Mike Harker, 1947 - 2011: In Memoriam

TheSailingChannel regrets to report the tragic news of Mike Harker's death. 

Mike, age 64, passed away on April 1, 2011 aboard Wanderlust III in Martinique from a massive stroke not far from the location where he was brutally attacked, beaten and robbed in July 2010. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike's family and his friends around the world. We will continue to host this site and Mike's blog as a tribute to a great sailor and a great person. Here is an account of what occured ....

A crazy thing happened the other day. A boat came up behind ours and started to anchor. Everything looked OK so we got back to doing what we were doing. A few minutes later a dinghy drove up to our boat with an animated gentleman trying to tell us in French then broken English that he thinks that the guy on the boat behind us that just anchored has collapsed and died! Can you say that again? Yes, Dead. Mort. My dad zips over in our dinghy to help reset the anchor (the boat was dragging) and sure enough, out on the foredeck, hunched over the anchor windlass was the body of a recently deceased man. The Coast Guard were called in and the body was taken away. Two days later, they came to take the boat away. A large rescue boat towed the 49-foot Hunter sailboat into a marina.

Mikes friends and family will be celebrating his life on April 23 2011, between 12:00 an 3:00 at Kendy's preschool in the multipurpose room in the back of the church. There won't be a service, just a casual get together to share memorys and stories....

Click for Mike's Facebook Page. 

Cruising Schedule Update for Wanderlust 3

Mike will be in the Caribbean until Antigua Sail week then sailing over to the Med and Croatia. In November Wanderlust 3 will be back to the Caribbean and in Feb 2012, will transit the Panama Canal for the Puddle Jump to Tahiti.


Follow Mike's continuing sailing adventure right here on TheSailingChannel.TV/wanderlust3

Attack & Robbery Update

Here is an update from Mike on his condition and more details about the attack ...

Photo: Mike on Cocos Keeling Atoll, October 2007

I have been released from the hospital in French St. Martin after undergoing a small surgery to remove a bone splinter around my right eye socket.

I was in the Lagoon below the Mt. Fortune ('Witches Tit') as the nearest boat to the channel along the French / Dutch border and no other boats to my South, West or North. The two moored boats next to me to the NE are empty. My closest live-aboards are 2 and 3 boats over to the NE. They each responded to my 'Danger' air-horn (5 short blasts).

While I was in Germany last month, invited to the World Hang Gliding Championships, I met two younger women from northern Germany near the Dutch border. I invited them for a week aboard WanderLust during their last week of holidays. The two young women flew non-stop from Amsterdam to St. Martin and hopped an island shuttle south to my location on St. Lucia where I had sailed from the anchorage in Beguines where I had my boat looked after while I was in Germany.

I sailed with the 2 young women from St. Lucia to Martinique, Dominica, Nevis, Antigua, St Barth and finally back to their departure point in St. Martin. When they flew out back to Amsterdam, I was waiting for a weather window to sail alone back towards Grenada.

Then this happened.

I have to stay here in St. Martin until the doctors can remove the stitches and do a final X-Ray, then I will head back to an anchorage in Grenada or stop in some of the islands in the Grenadines.

I am on a borrowed laptop, but I can go in to get Internet twice a day.

My spirits are high and the doctors did a great job with my wounds. I have a cracked rib and most wounds have healed very well. The chief surgeon told me that the cracked cheek bone is back in it's place and will heal without an operation 'As long as you don't get hit like that again'. The doctors and nurses were all very kind and considerate and the local magazine "Pelican" wrote a whole page article on my experience.

On the second day in the Gendarme interview, they showed me some photos taken from the video security camera showing two men arriving at the FKG dock in the early morning. The next photo showed two men, exactly as I described; smaller man with longer straight hair waving back and a 'Latin' looking nose carrying 2 pair of long swim fins, second big man 4 steps back, not as dark as an African but with short 'squashed' nose and short black hair with a slight 'belly' carrying a big black bag. The third photo showed the smaller 'Latin' looking man running back to the dingy to untie it and remove the spear they forgot. The police said the spear looked bent near the tip.

I explained again the skirmish. When the men pulled me from my bed to the floor, it was completely dark and I could only see  shadows. The little man was kneeling next to my right ear and said "I know you are rich, where is your money". When I explained 2 or 3 different times that I don't carry money, it is in the bank, he ordered the big man to 'Stick him!' with a spear the big man was holding with the point about 6 - 8 inches from my eyes. The man was straddled on either side of my bent legs. I noticed that the spear was the kind from a spear gun, without the gun, so it was shorter than the Hawaiian spears with the elastic at the end. It was being held so that the other end was near his right hand and as he pushed the spear point into my forehead I pulled my right arm, which was across my chest, and the hand near my left shoulder, across my face and grabbed the spear point at the little 'dongle' as I moved my head back. I felt the point scratch my forehead but I kept pushing the spear point to the right.

I then grabbed the spear just in front of the big man's right hand with my left hand and jerked the spear out of his hands. At the same time I kicked as hard as I could with my free right leg into the big man's balls which brought him to his knees at either side of my hips. I got my right knee back and was able to pound the spear between my hands onto my knee twice before the smaller man got one arm free. I was able to jam my right elbow into his throat and then one good fist into his face, I think his nose was bleeding because the Gendarme found blood where I was not, including in the dingy!

The big man grabbed for my arms and held them at my hips with his strong legs. The little man was able to get his right wrist and arm at my throat and his other hand pulled as hard as he could from behind me. He yelled at the big man to "Knock Him OUT!" and began beating me. I knew I would soon pass out because I was getting dizzy and could not breath. My final thought before I went out was 'Someone finally killed me'.

The Gendarme took the samples from the smaller man's skin (I remembered a CSI show where you get DNA from under finger nails) that I was able to get from scratching him and the blood drops from where I was not. They took my DNA from inside my cheek and blood samples and sent it all to a special lab in Paris. The Gendarme said "If they are in our records, we will get them!!!"

I will leave for the Grenadines within days so if you have questions, try to get them to me within a few days.

Another very sad attack happened the day after I was in the hospital. The bed next to mine was empty when I arrived but the next day an Asian man was lying in it with bandaged hand and leg. We didn't speak, but that afternoon two (2) sets of Gendarme arrived with computers and a printer to ask us questions. The Asian man spoke to 'his' Gendarme in English so I listened.

He was sitting on the desk behind the cash register in the small market where one of his friends was working the cash register. There were 6 to 8 customers in the store when 2 men came in with a gun and pointed it at the young woman behind the cash register. They said "We want all your money!" The young Asian man said that they looked very nervous and the man with the gun, a revolver with short barrel and 'rusty' appearance was shaking a lot. The gun went off and the bullet went through the girls liver and exited through her and then through the Asian man's hand and leg without hitting bone. The man ran but the young girl died right there on the spot. They got away with little more than $300, but they have a security camera that will be investigated.

I am still very weak and I can not chew food because of the damaged jaw, but I feel much better. The swelling is down and I am looking forward to no more pain, and a beautiful, safe anchorage on some remote island to continue the healing process. The highs and lows of being in Paradise!

Mike
s/v Wanderlust 3

Mike Harker Brutally Beaten and Robbed!

Guadeloupe
located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles

Mike Harker is recovering from a brutal beating last week by two men who bordered Wanderlust 3 during the night and demanded cash. Mike fought back bravely after being threatened with a harpoon, but the two thieves overwhelmed and beat him. We send our prayers and thoughts to Mike and his family, and wish him a speedy recovery.

Here is the account in Mike's own words. We've included a photo from the scene, but have held back others that are just too gruesome....

Last week two big men swan out to my boat and came aboard WanderLust 3 at about 4 am. They pulled me (still sleeping) from the bed to the floor and stomped on my arms. The little man said " I know you are rich, where is your money?" I replied "My money is in the bank, but I will give you my credit cards". The little man said "I want all your cash, where do you hide you cash". I said "I only have cash in my wallet, you can have all what's in there". The little man told the big black man to "Stick him!" so the big man but the tip of the harpoon to my forehead and pushed.

I raised my right arm and grabbed the end of the spear and then with the left arm I pulled the spear out of his hands and bent the spear end across my knee. The men kicked me and grabbed for my arms but I was able to slug a good one to the little man and kicked the big man in the balls.

They took their revenge by getting an arm across my neck and choked me while the big man kneeled on my arms and was told to "Knock Him OUT!"

They beat me and choked all the air out of me, so I passed out. Just before I went out, I thought "Someone finally killed me after all."

When I awoke many minutes later, my feet were tied and my wrists were tied around my knees. I watched as the two men ransacked my cabin putting all valuables and electronics into a big black bag. I passed out again.

I awoke after some minutes and heard my dingy engine start and drive away. I untied myself as best I could and crawled to the nav station but they took all my VHF radios, cell phones and even ripped the microphone out of the installed VHF and SSB.

I crawled out to the cockpit and saw that they had forgotten to remove the VHF mic from that station, so I called a "Mayday" on #16 and blew the air horn five quick times with a pause, then 5 quick blows and a pause, 5 more quick blows. My neighbor boat owner was at my side within two minutes.

I then called the NET on #14 to be on the lookout for my special Walker Bay dingy with new 8hp Yamaha.

Within 20 minutes someone at a dock 3 miles away called the police that the dingy was drifting near his dock. The police were at my boat and the emergency medical boat were all at my side with 15 minutes, even though it was 05:30 in the early morning. The police went to the dock to retrieve my dingy and looked at the video from the mounted security camera.

I was taken to the hospital and had 12 stitches and glue on my face, a cracked cheek bone and a splinter around my right eye socket, and a cracked rib.

I am still in the hospital but will be transferred to Guadeloupe for a special face surgeon to try to save my face. I do not have e-mail access because they stole all my computers, cell & SAT phones, cameras and everything not bolted to wood. I do not know when I can answer my e-mails again. I am now able to see again and my spirits are good because the doctors did a good job of repairing me, and I am not dead yet.

Mike Harker s/v Wanderlust 3

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Yanmar Engine Self-Repair: Part 2

Here are some details of my Yanmar Engine Self-Repair....
There is a German phrase that is straight to the point; "Wer rastet, der rostet" meaning "He who rests, will rust". I know that with my motorcycles, they are either up hanging from the garage rafters or the frames are up on blocks so my brother can turn over the engines and drive trains every month while they wait patiently for my return. Right: Injector Hole #3.

With my engine, I did NOT do this! When I returned to my favorite anchorage after the Hurricane 'Bill' adventure in the mangroves, I should have run my Yanmar engine a few minutes each week. I did NOT turn it on for 5 weeks and then it seized! Left: Water in #3 Piston.

After the Yanmar technician showed me the sea water in the #3 cylinder, he said it could cost up to $8000 to get it repaired at their Yanmar facility, and would take 3 - 4 weeks. I bought the parts and the Shop Manual, and strarted to 'Do-It-Myself'. First I had to take off all connections - electrical and plumbing.

The Yanmar 4JH4 owner's manual says that after running the engine for prolonged periods at low rpm, before shutting the engine down, you should rev up the engine 5 times to full power and then shut the engine down, to remove carbon build-up in the turbo etc. In my opinion, you still need to let the engine cool down at idle speed a few minutes before you bring it to a stop. My mistake was revving the engine to 2800 or 3000 RPMs for a few seconds five times and then just shutting the engine down. My friend and retired trucker diesel mechanic James, who helped me with the over-haul said you should ALWAYS let the engine idle for 5 or even 10 minutes after running it for a prolonged period, especially the new high speed turbo and ultra high compression 4 valve engines. I did NOT do this, with drastic results.

I learned from my father years ago that when tearing down an engine, you pull off the first things and put each item and its nuts or bolts in a separate container and at the back or end of the work bench, or in this case, a towel lined aft bunk floor. Then you just work clean and organized, labeling or numbering each item with masking tape and a magic marker.

Then I had to lift out the engine from the bilge and onto boards across the sole (floor) to get the engine up to a workable height.
I used a large diameter pipe across the top of the companion way entrance and a borrowed chain hoist.

The engine would not turn over, even with a big leverage bar on the crank-pulley nut. The piston was seized and was soaked in 'Corrosion-X' overnight. But it needed to be drilled and chiseled out.

After taking turns with my friend James at whacking at that piston, then drilling some holes and whacking again, we needed a full day to get that seized piston to finally come loose and pieces removed. I bought a special 'honing' devise to attach to my power drill and we cleaned up and polished the inside cylinder wall according to the Yanmar 'Shop Manual'.

The Yanmar distributor for SE USA, Mastery Engines, was very helpful and especially their service manager, Doug Dykens. He sent me "Everything You Need for an Engine Re-build" including all new seals and gaskets, a new piston and rings, all the little parts for the fuel injectors, and even a special tube of adhesive for the pan gasket. I kept the 'old' piston just as a reminder to check ALL hoses and fittings before a voyage.

Finally, after 7 continuous days of 8 -10 hours work, I was ready to turn her over. James was at the engine and I was at the wheel with the starting key. First tick and she purred like a kitten! Elation and a sense of accomplishment.

After 4 hours of idle speed, I changed the oil and filter. It was a bit dirty and had some diesel fuel mixed in. At ten hours and up to 1800 rpm sailing down to St. thomas and back, I change the oil and filter AGAIN, but it was perfectly clean!

Now, after 25 hours, I hired one of the off-duty Yanmar service technicians to come over to 'WanderLust 3' and check things out and inspect my 're-built' engine, just to make sure I didn't mess anything up. He removed the valve cover and with a feeler gauge checked the tolerances of the valves. They were good. Then he tightened the head bolts with a torque wrench, they were also good. Then a compression check, everything was broken in and running great with 25 hours on the rebuilt engine and two (2) oil and filter changes.

He was slightly impressed that everything seemed to be working perfectly. Then he went to the new Anti-Siphon Valve and also checked the old one. Sure enough the old one was corroded around the rubber flap AND the pressure release tube. This made him think to follow the end of that old tube, re-installed on the new siphon valve. He discovered that the open end, that is supposed to drain and relieve the sea water pressure, was way too long and run under the engine in a cavity that was not visible. When he pulled out the open end of the hose, it was completely CLOGGED with old oil and other debris. That means that eventually the new Anti-Siphon Valve would have FAILED again because the relief tube end was still clogged.

He simply cut that tube, and the parallel one for the generator, about 2 inches above the bilge so it would simply drain down into the bilge AND was also VISIBLE for inspection.

I can only recommend that everyone check the COMPLETE ANTI-SIPHON VALE ASSEMBLY. That maintainance check is NOT in my Hunter Owner's manual nor in the Yanmar book, but it IS in the one essential book I carry from NIGEL Calder, Boat Owner's Mechanical and Electrical Handbook. He devotes five (5) pages (377 -382) to just the subject of "Siphon Breaks". Read it!

Mike Harker
s/v Wanderlust 3

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Yanmar Engine Self-Repair: Part 1

How can an $80 part cause $8,000 engine damage?

After returning to my favorite spot in the Simpson Bay Lagoon after seeking refuge in the Mullet Pond Mangroves after the only Hurricane (Bill) to be near St. Martin this summer, I did not run the main Yanmar engine for over 7 weeks. That in itself was wrong, I should have run the engine, even for just a few minutes, at least once a week. But with 3 large solar panels and an Air-X wind generator, I only needed to charge my house batteries and make water for about 3 hours a week using the 12 Kw generator.

What I did not know was that the 'Anti-Siphon Valve' at the top of the sea water outlet to cool the intercooler on the Yanmar was corroded and the little flap did not close, allowing sea water back down the hose and into the exhaust, including back through the turbo, exhaust manifold and finally into the open exhaust valve of # 3 cylinder.

The starter would not turn over the engine, so I tried with a 14mm socket to turn the shaft nut at the alternator belt, but no luck. I went over to the Yanmar service facility and the mechanic came out to the boat and took off some hoses and the valve cover to show me how #3 cylinder was filled with sea water.

After e-mailing the Yanmar distributor in Florida, "not a Yanmar part" and the boat manufacturer Hunter, "out of warranty and a maintenance problem not covered under warranty anyway", I asked the service office for a quote. $5000 in cash, in advance, just to have a look at the damage! This would include towing over to their facility, a crane to haul out the engine and 3 - 4 weeks in the shop. If the turbo was damaged and the head and valves needed work the total could be above $8000!!!!

I grew up in Southern California with my Dad and two uncles racing and tuning their race boats. I've seen engines apart at the launch ramp, on an 'All-Night Saturday Night" engine repair before the big race Sunday and enough garage mechanics to attempt the engine over-haul myself. I had the Yanmar 4JH4 HTE service manual and I got Yanmar in Florida to send me all the parts they think I would need, including a new piston and rings, injector tips and all the seals and gaskets for a complete overhaul, and a 'Wish You Luck!".

After getting a steel bar across the companion way and the loan of a small chain hoist, I got the engine up and out of the 'bilge' area and on to boards across the boat's sole. With the stairs removed, I had to enter through the forward hatch. I also got the expertise of a real diesel mechanic, a retired local living on his sailboat for years, JAMES. He has worked on 'many a diesel' including old boat engines and trucks, but never a turbo charged, 4 valve per cylinder modern sailboat engine.

After exactly 1 week we put the hoses back on the engine and fired her back up. She runs perfectly. The turbo was professionally opened and cleaned including new seals and bearings and the head and valves were cleaned and polished. The cylinder wall was honed and polished using a special tool aboard the boat.

For around $800 in parts and about 80 man-hours, we got the engine apart, repaired and back working again. I do NOT recommend that anyone do the same without professional diesel service technicians, but when you are in a desperate situation and need to 'Fix-it-Yourself', it can be done.

I have over 24 hours on the overhauled engine sailing down to St. Thomas and back, I changed the oil and filters twice and the coolant replace a second time and everything works as good as, or, as it seems, better than new.

In Part 2, I'll talk about specific steps during my Yanmar Engine Self-Repair.

Mike Harker
s/v Wanderlust 3

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MARIGOT: Hurricane Hole

I took this photo from the top of a mast on a boat moored in the 'Pond', back into the little bubble where I was tied to the mangroves with 12 other boats on the Caribbean island of Marigot.

It was a very mixed group. There were a couple from Washington State, another couple from Brazil, and two local sail boats with their masts down on deck with very friendly Dutch couples. There was a German (Steffen, my buddy), a guy from New Zealand, a French guy, and Pips from England.

Check out my location in Google Maps

I also met some great locals I sometimes hung out with. Sinbad was a racing motorcycle specialist and tunes all the best drag bikes. They race every Sunday morning on the highway crossing the Dutch / French border. The cops just watch.

The summer here was very calm and hot. Most of the boats and tourists are gone but the ones that have stayed are all adventuresome. They have at least one hurricane hit each year and the two Dutch boats in our little pond have been through six with two being in the category #5 storms coming out of them with no damage in this "Hurricane Hole".

If I don't get out of the Caribbean this summer into the Pacific, then I will hang out here and visit St. Barts in early November for the 60th birthday celebration at 'Le Select' and visit some other Carib islands before heading back over to the MED in May.

Mike Harker
WanderLust 3