I will leave the reader's to make up their own mind as to how we are given service by the local supplier of Yanmar parts.


This is a starter motor off a Yanmar GM10 diesel engine. The engine is about sixteen years old but used as a back up power unit, both 12 volts DC and 220 volts AC, it has done no more than 450 hours or so.

The make of the starter is Hitachi, the model number of the starter motor is S114-303, I see no sign of a number on the solenoid but a USA site gives me AHSH16010 and a price in the USA of just U$12.33, which will now be R151.00 plus our local Vat @ 14%.

The starter motor is fine, the solenoid is faulty and knowing that a service shop will charge by the hour plus the parts I though it may be best just to buy a new solenoid?

The agents are Seascape ( ex IMS) near Cape Town, on phoning them I am told that the solenoid is not offered as a spare part, I must buy the complete unit, even before I asked the price I thought this to be bad news and in fact very poor service from the main importers into South Africa.

Here the complete starter motor and its solenoid costs R8658.00 plus Vat at 14% which will add R1212.12, giving a total of R9870.12 !!!  which is U$805.72 at the very poor exchange rate to the U$ we have right now.

So why do I find that in the USA prices for the starter motor and solenoid start around U$67.00 and up to U$97.00 ( estimate average ) we are poorly served here I think?

So in South Africa we pay U$805.72 and in the USA U$97.00 , read that again, these prices are shocking and just do not add up, or is there a huge import surcharge  we know nothing about?

Found today and on Amazon.com

Roy

Using some motor trade friends I was able to locate the correct 12 volt solenoid, the cost was R250 and that included 14% Vat (tax) so before tax I paid around U$17.90, which is fine by me, so why do the Yanmar agents not stock them I ask?

Bad service?


The starter motor is now at a well known auto electritians for a full service, brushes etc, before being refitted and back into use.

The car is complete and Rob the owner will collect it with a low bed trailer tomorrow.

A years work and then some, the trip was memorable!


Whats next? I have already re started on my own 1967 Hillman Californian Coupe, work on some Mirror Dinghy kits comes first, then its a re paint of the Californians body works.

Nice weather, no breeze really the wind indicator was doing 360s at some times !


More wind would have been handy but rather the calm then too much wind.



The club presidents boat, Chris Sutton was also Commodore of the HBYC for a number of years.

Yacht She, an ex TBA boat was there as well.



Yendo brought his Simonis 35 around Cape Point the day before, he had been at the FBYC for their Spring Regatta.

On our way back to the Hout Bay Harbour, Athol is putting the fenders back over the side.

Nice day!

Roy

Not only that but being built right now, with one of our kits under construction, plans ordered and for another of our kits the i500 class boat will soon be a factor of the local sailing scene.


Watershed Boats have agreed to allow CKD Boats cc to cut these boats and supply as kits.


http://www.i550sportboat.com/

Check the link  for more information.

Roy