Most usefull improvement

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
We recently had a thread on our Ericson list that had people describe the most usefull improvements they have added to their boats. It was great to get new ideas for new projects. What is the most usefull improvements you have made to any of your boats? Please include photos or diagrams for clarity. One of mine was to build my own backstay radar mount. Here is a photo and a link to more details along with some other improvements I made to my previous Pearson 28-1. Tim R.
 

Attachments

L

larry w

.
Jun 16, 2005
476
- - long beach, CA
Great job!

Tim, great stuff! I've done a few things on my current ride, a Bene 40 and my previous ride, a Catalina 30. I was especially intrigued by the cockpit locker struts. My hatches have a more complex geometry and I haven't come up with a linkage that would allow the installation of some kind of strut, but Neptune knows they need one! I also liked the holding tank upgrade. I only have 12 gals in the forward head, but a new tank must go thru a small door to get to the mounting shelf. Another problem that will require some creative solutions.
 
Terry Cox

Terry Cox

.
Dec 25, 2000
6,052
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Hi Tim, you ask a tall question...

On our boat it's a toss up between the mid ship cleats that I installed, which helps in solo docking, but then the Garmin GPS 178C that the fam got me for my birthday awhile back makes navigating these PNW waters so much safer. Working down the list would be a Wallas 40D furnace, asym spin, Xantrex Freedom 25, Link 1000, DVD player, etc. So much more I could add, but for what we do she has all the comforts of home. Terry
 
M

mortyd

.
Dec 11, 2004
952
Catalina 30 easy living
improvement

one, two and three; the bimini, the bimini and the bimini.
 
D

David J.11350

.
May 17, 2004
39
Pearson 26 Annapolis
Traveler!

Last spring, I made a simple upgrade to the stock traveler on my 1975 Pearson 26. The old setup had 2 lines, with standard cleats at each end of the track. I replaced the cleats with a flush mount single block at each end of the track (to change the direction of the pull), and a cam cleat at each edge of the cockpit seat. This allowed a single line that could run from one side, through the traveler car, through a block and cleat, over to the other side through the cleat and block, then through the other side of the car, finally to the other side of the track. I got the idea from Dan Pfeiffer - See his photo attached (from Dan Pfeiffer's site). Granted, I would have rather had the money to upgrade to a Harken windward sheeting system, but this was a quick and painless improvement. Everytime I use it (light wind, heavy wind), I remark at how happy I am that I changed it!
 
Tsehum Pete

Tsehum Pete

.
Apr 26, 2005
286
Beneteau Oceanis 390 Tsehum Harbour, BC, Canada
The Competant Marine Electrician - A Rare Breed

I live 650 miles from my boat. When I sail (50 days approx. per year), I do not want to be breaking down or spending time repairing right now. I want to simply sail and enjoy the ocean. After much effort, I finally found a delightful, retired, former marine electrician. He went over every wire on the boat. Replaced a bunch, rerouted a bunch. Xantrex smart regulator. Found my alternator was on it's last legs. PO's had not fused key cable runs. Solar panels were ready to go on strike. Various regulators were fighting with each other. etc.... Now Tula'a electrical system is bulletproof. Best 2 BOAT units I ever spent. Now if only May 1 would arrive and I can get out there.....
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Traveler

Nice job David. I also need to do some upgrading on my cabin top traveler. My list for my Ericson is as follows. Not all are upgrades but need to be done. Xantrex Link 20 - Done Washdown pump - Done Variable speed water pump - Done Garmin 3206 - Done Strip bottom and apply barrier - In progress Upgrade to FlexOFold prop - In progress Install dripless packing gland - In progress Strip and repaint spars - In progress Replace cabin sole - In progress Sew new binacle and sail covers - In progress Replace holding tank and all hoses - In progress Clean out fuel tank and add inspection port - In progress Replace 6 opening portlights - In progress Refinish interior teak - future Install Audio DVD player - future My launch date is 4/30 so I will be busy the next few weeks and weeknights. I love congress for changing DST this year. Tim R.
 
Boat Babe

Boat Babe

.
May 17, 2007
180
HUNTER 25.5 St. Augustine
love the radar mount

Tim, I absolutely love the radar mount. I had an accident last year and had my radar mounted on a mast, attached to the stern railing which got bent. Rather than replace the mast, I wanted a backstay mount. They want $1200 for one at WM! This is a great idea which I will build myself. How high off the deck is the radar mounted (how long is the pole)? Did you use 1" and how thick (3/16") walls? Thanks for sharing your ideas. Steph
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Steph

It really was not that difficult. I used all readily available stanchion parts from a local marine store. The main tubing is thick walled 1" SS stanchion stock that you can buy by the foot(10 ft. long). The bushing I fabricated out of a Delrin scrap I got from the local plastic supply. The tools I used were a miter saw, drill press, hand drill and a pipe cutter. I located the deck brackett at the local West Marine. The trickiest part was the Bushing. Looking at the picture, I drilled a hole the same size as the backstay and the SS tubing. I then sliced half of the 1" hole off and drilled the holes for the ubolt. I also sliced half off the hole for the backstay and clamped it back on and redrilled. This allows me to clamp the busing all the way down on the backstay and still allow the backstay to "float" in the bushing. It also allows for the tubing to sit next to the backstay and not twist from the weight of the radome. The base is just 1/4" Lexan cut to size. The brackets holding teh lexan I fabricated out of the same Delrin stock but I am sure you could buy some SS ones. I fabricated a rail brackett last season so I could mount the base on my new ericson. The backstay goes right by the top rail on the stern. Hope this helps Tim R.
 
PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

.
Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
I love your radar pole too

And I can't believe the price that Garhauer, WM and few other places are asking for a backstay or stern mount pole. I am going to talk to Capn Grumpy and see if he wants to tackle this project. Thanks for the great idea!
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Scott

I did the bottom scrape on a 1976 Pearson 28-1 and swore I would never do it again. A month later I bought a 1955 Rhodes 18 and guess what? Did the bottom scrape again. With my Ericson, I used walnut shell media to blast the bottom. A little more expensive than scraping but done in 6 hours and very few sore muscles. It cost about $250 for the media and $125 for the blaster rental. I also did the 6v dual house batteries(forgot to list them). I did the new cushions for my Pearson but the cushions in the Ericson are in great condition. Tim R.
 
N

Nice N Easy

Love It

I love the radar mounting. Congrats, and I know you are proud of it. I just got a new to me, Seidelman 37, and the list is far too long to post. At the top is a lot of rewiring, as the PO didn't believe in using marine grade wire when he changed or added things. And a Bimini is high on the list too. Have a good servicable dodger, but no bimine. So much time, so little money.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Iguess that I am elegible for the cheap skate

improvement prize. I added a 2 inch fan to ventilate the vee berth lockers. Driven off the same dedicated solar panel that drives the others to ventilate the rest of the boat.
 
N

Nice N Easy

Hey Rad

Hey Rad, I checked out your bow sprit, and it looks pretty good, BUT!!! Do you have some kind of hinge device that allows access to the anchor locker? It seems like not being able to open it up could pose a problem. You know about Murphy's law. Maybe you are exempt from it, but I certainly am not. Case in point. Last fall, coming down the Chessy, we had a 25 or 30 knot breeze about 15 degrees off dead astern. I was flying a 170, and knew I had too much sail up, but WOW what a ride. Surfing down the faces of the waves, and loving it. Then a really big gust hit us, buried the bow and blew out the jib. Also in the process, somehow managed to get the anchor rode fowled in the furler drum, and we couldn't get the sail rolled up. I had to get up on the bow, and untangle my mess. If I hadn't have been able to get into the anchor locker, the only other alternative would have been to cut the anchor rode. So like I said, maybe you are immune to Murphy's law. But I sure am not.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

.
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Look Again Anchor Locker

It looks like it was cut to allow the anchor locker to open I guess these new eye glasses are working,I'll rent them out cheap. Snoooooow storm coming but I was getting ready to go sailing soon????????????? I guess I'll stay in florida,hey ny call me when my boat is in the water.
 
Boat Babe

Boat Babe

.
May 17, 2007
180
HUNTER 25.5 St. Augustine
Tim, looks great.. one question

thanks for your input. I noticed in your photo that you ran the radar cable inside the standing tubing. But next to the backstay, what is that other thin cable? Does the whole thing twist at all? Or just a bit but is insignificant? Thanks again. Steph
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Topping lift

That is the topping lift for my boom. I did not like the backstay mounted topping lifts so I had a real one from the top of the mast rigged and that never got used. The rig would not twist. The deck bracket prevented any twisting. Tim R.
 
BobD17833

BobD17833

.
Jul 25, 2005
43
NULL NULL Boston
Backstay standoffs

Tim, Good job on the radar mount, much less $$ than a Questar. I'm looking at the photos and see the radar mounting tube to starboard of the backstay at the base and to port at the top. Does the mounting tube have a twist around the backsaty from base to top? Are the backstay standoffs/bushings mounted to the backstay with a loose clearance hole? BobD Boston
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Optical illusion?

Bob, it is to starborad all the way up. Check the black bushing in the original photo and you can see that the backstay is to port of the tube. Tim R.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom