We think we have successfully concluded the Saga of the BOLT. Hurray!!! Here’s the bolt hole in issue:
This morning, Goldwin drilled a larger hole in the damaged, (thank you, Dick), existing hole; we have a drill onboard. The blue tape measures how far into the hole to insert the drill.
Yesterday Goldwin had visited the Lighthouse Marina, which let him borrow the needed tap; he used it to make new threads for a larger bolt.
He returned to the marina today and was able to obtain a larger bolt which was the right length – they didn’t even want to charge him anything. Here is the original broken bolt, the replacement bolt we would have used but for Dick’s assistance, the new larger bolt, and the tap which we extracted from the hole (this is the broken tip which was stuck in the hole – the whole tap looks like the one in the picture above, just slightly smaller).
Then he prepared the new, larger bolt with Loctite, which glues the threads of the bolt and engine block together.
And inserted the bolt into the hole.
Re-attaching the alternator bracket.
Ta-da!!! Success. Here’s the fixed bolt, attaching the alternator bracket to the engine block.
Many thanks to the very generous assistance of the Lighthouse Marina folks.
P.S. As our wise daughter advises: “Don’t let anyone touch your boat.”
SAIL MOTU ITI 
Congratulations! great advise from your daughter. And thank goodness Goldwyn is talented in this area; that’s a blessing!
Fantastic. Lets hope the importance of the simple things, like making electricity, remind us what is truely important everyday. Fantastic Saga, nice job to both of you. Now you can laugh at three hours spent wiggling the broken tap out!
sometimes our kids know more then us.
Well done
Hello, I have a Nic 31 also. Hull number 15. She is at Lambs Marina just outside of Elizabeth City NC. I just replaced the alternator and took out the same bolt that had sheered off on your engine. It looks as if you have the same Yanmar 2qm20 that is in my boat. The bolt that I took out was worn down about one third on one side about the thickness of the alternator bracket it holds. I assume that vibration from the alternator/belt/engine wears on the bolt, even if it is tight as mine was.
Luckily mine did not break off. There are other bolts just like this one holding a cover on behind the chain crank pulley. I took out one of those bolts and used it for the alternator bracket bolt and used the damaged bolt in the cover where there was less stress and vibration.
After reading your article I think that I should find some extra metric bolts for the engine. My Yanmar starts and runs well although I have not had the boat out much. Three years working on various repairs and improvements, done by commuting from Omaha, NE on week long or ten day trips at a time. The boat is now hopefully ready to use.
In reading your blog I noticed that you used a 44lb spade anchor. I researched the spade on Practical Sailor and based upon that looked on Ebay and actually found a used galvanized spade for $320. I got it. Where do you put eight anchors and rodes!!??
If possible I would like to contact you by email or telephone to talk about the Nic 31 and sailing on the east coast. I sailed a Flicka from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas back in 1992 and that convinced me that I could cruise on a sailboat. I looked for a NIc 31 based in large part on the Practical Sailor review that initially called it a “go anywhere” boat. Being from Omaha I have not had a lot of ocean sailing experience so I wanted a boat that would take care of both herself and me in bad weather.
Thank you for doing the blog. I appreciate the information and the reading of your travels and adventures.
Steve Cramer
malcramer@gmail.com
402 319-5761