Got Questions? Ask Them Here.

[Fred Villiard]

Maine,

Will I get in trouble bedding some fittings with your butyl in cold weather, in the teens, they will not be stressed untill warm weather.

Also anything good, bad or indiferent about Simrad Lowrance BR24 radar and Tack Tick TO33 wind indicators?

Thank You

Fred

 

[Maine Sail]

Maine,

Will I get in trouble bedding some fittings with your butyl in cold weather, in the teens, they will not be stressed untill warm weather.

No problem in cold weather just tighten the fittings more slowly and in multiple small events. The viscosity will be thicker and it will take longer to "displace" from under the fitting so go slow and all will be fine. Just did a fitting last week and did about 5 or 6 tightenings over a couple days until it stopped ooozing out.

Also anything good, bad or indiferent about Simrad Lowrance BR24 radar and Tack Tick TO33 wind indicators?

Thank You

Fred

Panbo is the best resource for this. Broadband radar offers great short range target definition at the cost of longer range target definition. I have not seen the power savings to be that dramatic when compared to other current generation stuff.. Was on boat last summer with a 10" Simrad display and broadband radar that drew very slightly less than our Garmin plotter and dome do.

All the radar's today are pretty damn good compared to 15 years ago...

 

[gianca]

Hi Maine Sail,
thanks for your great info,
i would like your opinion regarding this battery terminals to be used on board

http://www.ebay.it/itm/CONNECTION-O...r_Caricatori_ed_Accessori&hash=item35b8eafd74

thanks

 

[Maine Sail]

Hi Maine Sail,
thanks for your great info,
i would like your opinion regarding this battery terminals to be used on board

http://www.ebay.it/itm/CONNECTION-O...r_Caricatori_ed_Accessori&hash=item35b8eafd74

thanks

If you're powering a stereo they may work but I would not use those on a boat where you may have to start an engine... Properly crimped lugs are far superior... Genuinedealz.com can make them for you for $1.00 per crimp plus materials..

 

[gianca]

Thanks for your comment and advice

 

[DougFir]

Questions about fuel line diameter and routing. Vessel has a westerbeke 44B. Although the install manual states 1/4" line for both supply and return, this seems awful small by my experience (albeit automotive diesel). Seems to me most installations have 5/16" supply and a larger (3/8") return. I am considering changing all the fittings to these larger lines. Does this make sense or am just being neurotic?
In regards to the fuel line routing, the lines are routed through various cabinets and bulkheads etc. and are minimally secured. My take is to add additional securing points by gluing supports to the hull (GRP). I also want to add chafe protection in the form of spiral wrap where the line lies on the hull. Does AYBC have any guidelines regarding this? I have the rap on CG typeA lines.

Thanks

 

[Maine Sail]

Questions about fuel line diameter and routing. Vessel has a westerbeke 44B. Although the install manual states 1/4" line for both supply and return, this seems awful small by my experience (albeit automotive diesel). Seems to me most installations have 5/16" supply and a larger (3/8") return. I am considering changing all the fittings to these larger lines. Does this make sense or am just being neurotic?
In regards to the fuel line routing, the lines are routed through various cabinets and bulkheads etc. and are minimally secured. My take is to add additional securing points by gluing supports to the hull (GRP). I also want to add chafe protection in the form of spiral wrap where the line lies on the hull. Does AYBC have any guidelines regarding this? I have the rap on CG typeA lines.

Thanks

Your engine uses 0.4 - 0.75 GPH even 1/4" line can deliver well over 20-40 GPH at typical fuel pump rates.


IIRC the inlet for the pre-filter screen on the fuel pump is 5/16" and the return is 1/4"...

 

[centerline]

Maine, I recently purchased a book, "Understanding Boat AC Power Systems" by J.C Payne.

it falls way short of expectations, and I cant recommend it to anyone... there is some good information within its covers, but its heavy into components that wire into the system (washer, dryer, different types of gensets available, other ac motors and transfer systems), rather than the basic wiring... and it explains more about the component and its use, rather than connecting to the system and system loading...

I have an excellent grasp of AC power wiring and systems for buildings, and I know enough about boat AC to know that boat wiring is a lot different in several ways, but I want to make sure I know exactly what im seeing when I work my way thru inspecting and cleaning up the AC power on the Cal...

Can you recommend a book that could help a person truly understand the AC power on their boat... in layman terms?... big words and unfamiliar terms without an explanation does nothing for me.

Nigal Caulders book seems to be a good one, but i want to make sure the book I buy this time is understandable, complete and thorough in the basic system wiring. Thanks

 

[Ron20324]

...i want to make sure the book I buy this time is understandable, complete and thorough in the basic system wiring. Thanks

Did you look in a library for books you can look through before laying out the money to buy it?

 

[Maine Sail]

Maine, I recently purchased a book, "Understanding Boat AC Power Systems" by J.C Payne.

it falls way short of expectations, and I cant recommend it to anyone... there is some good information within its covers, but its heavy into components that wire into the system (washer, dryer, different types of gensets available, other ac motors and transfer systems), rather than the basic wiring... and it explains more about the component and its use, rather than connecting to the system and system loading...

I have an excellent grasp of AC power wiring and systems for buildings, and I know enough about boat AC to know that boat wiring is a lot different in several ways, but I want to make sure I know exactly what im seeing when I work my way thru inspecting and cleaning up the AC power on the Cal...

Can you recommend a book that could help a person truly understand the AC power on their boat... in layman terms?... big words and unfamiliar terms without an explanation does nothing for me.

Nigal Caulders book seems to be a good one, but i want to make sure the book I buy this time is understandable, complete and thorough in the basic system wiring. Thanks

Boatowner's Illustrated Electrical Handbook - Second Edition by Charlie Wing

 

[shanker]

Raymarine SPX-5

Hi Maine,

I have an opportunity to purchase a SPX-5 autopilot from a forum member. The only item I would need is the cable that runs from the control head to the computer. The unit was purchased in Oct 2012 and I should find out shortly if it is the new control head or not. I remember reading some posts about poor manuals, instructions, support and cable issues. How can I be sure that I get the proper cable?

Do you have any feedback on the new evolution autopilot?

 

[sully75]

Do you have a suggestion for chain plate covers that don't cost a fortune?

I have 6 chain plates, 1 1/2" x 3/16". Currently they have fiberglass covers that don't screw down. The only replacements I see are Schaefer at $22.80 a pop!! I currently don't have $120 to blow on chain plate covers.

But I can't find anything else. The slot on the Schaefers is too wide anyway.

Mast is going in soon...hope to find something before that. Currently installed with the old glass ones but they look terrible because I can't screw them down. Bedded them with butyl tape but can't get good squeeze out.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Have you considered having a local metal shop make some up for you?

 

[sully75]

I haven't but I have a feeling that would be even more expensive?

 

[mitiempo]

Make them out of fiberglass scraps.

 

[SVTatia]

Westerbeke Heat Exchanger

MS

My Westerbeke 30B3 heat exchanger (HX) was loose. Yes, it and the plate that holds the fuel pump, solenoid and breaker (called Plate hereafter) were almost falling off and held only by the engine hoses and a small bolt to a bracket. I am glad I noticed this now because the brackets were chafing the HX tube. BTW I have not run the engine since I bough the boat.
To fix this I obviously had to remove the HX (not easily). Since I had it out I took it to be cleaned and pressure tested as per your recommendation. I think the PO or some “mechanic” removed the Plate to change the fuel pump and maybe due to the accessibility problem could not re-attach properly. It is held by a stud that goes thru the HX brackets and the Plate to the engine block.
Anyway, now I need to put it back and the stud threads are gone, maybe they tried and had it cross threaded. I will somehow come up with a secure way to install the HX on the engine block in the same place and have some options for this but I am having problems attaching the Plate.
My question is:
I am planning to keep the Plate out of the engine, attached to a bulkhead right beside the engine, and of course I will re-route the electrical wires and the fuel lines. Do you see any potential problems with this?

 

[zar]

Diagrams/schematics for your CS36T

Hi Maine,

I just bought a CS36T equipped with solar and wind gens but I'd like to redo the wiring/electrical. I wouldn't mind copying your setup, including adding many of the products you write about, do you have whole boat schematics/diagrams somewhere which one can follow if one didn't want to re-think everything, just copying someone who knows better, assuming you don't mind?

Thanks, I greatly appreciate all of your articles.

Rob

 

[Maine Sail]

Hi Maine,

I just bought a CS36T equipped with solar and wind gens but I'd like to redo the wiring/electrical. I wouldn't mind copying your setup, including adding many of the products you write about, do you have whole boat schematics/diagrams somewhere which one can follow if one didn't want to re-think everything, just copying someone who knows better, assuming you don't mind?

Thanks, I greatly appreciate all of your articles.

Rob

I have never drawn a schematic for our boat, except for a chicken scratch one for the LiFePO4 BMS system... I design and wire from memory... I can tell you that every wire on the boat has been replaced including over heads which required removing the headliner. She also got a new Blue Sea panel and back plane. If doing this yourself figure on 100-130 hours as LOTS of cabinetry needs to come out, go back in etc.... As you will soon find out the only real weak point for CS was the wiring...

 

[zar]

Ah yes, I am starting to get that sense. No schematic, few or no labels, most wiring black, white or red, some not corresponding to the manual, etc. I'm hoping I can cut down on those hours by just pulling new wires through existing...

Ok, thank you!

 

[Bloggster]

Cleaning ropes

The lines on my Cal 2-27 while still strong are starting to look pretty bad. Short of replacing them any idea on how to clean rope. One friend said to tie them in a chain to reduce their length throw them into a cloth bag and wash them in a washing machine.

I could pressure wash them. Just wondering how other people handle this.