WIX 33365

All I want for Christmas is a WIX diesel fuel filter part number 33365. It is the primary fuel filter for an Onan diesel generator. We borrowed a car from our dock neighbor and drove to West Marine, NAPA, Autozone, O' Reilly's and Advanced Auto. We called an additional 10 stores within 30 miles to no avail. With the parts found in these stores you could probably build a diesel generator bolt by bolt. But could you run fuel to it? 

No. 

Why? Because no auto part store in the greater Fernandina Beach area carries a primary diesel fuel filter. 

We have a WIX 33365 on a truck coming in from Jacksonville at 7:30 a.m. and a generator mechanic arriving around 9:00 a.m. 

Why are we waiting for a generator mechanic during a fabulous weather window? 

We want options. 

When offshore we want to have options to charge the batteries. When we lost use of the generator we used the engine to charge the batteries. If for some unforeseen reason we lose the engine we want to have another option to keep our navigation instruments working. 

We encountered several problems during our passage from Fort Lauderdale to Fernandina Beach. It was nice to have options to help trouble shoot problems. 

Do we need a generator to sail?

No. 

If the mechanic tells us it will take more than a day to fix the generator then we have to move on without a working generator. We have a great weather window. We can make a 100 mile jump to Savanah, GA or the 150 mile jump to Charleston, SC without a generator. We can be more judicious with our power usage and not need to top off the batteries during a day long sail north. 

We will have good news to report tomorrow. If we have a working generator, we will sail north and that will be great news. If we don't have a working generator, then we set sail and that will also be great news. 

-Darren