Avid SBO readers may have noticed in other fourm sections that I don’t know as much about systems as you might expect from someone who has been designing boats for over forty years. In the commercial world, we do what are called “Contract Plans”. The electrical drawings only show one wire for example. They aren’t even a schematic. They just show what needs to be included in the design by the shipyard and what is connected to what. I even stopped doing that 20 years ago because I started designing boats that were so sophisticated that all the systems were done by specialists.
So, I can sail around with my head in the sand just like any other boater. I’m a make do kind of guy whose primarily interested in the boat as a means to get me somewhere so that I can look away from it. It usually takes a kick in the rear to get my head up and focused. I didn’t even look at my fuel filter for the first two seasons.
When the kick comes however, I tend to over compensate. The rude awakening on fuel systems and a short but endless seeming day spent as a pure sailing vessel led to a lot of research, forum discussion, and my fuel polishing system.
http://www.cruisingonstrider.us/FOpolishing.htm
I’ve now probably got the cleanest tanks and fuel in Portland.
Rigs I understand because I have designed a number of them. This winter of preparing for serious cruising was to be all about the rig. It was a rude shock, therefore to feel that kick in the rear and discover that I’ve had my head in the sand about my electrical system. Hey, it always worked, push the button, the engine starts, flip a switch – lights.
Just like the fuel system, I’ve been lucky. I was headed for being an 1800’s sailboat and navigator somewhere like up in the Bay of Fundy. Not my idea of a good time. So, another interesting and expensive odyssey begins which you will be able to mostly follow over in Maine Sail’s section. If I have as much fun with it as I did with the fuel system, it will be worth every penny, even before the boat leaves the dock. I do love to tinker and it’s going to be grand when it’s done.
It just makes me wonder though, what else am I not thinking about?
So, I can sail around with my head in the sand just like any other boater. I’m a make do kind of guy whose primarily interested in the boat as a means to get me somewhere so that I can look away from it. It usually takes a kick in the rear to get my head up and focused. I didn’t even look at my fuel filter for the first two seasons.
When the kick comes however, I tend to over compensate. The rude awakening on fuel systems and a short but endless seeming day spent as a pure sailing vessel led to a lot of research, forum discussion, and my fuel polishing system.
http://www.cruisingonstrider.us/FOpolishing.htm
I’ve now probably got the cleanest tanks and fuel in Portland.
Rigs I understand because I have designed a number of them. This winter of preparing for serious cruising was to be all about the rig. It was a rude shock, therefore to feel that kick in the rear and discover that I’ve had my head in the sand about my electrical system. Hey, it always worked, push the button, the engine starts, flip a switch – lights.
Just like the fuel system, I’ve been lucky. I was headed for being an 1800’s sailboat and navigator somewhere like up in the Bay of Fundy. Not my idea of a good time. So, another interesting and expensive odyssey begins which you will be able to mostly follow over in Maine Sail’s section. If I have as much fun with it as I did with the fuel system, it will be worth every penny, even before the boat leaves the dock. I do love to tinker and it’s going to be grand when it’s done.
It just makes me wonder though, what else am I not thinking about?