Alpha 42 "Be Good Too" rescue 300 miles off Cape Henry Merged

[RunawayC47]

I thought the starter would not have enough power to bend a rod but I was told otherwise by Volvo. They did a compression check and said the compression was out of spec. It was a misplaced siphon loop that was part of the problem. Also not enough rise at the exhaust manifold and at the exhaust loop.

Volvo replaced the engine since it was supposedly a certified installation.
When their certified head mechanic in NY handed me the Volvo parts book and asked me if there was anything I thought would help I knew I was in trouble. I pointed out the exhaust riser with 5" additional lift and he said if you want one you will have to pay for the part. I said put one on the other engine also. He then said and I quote "water better not get into this engine again or Volvo will not pay for the repair again". He still had the siphon break between the raw water strainer and the impeller which is useless. On my next trip off shore water seized the new engine again. The mechanic on looking at the engine in Key Largo said he had just fixed the same problem on the boat built right after mine and had contacted Volvo to notify the owners of the problem which they did not do. Total incompetence on Volvo's part all the way around. They supplied a used short block but I got stuck with the labor bill and was without my boat for 4 months.

I would not buy a Volvo again.

Bill

[Boatguy30]

You could always get a few cylinders to fire and a few that still have water would bend the rod. I doubt the starter would be likely to bend a con rod, but maybe.

I personally was onboard a vessel last year that bent several push rods on a Ford Leyman with just the starter and maybe bent the valves slightly as well, but ran good later with just replacing the push rods.

[terah]

Just been found on South Uist (Scotland)

Boat wrecked off US in 2014 found on Scottish island - BBC News

[boatman61]

Thanks for the Update Terah..
Wonder if any checking of the rudders will be done to see what happened exactly and how to prevent/minimise similar events in the future

[ontherocks83]

Man I'd love to know the path that thing took on its way across the pond.

Should we start a new thread so people don't dismiss this monster thread and not read the update?

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by ontherocks83

Man I'd love to know the path that thing took on its way across the pond.

Should we start a new thread so people don't dismiss this monster thread and not read the update?

I think that's a great idea.

[terah]

New thread at Abandoned catamaran "Be Good Too" found 3 years later - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by terah

Just been found on South Uist (Scotland)

Boat wrecked off US in 2014 found on Scottish island - BBC News

Great Job "terah" we all where wonder what had happened to the Alpha 42 “Be Good Too”

The four crew members of the "Be Good Too" were rescued by the US Coastguard 300 miles (482.8km) off the coast of Virginia on 14 January 2014.

On Jan, 16 2017 “Be Good Too” washed ashore on Hebridean beach, west side of South Uist, Scotland.

Well here’s another one for the Cruisers Forum History books.
42 foot Catamaran still floating after 2 years of enduring countless North Atlantic storms.

I was hoping that she would have washed up in Nantucket, Massachusetts 2 years ago to lay claim to this prize, but Mother Nature had a much different plan.
.
.

[brownoarsman]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Thanks for the Update Terah..
Wonder if any checking of the rudders will be done to see what happened exactly and how to prevent/minimise similar events in the future

Heh, doesn't look like any rudders are left on that hull ... Maybe cast about in the shallows around it. Good luck!

The original abandon story did mention that there was at least one bottle of fine red wine aboard, so I'd be looking for something other than rudders were I to come across it ...

[Kookaburra]

Kookaburro and Cruisingkrol [me], as owners of Alpha 42 Hull #3, are thrilled to read that Be Good Two was found. Thanks for the heads up terah. It's tragic that the bad publicity had the negative effect that it did on the company and the effort to revive boat-building on Long Island. The cat really is sturdy and, tho' a bit heavy, performs really well in good wind.

We have been happily cruising the Bahamas since Nov 22 after an eleven day ocean passage from Galesville, MD. It was my first ocean passage so I'm rather proud to be able to write that I was not seasick and cooked three hot meals a day for the four of us. On the way the Alpha handled some very rough weather and big seas with crew comfortable through it all, virtually no slamming. Heavy can mean a good ride. We did make a two day stop in Beaufort, NC for some autopilot repairs. All systems are now working well after some attention from a very good marine electrician in Marsh Harbor. The Cruise RO Watermaker is great. Kook is a happy Alpha male.

Everybody should take another look at the Alpha. Time for Sundowners.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by brownoarsman

Heh, doesn't look like any rudders are left on that hull ... Maybe cast about in the shallows around it. Good luck!

The original abandon story did mention that there was at least one bottle of fine red wine aboard, so I'd be looking for something other than rudders were I to come across it ...

I meant to say the shafts.. Duhhh..

[Tricolor]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I meant to say the shafts.. Duhhh..

Looks like the both shafts and one saildrive are still there...

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by Kookaburra

Kookaburro and Cruisingkrol [me], as owners of Alpha 42 Hull #3, are thrilled to read that Be Good Two was found. Thanks for the heads up terah. It's tragic that the bad publicity had the negative effect that it did on the company and the effort to revive boat-building on Long Island. The cat really is sturdy and, tho' a bit heavy, performs really well in good wind.

We have been happily cruising the Bahamas since Nov 22 after an eleven day ocean passage from Galesville, MD. It was my first ocean passage so I'm rather proud to be able to write that I was not seasick and cooked three hot meals a day for the four of us. On the way the Alpha handled some very rough weather and big seas with crew comfortable through it all, virtually no slamming. Heavy can mean a good ride. We did make a two day stop in Beaufort, NC for some autopilot repairs. All systems are now working well after some attention from a very good marine electrician in Marsh Harbor. The Cruise RO Watermaker is great. Kook is a happy Alpha male.

Everybody should take another look at the Alpha. Time for Sundowners.

What happened to Alpha could happen to any boat. The problem is that just happened to the very first boat.
Many people has and will comment about the diameter of shaft, the materiel used, whatever. The designer of Alpha is a good sailor and expert of catamaran and if there has been any mistake, he would know and correct it.

Enjoy yr boat..

Cheers

Yeloya

[travellerw]

Very cool to see that Hull #1 was found.. I watch Hull #2 (Lucy 2) sail every day (she is a charter boat here in Antigua).

[brownoarsman]

Originally Posted by Tricolor

Looks like the both shafts and one saildrive are still there...

Ahh, I see those now. Bad cell phone resolution the first time! Still, the shafts look somewhat abbreviated, and I don't see anything bent in at an angle. But, hard to judge much from the photos.