Comments for Whisper's Blog http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com Explore. Dream. Discover. Sat, 09 May 2009 22:13:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Good Riddance Fischer Panda by Duncan http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/good-riddance-fischer-panda/#comment-76 Duncan Sat, 09 May 2009 22:13:19 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/good-riddance-fischer-panda/#comment-76 Jeff, Thanks for all of these insights. Here is our whole story, including what we purchased next, for your reading pleasure: http://www.sailwhisper.com/logs/news_20080225.php. Enjoy! Duncan Jeff,

Thanks for all of these insights. Here is our whole story, including what we purchased next, for your reading pleasure: http://www.sailwhisper.com/logs/news_20080225.php.

Enjoy!

Duncan

]]> Comment on Good Riddance Fischer Panda by Jeff Stander http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/good-riddance-fischer-panda/#comment-75 Jeff Stander Fri, 08 May 2009 19:23:48 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/good-riddance-fischer-panda/#comment-75 We too have had nothing but trouble with our AGT4000. To their crdit, we have had good support from Panda.. Jim in Florida, USA and Neil in Redcliffe, Queensland. They say that my unit is NOT a "lemon" and that the AGT is one of their most reliable units. Nevertheless I have not had a lot of use out of it as it has failed routinely over the last several years. I agree it is possible I have simply had bad luck. However, I agree with you that the basic design of the unit including the raw water cooling of the generator, the high speed single cylinder engine, the general complexity of the design, plus the difficulty of stuffing it all into the small capsule lead to a problematic unit that cannot be totally relied on. I have just learned that it is important to NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT MAX SETTINGS. There is an ajdustment on the control board to turn down the amps, and this should be done. Panda advertises 265A of DC power, but to preserve the engine life, it is suggested to run it at 200A max. For a genset that costs A$17,000, this seems a poor solution. For the same amount of money I could buy 15 Honda EU2000s (I have one - and it Just Works). Not as neat a solution as a dedicated diesel, but it is incredibly reliable, and if it stops working, you just buy a new one. I have also been told to expect that the little Kubota engine will need an overhaul every 1500-2000 hours as a matter of routine. The salesman did not tell me that when I bought it. Overhauls are not cheap -- about the cost of a Honda. If you could, would you please let me know what you chose for a replacement generator? Thanks, Jeff s/v Beatrix Port Bundaberg, QLD We too have had nothing but trouble with our AGT4000. To their crdit, we have had good support from Panda.. Jim in Florida, USA and Neil in Redcliffe, Queensland. They say that my unit is NOT a “lemon” and that the AGT is one of their most reliable units. Nevertheless I have not had a lot of use out of it as it has failed routinely over the last several years. I agree it is possible I have simply had bad luck.

However, I agree with you that the basic design of the unit including the raw water cooling of the generator, the high speed single cylinder engine, the general complexity of the design, plus the difficulty of stuffing it all into the small capsule lead to a problematic unit that cannot be totally relied on.

I have just learned that it is important to NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT MAX SETTINGS. There is an ajdustment on the control board to turn down the amps, and this should be done. Panda advertises 265A of DC power, but to preserve the engine life, it is suggested to run it at 200A max.

For a genset that costs A$17,000, this seems a poor solution. For the same amount of money I could buy 15 Honda EU2000s (I have one – and it Just Works). Not as neat a solution as a dedicated diesel, but it is incredibly reliable, and if it stops working, you just buy a new one.

I have also been told to expect that the little Kubota engine will need an overhaul every 1500-2000 hours as a matter of routine. The salesman did not tell me that when I bought it. Overhauls are not cheap — about the cost of a Honda.

If you could, would you please let me know what you chose for a replacement generator?

Thanks,

Jeff
s/v Beatrix
Port Bundaberg, QLD

]]> Comment on Full Circle by Julie http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/full-circle/#comment-73 Julie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:53:33 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/?p=107#comment-73 What an amazing adventure! It has been awesome getting to follow along via the blog. Let us know when you are on the east coast. We would love to see you! Welcome back. What an amazing adventure! It has been awesome getting to follow along via the blog. Let us know when you are on the east coast. We would love to see you! Welcome back.

]]> Comment on Milestones by Chantal & Stephane http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/milestones/#comment-69 Chantal & Stephane Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:53:07 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/?p=100#comment-69 Can't wait to see you in Sydney to hear about all your adventures! Cheers, - Chantal & Steph - Can’t wait to see you in Sydney to hear about all your adventures!

Cheers,

– Chantal & Steph -

]]> Comment on Oz Passage Preparation by Whimseys http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/oz-passage-preparation/#comment-68 Whimseys Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:58:22 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/oz-passage-preparation/#comment-68 Hi Guys We are currently working our way down the coast and sitting out this rainy weather in Yeppoon, and heading to Gladstone when the wind eases off... Have a great passage and hopefully we will catch up before you move south... Whimsey has just got mobile broadband so we should be easy to contact... Let us know if we can be of any help on this side of the ditch... Our mobile in OZ is 0449 073736 All the best to Gosi if they are still around... look forward to seeing you both again... Best Sean & Erin Hi Guys
We are currently working our way down the coast and sitting out this rainy weather in Yeppoon, and heading to Gladstone when the wind eases off…
Have a great passage and hopefully we will catch up before you move south…
Whimsey has just got mobile broadband so we should be easy to contact…
Let us know if we can be of any help on this side of the ditch…

Our mobile in OZ is 0449 073736

All the best to Gosi if they are still around…

look forward to seeing you both again…

Best Sean & Erin

]]> Comment on Oz Passage Preparation by David and Kathy http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/oz-passage-preparation/#comment-67 David and Kathy Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:08:43 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/oz-passage-preparation/#comment-67 Good luck with the passage to Australia. We will say a prayer for your safe arrival. Much love, Mom and Dave Good luck with the passage to Australia. We will say a prayer for your safe arrival.

Much love,
Mom and Dave

]]> Comment on Close by David and Kathy http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/close-2/#comment-62 David and Kathy Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:15:25 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/close-2/#comment-62 Dear Loved Ones: We arrived home yesterday after two weeks of traveling to see families and enjoying the mountains of North Carolina. We had a great time exploring new areas. So glad you are safe and we wish you the best. Love, Mom and Dave Dear Loved Ones:
We arrived home yesterday after two weeks of traveling to see families and enjoying the mountains of North Carolina. We had a great time exploring new areas.
So glad you are safe and we wish you the best.
Love,
Mom and Dave

]]> Comment on Close by Sister Kari http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/close-2/#comment-61 Sister Kari Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:32:55 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/close-2/#comment-61 Great! I am glad that you made it. The Pacific rim has been active today with earthquakes in Japan and Indonesia. I am glad that the whales stayed out of your way. Take care. Love, Kari Great! I am glad that you made it. The Pacific rim has been active today with earthquakes in Japan and Indonesia.
I am glad that the whales stayed out of your way. Take care. Love, Kari

]]> Comment on Farewell Fiji by Judy Owen http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/farewell-fiji/#comment-60 Judy Owen Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:23:39 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/farewell-fiji/#comment-60 Thinking of you and wishing you well on this new leg of your trip. Hoping for a weekend on the boat of all repairs are done this week end and then 3 days with Danny and Arlene the following week. Love, Mom and Dad Thinking of you and wishing you well on this new leg of your trip. Hoping for a weekend on the boat of all repairs are done this week end and then 3 days with Danny and Arlene the following week. Love, Mom and Dad

]]> Comment on Farewell Fiji by Chantal & Stephane http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/farewell-fiji/#comment-59 Chantal & Stephane Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:05:20 +0000 http://sailwhisper.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/farewell-fiji/#comment-59 Hey guys, Have a safe trip to New Caledonia. Hope the "Frenchies" there will be as friendly as we are ;-) We heard diving is awesome over there. Take care. - Chantal & Steph - Hey guys,
Have a safe trip to New Caledonia.
Hope the “Frenchies” there will be as friendly as we are ;-)
We heard diving is awesome over there.
Take care.
– Chantal & Steph -

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