I need electricity at anchor. The refrigerator runs on both 12V and 110 so it should be fine while running. I love the dry heat electricity offers, and cooking on a hotplate is pretty convenient.

I also carry one of the old green Coleman single burner camp stoves (about a 1965 model as I recall...) just in case Everything goes south.

With all these backups I expect the finicky Wallas will work flawlessly; but just in case, I'm READY. when this Wallas dies it goes Overboard!

Good Luck!

Best,
Casey
 
Casey,

We too have the Honda 2000 generator & carry it with us on these extended isolated cruises, but mainly for battery charging especially with these low alternator generating Honda boat motors.   Getting the generator in &  out of storage for me is a pain.  Very little room with all the fuel in the cockpit, so  I store it up where the porta potty is made to fit.  Ideally it would be mounted in the motor well area like I've seen others do, but to late for us this year.  Where do you plan to put it?

Sounds like you'll be well set up for the PNW & I agree that seems the best way to keep the Wallas going.   

Steve & Colleen, who's house I'm anchored not for off shore from loaned me their pickup to make a run to the store & I've never seen anywhere the amount of great looking cabin protected boats being pulled around by pickups.  No C-Dory's but a lot of other great looking boats. 

Jay
 
Steve & Colleen got back from New York this afternoon & tonight we were treated to a delicious dinner mixed with enjoyable chat.  The view while at dinner looking out their full front house windows on Indian Cove & the water & Island beyond is nothing short of spectacular.   Steve also found time to give me a tour of his latest boat a custom aluminum hulled 27 footer with diesel drive.  A very tough beauty perfectly suited for cruising these waters.  

Today was cold, wet & windy with a high in the low forties.   Wind is supposed to abate some tonight with the next few stays still cool with rain on & off.  Glad we weren't trying to make it here from Hoonah or Pelican today.

Jay
 
Jay, I would not think you were nuts for buying an 85, you be the tester! I do think you are nuts from your Ford's Terror video, but that is a whole other deal!

Hunkydory":2yp75um8 said:
With all the problems of the 95, I know I'm gambling against the odds with purchase of a new 85 & Pat for one among many, probably thinks I'm nuts.  I can only hope he's not right.  
Jay
Click to expand...
 
Jay,

I'm hoping to throw together a temp platform to use the gen in the splash well as you mentioned. Looks like I'll be in Anacortes lat in May. Am planning to maybe a two week trip back to The Villages (details later...) then back to Anacortes in the first week of June. While in Anacortes I hope to meet-up with David (Anna Leigh) to do measurements for a gen platform like he made.

Today I'm about to do the cutting for the v-berth storage covers. Have measured and remeasured so many times I've about worn-out the tape measure! Cutting holes (...and Big holes at that) makes me Very nervous!

Sound like you guy's are having a good trip. ENJOY LIFE is my new refrain!

Best,
Casey
 
Pat, the amount of propane usage we'er using is causing it to rain inside the Hunkydory, so I sure hope the 85 does pass my testing.  After me not totally agreeing with Harvey on a ceramic heater, Jo-Lee without knowing about his post says, "with all this wet inside the boat why don't we buy a ceramic heater, fire up the generator or go to the dock & get things dried out".  I kinda sputtered and said if the new one doesn't arrive Wednesday we will, room for it or not.   Oh, & I can't fault your thinking me "nuts" concerning the Ford's  Terror escapade either.

Yes Casey, we'er having a great trip.  This stove thing as you well know is very minor & it has the positive of bringing us back into contact with Steve & Colleen.  Only injuryies & their degree or other health issues are really a concern all other is relative & just part of the adventure.  Sure glad to see you back to really enjoying life.

Jay
 
Jay my 85 has been running for five years now. All things follow one simple rule. Everything works until it doesn't. I haven't found one case where it wasn't true. Glad your having a good time and an adventure too. Be safe. Keep the stories coming and take lots of pictures.
 
Jody, I'll  call that good theory "Jody's Law", which sounds to me just as true  as "Murphys".   

I installed  one of Painless Tom's centrifugal clutches in the Mokai & I really like it.  Great being able to stop without shutting off the motor.

Jay
 
Jolee, You are probably all snuggled in by now but it occurred to me that I have a small 1500w ceramic heater up in the boat cabin. Just grab it out if you want. Jay knows where the keys are. You could have Jay run a few hundred feet of extension cords out to the Hunky Dory from shore. I also have a box of those dry chemical handwarmers that you could open up all at one time and disperse around the cabin. :idea :smilep It won't be long now til you have a nice warm and dry cabin. :hot
 
Or in the case of our former 95 (and lots of other folks' 95s), it runs until it doesn't...does...doesn't...does...doesn't - and then you figure out and get a Webasto!

jkidd":bt6bsoqc said:
Jay my 85 has been running for five years now. All things follow one simple rule. Everything works until it doesn't. I haven't found one case where it wasn't true. Glad your having a good time and an adventure too. Be safe. Keep the stories coming and take lots of pictures.
Click to expand...
 
Jay;

I think that you will like the Wallas 85. I've had one for 5 1/2 years. It quit working in December. I sent it to Scan and they said it was not faulty. After investigation I found a short in the boat wiring. Since the stove was at Scan they suggested an overhaul.since it had 1400 hrs on it and the overhaul is suggested at 800 hrs. When I got it back I rewired the power to the stove and it works great.

Good luck and have a great trip. We won't be able to get up there until August.

Gene Morris
 
Pat Anderson":1qpcfg2x said:
Or in the case of our former 95 (and lots of other folks' 95s), it runs until it doesn't...does...doesn't...does...doesn't - and then you figure out and get a Webasto!

jkidd":1qpcfg2x said:
Jay my 85 has been running for five years now. All things follow one simple rule. Everything works until it doesn't. I haven't found one case where it wasn't true. Glad your having a good time and an adventure too. Be safe. Keep the stories coming and take lots of pictures.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Pat I would expect that my 85 will fail at some point, it follows my rule. Just like the port expander did on the boat last weekend. What ever you do don't search the internet on Webasto heater problems you will find a whole group of people living with disappointment there too.
 
jkidd":ycryfdiy said:
What ever you do don't search the internet on Webasto heater problems you will find a whole group of people living with disappointment there too.
Click to expand...

That's exactly why I didn't swap out my Wallas for a Webasto or Espar this winter. Based on my research, it seemed like ALL the diesel heaters have more than their fair share of problems. That said, I think Webasto and Espar do have better repair networks thanks to their wide scale deployment in the trucking industry, whereas the Wallas has just a few repair places scattered around North America.

My experience hasn't been good with an 85DU, but I'm hoping that the heavy sooting that caused the failure at 300 hours was the result of wind frequently blowing out the flame and I think that issue has now been mostly addressed.
 
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