Mike Harker Circumnavigates with Fischer Panda Genset

The following is a Press Release by Fischer Panda -- TheSailingChannel.TV

In daredevil Mike Harker’s early days, he flew powerless craft to his near death. Now, the intrepid adventurer circles the globe through Fischer Panda power.

A native Californian, Harker, 60, always gravitated toward extreme sports on the water and in the air. He was a national water skiing champion at age 16 and 18. As a young adult, he pioneered early ‘70s hang-gliding development. In 1977, a terrifying glider accident thrust Harker into a 400-foot freefall, leaving him unconscious for a year and paralyzed from the knees down. Through multiple surgeries and arduous physical therapy, he persevered until he could walk again.

Despite his injuries, the bold world traveler learned to sail offshore on the California coast five years ago. Long-range sailing was a perfect fit for Harker’s career as an international sports photographer/cinematographer and sports legend. In no time, he began dreaming of circumnavigating the world alone.

In 2003, he sailed single-handedly across the Atlantic in a trial run for his yearlong expedition circling the globe launched in March 2006. In preparation for the 28,000-mile voyage, Harker sought the best equipment available. He purchased his third and largest Hunter sailboat, Wanderlust III, a 49-foot cruiser. Harker had visited the Hunter factory in Florida and knew from his two previous Hunters that the manufacturer utilized only proven equipment, like Fischer Panda generators.

He had heard about the reputation of Fischer Panda Generators as being the smallest, lightest, quietest and most efficient generator in the market. “These sailors would point out other boats and ask, ‘Do you realize there’s a generator going?’ It would be purring like a sewing machine. My previous one sounded like a tractor,” he said.

Harker is dependent on good equipment to go around the world. He said he has confidence in his Panda 12 DP because everything made in Germany is made with precision. “That’s why I chose a Fischer Panda Generator as an orderable option. I’m living off my generator. It has to perform without flaw.”
Left to right, Mike Harker, Jeff Till, Fischer Panda dealer and marine sales representative, and Chad Godwin, Fischer Panda marine sales and marketing manager, aboard Wanderlust III.

Harker doesn’t connect to shore power in foreign ports because his boat is wired for 120V American power and the voltages are not compatible. In order to re-supply his systems, Harker moors in a harbor and runs his Fischer Panda generator. “In three and a half hours and on less than a gallon of gas, I’m able to charge my batteries and fill my water tanks all while I’m watching a movie on my wide-screen TV. It’s vibrationless and noiseless – quite a luxury,” he remarked.

Don’t look for this over-achiever to take it easy for too long in his cabin. Next, Harker plans to solo sail Wanderlust III around the world in the opposite direction.

Chad Godwin, marine sales and marketing manager for Fischer Panda Generators, said his company is proud to be a part of Mike Harker’s journey. “Over the years, the continuously advancing technology of Fischer Panda Generators has increased our reliability and efficiency. Having the team of Mike Harker and Hunter Marine as a valued customer has been beneficial in learning what we can do to offer the best generator and support worldwide.”
Chad Godwin, marine sales and marketing manager for Fischer Panda (right), checks the installation of Mike Harker’s FP 12 DP Generator.

Fischer Panda has played a pioneering role in the design and manufacture of marine and vehicle generators for the past 30 years. In 1978 in Germany, Fischer Generators developed the quietest diesel generator in the world. That trend towards small, quiet and super efficiency was to continue, and in 1988, Fischer Generators added "Panda" to its brand and introduced its proprietary and water-cooled asynchronous electric plant. Fischer Panda U.S., which began operations in 1995, is located at 4345 NE 12 Terrace in Oakland Park, Florida. For more information, please call 954-462-2800 or access the company's web site at www.fischerpanda.com

By TheSailingChannel.TV

Atlantic: Water Leak

On his way to St. Helena, Mike ran into a bit of problem. Here is his story. --TSCtv.

I was really worried when the "High Water" alarm went off. I hurried down the stairs to look in the bilge and when I saw the water up to the floorboards, I shouted "Oh my God, I'm sinking!!!!"

The first thing I did was shut off the engine, then I went around to close ALL the through-hull seacocks. I went back to the manual bilge pump and started pumping out the sea water, but it was too slow. I then got out my hand pump and buckets and pumped the bilge water into the buckets and threw the water overboard. With most of the water overboard I went around looking for leaks.

When I lifted the engine cover, there was dried salt all around the alternator area and a water stream coming up into the alternator from somewhere under it. I took down the stairs and laid them in the forward cabin, then took off the engine cover to get to the alternator. After removing the alternator, I found the leak.

A steady stream about the force of a kid peeing was coming up out of the salt water impeller pump. Not from the two hose connections on the pump, but from the curve of the metal casing of the pump itself.

Now what do I do, I have to stop the leak? I got out the Yanmar book and found the page where it shows the impeller pump connection into the intercooler. I unscrewed the drain plug from the intercooler to drain all the water from above the pump, that stopped the water flowing from the leak. How do I plug or fill the hole?

I thought of screwing a stainless self-taping screw into the hole, then surrounding the screw with 5200 sealant. That seemed to work. I rinsed off most of the salt from the exterior of the engine around the leak area and got out my reserve spare Balmar alternator I bought just for such emergencies.

I pulled out the old alternator and laid it out on the floor with all wires showing. I put the new alternator next to it, then started exchanging wire connections. I could see the salt covering the interior of the old alternator. I put the new alternator on with a new drive belt and tried to start the engine. It would turn over but would NOT start. I ran the battery down trying, so I went to start the Fischer-Panda generator, but the remote switch would not even light.

I was in trouble! No engine, no generator, no wind to sail and a leak in my boat in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean a thousand miles from any land, half-way between Brazil and Africa. The only civilization was the island of St. Helena, about 500 miles north of me. That is where the British interned Napoleon after he lost at Waterloo. That was the most distant place from any other land on earth they could find.

I got out the SAT phone and called Hunter Customer Service. Then I called you (Greg Emerson of Hunter Marine). You were terrific. You got me in a conference call with your specialist, Joe Kerr, then with the Yanmar distributor and finally Fischer-Panda. Somehow, with about 300 minutes of SAT phone time, Karl from Yanmar finally found a way for me to start the engine after other attempts failed.

With the engine running, there was no charge power from the Balmar alternator. A SAT phone call to Dale English of Balmar in Texas got the right man. He talked me through re-wiring the alternator to by-pass the regulator and, with 2 pieces of wire and some crimp connections, I was able to use the internal regulator.

After 2 days of drifting in the South Atlantic, I finally had the leak fixed and the engine running. At just above idle, not to overwork the alternator, I was able to bring back charge to my depleted battery bank of 900 amps, down to only 110 amps left. I had to use my Honda generator to keep the start batteries charged, but that worked fine.

After 3 days of slow motoring, I was able to drop anchor in Jamestown Bay, St. Helena on the day before Christmas. I was relieved. "Ann's Place" offered all the sailing cruisers a get-together Christmas dinner for free, just bring your own booze. I brought the gallon jug of aged Panamanian rum a guest had left aboard to the party. That was a hit! I e-mailed all the contacts you gave me but I only got replies back saying "Closed for the holidays, will be back in the office after Jan 2."

Because St. Helena does NOT have an airport to fly parts into, I left yesterday for the island of Ascension, about 700 miles distant. There is a small contingent of US and English military communication experts there, but not much else. But Ascension does have an airport. If I think I need to stop and get a replacement impeller pump and alternator-regulator flown in, I will. That could take days, if not weeks. Remember the 3 week wait for a new alternator in Galapagos?

If my alternator keeps charging and the impeller pump leak I repaired still holds, I think I will continue to Antigua where they have both a Yanmar and Fischer-Panda mechanic and get all three repairs done professionally. However, that is over 4000 miles with no working generator, an amateur repair job on the pump leak and a re-wired provisional repair to the alternator/regulator. It will be a risk!But I really want to get to Miami for the Boat Show. A delay in Ascension waiting for parts would put a Miami arrival in time for the boat show out of reach.

Mike Harker

s/v Wanderlust3

Tuesday Jan 1 - Happy New Year!

I am 170 miles from Ascension, and will arrive at daybreak tomorrow. My primitive repairs are holding and working well. I will leave Ascension after getting fuel. It is 3300 miles to English Harbor Antigua. When I arrive in 3-4 weeks, it will be my personal circumnavigation. From there it should be less than 2 weeks to Miami by way of Tortola BVI and above Nassau. I am on schedule for an arrival on Feb 12 into Miami. Let's hope everything runs as well as it is.