And so it continues

[25yearslater]

Told ya. With YOT back on the hard the upgrades and small details can begin. I have some interesting projects ahead that I'm sure you will enjoy that should help keep Father Time at bay. I will also be posting our adventures as we will be exploring the Lake Ontario harbors in the 2014 season. Not so much that you haven't had your own wonderful experiences but to demonstrate older boats lovingly cared for are as capable if not more capable than anything currently in production. With that here is the start of the single lever engine control I am working on.

 

[rajhnsn]

Why is it important to have single lever? I notice many new boats have them but I don't see the advantage?

 

[25yearslater]

Hi Raj. Here is why I am upgrading the engine control. The original 2 lever control has many drawbacks. One being the 27 had it mounted low in the cockpit due to it being a tiller boat. The age had the throttle dragging whenever it was shifted forward. That explained why the pulpit and rubrail were bent and smashed. A bit too much when approaching a dock no doubt. So while I repaired it to an operational degree the problems didn't end there. Operation required being an octopus while backing out of the slip with 2 engine controls and tiller not to mention having to kneel to accomplish all this. Then the fiasco continued. While adjusting the outhaul I stepped down only to break the throttle handle off as it protruded quite a way into the cockpit. The Vetus protrudes 2 inches versus the 4 of the old system. Pretty much a bunch of reasons for the changeover.

 

[25yearslater]

Oh yeah and here is something to consider with regard to really handy stuff. Todd Larson of Panta Rhei sent me something called Tree Frog Pad to try. With some real application I can HIGHLY recommend these things for just about any marine application that requires keeping something from moving around. They work for keeping a laptop with your nav system in place. Silverware, placemats, and just about anything you want to temporarily keep from sliding around while underway. I forgot where he found them but I can fully endorse them as handy as all get out.