Bulkhead Gauge Replacement

[StanFM]

When I bought the boat, there was an old inoperable depth gauge in the bulkhead. In fact, it looked like the glass face had been painted over at one point.

Anyway, it had to go. 4.5 inches of ugly. So today I took my knife and cut around the bezel.

A bead of silicone and some paint were all that held it in place.

Now to scrape it clean with my putty knife.

Looks like that round gauge wasn't the first inhabitant of this hole.

Cut some marine board, and put in a 2 inch hole and some counter-sunk screw holes.

Learned the hard way that black electrical tape leaves nasty marks on the paint! Blue tape to the rescue.

Bedded with some white marine sealant and screwed into the bulkhead.
Handy new depth gauge. For now, it'll pretty up the panel, but wiring it up and installing the transponder will be a project for another 106 deg Arizona day!

Handy information center. I positioned everything so that you can still lean your back against the bulkhead and nap when someone else is sailing.

Stan

 

[CaptGregg]

That was a fantastic Idea! I am think of incorporating that into my overly large bulkhead compass hole (my compass is currently in place but half the fluid is out and I had to epoxy the crack in the plastic globe to keep the rest of the fluid in). Gotta replace it, the globe is glazed over and you can't read it anyway.

 

[StanFM]

Well, I went cheap for now, as it is unlikely I'll get lost on our lake! Someday maybe a chart plotter. But for now, a $30 compass will do. Next bit of fun will be seeing if I can get the depth gauge working. That will be much more useful. Although that 199 readout is quite reassuring just as it is!

Stan

 

[anchorclanker]

Thats really quite a smart and simple idea. My stuff is all 10 years old, and its doubtful anything current would fit the same holes. In fact, that really looks quite sharp, like it was meant to be that way rather than looking like a cheap patch.

 

[CaptGregg]

When I'm coastal cruising I'm having to deal with the shoals at tide changes, I really need a depth gauge (and that's next on my "To do list") and a compass is a must for the Pamlico Sound.

 

[hubbardbilly]

Are most compasses weatherproof? Or do you bring that compass back inside after sailing?

 

[StanFM]

Most have a sealed chamber filled with oil, so the elements won't hurt them. The sunlight is probably worse out here in the desert.

Stan

 

[jimoc]

What about magnetic interference ?

 

[StanFM]

What about magnetic interference ?

I'll know more once I get the depth finder fired up. The magnets in the compass are very sensitive to metal in close proximity. But the df has very little mass of metal in it... mostly plastic, and no windings which would amplify electromagnetism. As a test, I could not see any deflection when next to the much larger old unit I took out, and none from the new unit, but we'll see once electrons are flowing.

Stan

 

[Diamondjet]

StanFM

I'll be curious how that brand depth finder works for you? It's the same brand I'm trying and I have had no success getting the in-hull transducer that came with it to work. I've tried a baggy of water, wax and silicone. Occasionally it will work when slung over the side but not consistent. Mfr replaced transducer once. I'm trying location forward of swing keel. Maybe your luck better than mine,

 

[StanFM]

Well, today I got to jump in the boat and do some sailing, instead of just working on her!

But they've started tapping into the reservoir (6" per day right now) so there were at least two new islands to avoid! Better get the new depth finder working then!
I'm placing it in front of the keel in the center of the hull through the v-berth hatch:

The transponder cable ran up the starboard bilge area to the bow area, "no problemo." First, I did the plastic bag filled with water routine...

Bang... got a reading right away, but it seemed a bit high...

I'm sitting at the dock at the launch. 18.5 seems a little deep... so just for grins, I tossed out the baggie, just set the transponder on the hull and poured some water in there around it...

Bingo! It worked like a charm all day just laying there!

Much better. I also put in some keel offset, and set the shallow alarm for 15 feet. It was fun comparing the readout with the topographic levels on my chart for the lake!

A quick (blurry pic, sorry) view of Balance Rock Island.

You can see how much the water line has dropped.
Before leaving the lake tonight, I epoxied the transponder to the hull. Sailed for about 4 hours today.

Stan

 

[Milton.Audas]

G'day Stan. Nice job on the instrallation and testing. After I installed my new depth gauge and in-hull transducer, I verified the depth at the slip and at anchor by the old method of a sounding line - tie a weight to a length of line and tie a knot every foot (say 20ft depending on where you're at), then toss the wighted end over the side with the boat at rest. Measure the depth against the displayed value. Some units can be programmed for an offset if you want depth under hull or depth under keel. Not sure if that's important but the real world test is a good soother of the worried mind.

 

[CaptGregg]

how did the depth finder electrical field affect your compass?

 

[StanFM]

No detectable drift on the compass due to the DF. In fact, you can see by the mount it is out and up from the DF anyway. Had a nice 3-hour sail today...

Yup, N S E W were all about where they should be! This old Catalina 22 really groans and creaks when you get her heeled over 15 deg or so in the gusts.

Stan