Oops, Wind Sensor lightning arrest-er

OK after talking to Garmin support about the chart plotter (they are real nice) I found out that the two pieces I thought we useless are needed for the wind sensor. One is a in –line lightning arrester and the other is an in-line terminator saving a "T" connector for other uses :) Guess I should have read the instructions for the wind sensor. It looked so simple though and it works the way we have it connected, just not after a lightning strike :) and who needs to save money by not using the "T" connector provide! The gray one is the lightning arrest-er.

Garmin GMI™ 10 Marine Instrument working! - 2012

The first order of business was to put water in the batteries. Dam wet cells 😏 So why not make it more complicated, that’s what I am good at 😊

SHURflow 4 GPM wash down pump for anchor

 We need a wash down pump for the anchor and chain. We have the current wash down hooked to fresh water (house water) but that is supposed to only be for a rinse. It is connected to a Y valve. No it is getting time for the sea water wash down installation.

Called SHURflow to see which one to get. The OEM is already in the RV\Boat the Aftermarket is at the store.  We had gotten an OEM pump one time from some place and it was a poor warranty.

SHURflo

3545 Harbor Gateway South

Suite 103

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Customer Service Hours:

5:00am-3:30pm PST

Phone:800-854-3218

Fax: 714-371-1731

Email: customer_service@shurflo.com

We are looking at the Pro Blaster Washdown Pump Model #:

4901-4282

  4 GPM, 45 PSI, 1/2" Outlet

Close to ordering this pump. Now do we need another for the stern? 

Making the Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter mount - 2012

The white plastic rail mount do not work with the Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter(CP) mount the way we want to mount it. 

We got our new Main and Jib halyards!

 We got both of them the same color, red speck. We really wanted all white but the line did not come in the no color version.

 These halyards we purchased from RiggingOnly.com and it saved us over 50%. We priced these out at the local rigging shops and it would have cost us twice as much and sales tax. 

We did have the choice of all blue or all red but these will do fine.

1. We do not race.
2. We do not have new crew.

 So why do they need to be different colors, we know which ones they are. We do not use the jib halyard that much. Mostly tighten it at the dock so it does not bang in the mast and loosen it for sailing so the fuller works better.

 So now to install them :)

New Jib halyard

New Main halyard

Engine mount bolt - tap

Went to Tool Depot and picked up the tap for the engine motor mount bolt.

Today will be the bolt at United Fasteners. Also we will pick up some fasteners for the wire ties and cable clamps etc.

Safety through line bracket installed right

This SS rail  mount is for a safety throw line. We like it for someone who has fallen into the drink and is close enough to get a line to and if done quickly can be the difference in doing a figure eight or losing sight of them etc. it’s Just another option. I had lost a couple fine thread small nuts that went to two of the screws from when it was mounted on our Catalina 30 so it was in need of some fixing, that’s now done.

Engine mount bolt - more info 2012

 Phil called and we talked about the bolt for the engine mount. He needs the length.

Mermaid 5200 BTU AC plumbing - 2012

Stopped at Marine Exchange and picked up some3/4 non kinking rubber hose and four more hose clamps for the Mermaid Marine Air 5200 BTU AC install. 

PSS Shaft Seal - Duramax on display at Marine Exchange - 2012

This is a Duramax Marine Shaft seal.

 After looking at this one I think we have a PSS Shaft Seal .

Clamps for the Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter mounting - 2012

  The electronics got some attention. We tried the white SS 1” rail clamps again and will probably go with them for now to mount the Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter.

Garmin NEMA 2000 started

 Then we worked on the NEMA 2000 network setup for the GMI 10 system. We had tried this the other day but came up confused. The Garmin GMI 10 instruction, and yes sometimes I do read them (but OK  not often) said that we should be able to connect to a new network with what was supplied. 

After messing with the parts that came with the GMI 10 it did not seem so. Whats with the closed ends?

 Yesterday we dug out our Garmin NEMA 2000 starter kit we purchased and it became apparent there were better parts in it. The others that came with the GMI 10 did not have enough Mmale\female openings. We removed the GMI 10 from the nav station to work on it.

 We connected the cable to the GMI 10 and a T. 

 The attached plug with the metal is really does not have a cable connected to it it just appears to have in the photo. It would be coming from the mast head wind sensor. 

There is one terminator block at the end.

The yellow power cable connected to a T and then the cable from the wind sensor on top of the mast only the cable is not routed yet so only the end that needs attaching to it. Now if the cable from the mast were attached and the power attached to the batteries (switch) then the GMI 10 should work. J

Refer lid - oh crap! - 2012

Debbie took on the thankless job of sanding the refer lid she fiber glassed.  

Llightning ground - to where?

 Looks like there are a lot of opinions here. Last one was to do nothing and that may very well be what we do. Seems putting a big plate on the hull for lightning to pass through is a bit much and it may take the plate with it and the hull. There is still time to do some kind of ground if we wish.

Dave and Sam of Islena stopped by - 2012

2012 Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA
Dave and Sam of Isleña came by the other day for a visit. They have not seen our boat for a while and have not been to our new marina here at Marina Kona Kai to see us before.
 It was great that they came by on a bleak rainy, stormy day! Dave and Sam were the sunshine in what was definitely a bleak day! Later in the day after they were gone we ended up watching a couple of weird movies and getting some much needed rest. Ate some good snacks and a pasta dinner too!

Mermaid Marine 5200 BTU AC March pump plumbing - 2012

Then we installed the ¾ hose from the sea strainer to the March pump.

 After taking the March pump out it needed to go back in. Gee let’s do that again :)

Mermaid 5200 BTU HVAC unit layout in hanging locker - 2012

 Debbie and I decided that because of the adverse weather we would work inside.

Binical brackets - no again

Our binical at knight, naked. 

We think we sold our three pods but have not heard back from the buyer.

 Well I did no netter ordering the SS brackets from McMaster-CARR than the last time.
 They are too big fro the 1" SS binical guard. Need to re-think the mounting.

 Also I am now wondering if the Garmin chart plotter will be usable in the position we planned for it with the wheel on. We tried it without the wheel in place. It looks like it will work though.

Curtain replacement - not now - 2012

 

 Debbie and talked it over and we decided not to pursue the curtain replacement at this time.

Boom polished!

We did get the boom polished before the rain came. We like the White Shark products sold at Marine Exchange. They are paste and come in cans that hold up to the abuse of the deck box etc.

 Now to find a way of getting a paint snip so we can match it up J

Lightning ground wire to - found

"Lightning Grounds
Connect a 4 AWG battery cable from the base of your aluminum mast to the nearest keel bolt from external ballast.  If you have internal ballast, you should install a lightning ground plate. One square foot is recommended for use in salt water; fresh water requires much more. Do not rely on a thru-hull or a sintered bronze radio ground (e.g. Dynaplate) for use as a lightning ground.


For additional comfort, also run a 6 AWG wire from your keel bolt or ground plate to the upper shroud chainplates, and to your headstay chainplate. Don't bother with the backstay if it is interrupted with antenna insulators. Have each of the cables that are used for lightning ground wires lead as directly as possible to the same keel bolt, with any necessary bends being smooth and gradual."


OK now for the plate?


grounds.htm

Two new Halyards coming!

 Debbie took the lead on this and ordered us up tow new halyards!

 The on-line vendor we are using for the halyards is RiggingOnly.com - we were referred to them by a former boat neighbor, used them for a furler line as well as a traveler line and we were very happy with the pricing, quality and service. We asked for a quote for the halyards and found their pricing to be more affordable then the local vendor. This is what we told them we had and what we needed to replace: 

Jib Halyard: 

  Replacing a rope/wire halyard. We have a Harken roller furler and a 130% genoa. We need 115 feet with eye splice and Flemish eye.

 Main Halyard: 

   We need 140' with eye splice and Wichard screw shackle. So, we are getting 7/16 STA-SET X by New England Ropes with all the splicing and hardware. The line will be white with small red flecks - nothing available in all-white only (oh well). Here is the link they sent me to see the shackle - 

Dometic - SeaLand 974MSD Portable Toilet 2.6 Gallon 2012

 

We are picking one of these up after work. They are on sale at West Marine and will provide us with emergency usage if for some reason our VacuFlush toilet goes down. Say the toilet gods get pissed at us or something. :) get it? It comes apart and so can be stored under our bed in the stateroom in the long-term storage area.

Radiator cap for accumulator tank

San Diego 2012
Purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts
Didn't know there were so many kinds. They said standard caps are 13 PSI.

Murray Radiator Cap.

Murray Caps & Stats - Standard Radiator Cap 

Part Number: 7616- 16 psi
 Line: MCS
 1 year limited warranty 
 UPC: 799304076162 

• Unit of Measure:  Each
• UPC:  #799304876168
• Coolant Recovery System:  Closed /Open
• Pressure Rating (psi):  16 psi
• Type:  Standard Vented
• Cap Depth (In):  0.79 Inch
• Filler Neck Inside Diameter (In):  1.539 Inch

March Madness not so mad - electrical

The March madness is not so mad because we are expecting a winter storm from the folks up in the Pacific North West and then we are going a cruise. A cruse on a ship not a boat. So that effectively takes care of March as projects are concerned. Looks like it will be April foolishness!

The breaker on the left without a label is or was the mast head strobe light toggle. Now we went through that mast head light when we had the mast off. It was re-wired and an LED anchor light bulb installed and we tried a LED tri color light but evidently purchased the wrong one. We replaced the incandescent and have purchased a new LED for another try. Any way there was not a strobe light in the mast head light. Why there is a toggle to one and wiring going to the terminal block by the mast is a mystery. We decide not to purchase a new mast head light as the benefits were not there for the cost. If we did we may have chosen a strobe with it, might not.  We may at some time add one, never say never so we left the wiring but removed the breaker.

If you have read the previous posts I burnt the last breaker up  :(

 Now we will move the 120 volt water heater breaker down to that spot. This will give us enough room to add a dual pole breaker after removing the top three 120 volt single pole breakers. This will get us into the 21 century and the give the Xantrax charger\inverter what it wants. The new dual pole breaker also has podiatry lights which we do not currently have (another great pun).

Llightning ground - to where?

 Because we were told that the engine was not the place the lightning ground from the mast I asked for some input from the Sailnet forums.


My question:


"We are installing an AC unit and there is a lightning ground cable going from the mast to the engine .

It needs to be moved over and so of course needs to be replaced because moving it makes it too short to reah the engine if we move it.
I was told that the engine is not the place to ground for lightning. That a lightning strike on the mast would go through the cable as designed and then possibly damage the engine.
On our old Perkins that is where the ligtning ground cable went is to the Perkins. Now that was in 1978 and things have changed, not the lightning but the way some things are done. We have since repowered and left the lightning ground attached to the new engine.
I however was thinking that if the lightning ground were to go to say a through hull it could blow the through hull out of the boat leaving a gaping hole. It would be preferable not to have the lightning and then to have a damaged engine rather than a gaping hole in the boat.
What is the thoughts on this please, there must be better ideas?"

Fflex coupling with the Beta 38

"Be aware that Beta Marine supplies a flex coupling with the Beta 38. This flex coupling electrically isolates the engine from the propeller shaft."
We are not using this coupling.

120 volt earth ground buss

 This will be our new 120 volt earth ground buss.

Engine mount bolt reply

 This is a reply to my question in the Beta engine forum about the engine mount bolt.


"Hello Chip,

It looks like you have created custom mounts. The three socket cap bolts in the photo are factory bolts. The factory bolts in the photo are 10mm bolts with 1.25mm threads, grade 12.9. This is a high tensile bolt, normally available in a socket head style only.

The tap size would be the same, 10mm with 1.25mm thread.

I cannot identify the hex head bolt as it is not factory supplied.

I would carefully chase the threads and replace with a 10mm bolt with 1.25mm threads, grade 12.9. Check your depth.

I suggest that you find a better place to ground for lightning protection. It does not make any sense to try and direct a lightning bolt through your valuable new engine. A lightning strike through your engine will most likely damage it.

Be aware that Beta Marine supplies a flex coupling with the Beta 38. This flex coupling electrically isolates the engine from the propeller shaft.
If you used this flex coupling you no longer have a path to ground via the propeller shaft. This applies to both lightning protection and shore power grounding.
A hull mounted ground plate or other such mass of metal would be better suited for a lightning ground."

Engine mount bolt chewed up? Oh no.

What’s worse a stripped out engine mount bolt in a hard to get at hard to see spot or a nuclear attack?

I am thinking a nuclear attack😜

Beta engine accumulator tank installed - 2012

 It was time to get the accumulator tank installed for the engine to hot water heater (HWH) fluid exchange. The engine coolant heats the water in the HWH when the engine is running. When we installed the new Beta Marine 38 hp engine the old accumulator tank was real dirty from the Perkins and we had the old HWH installed. 

So we decide this would need to be done later, now is later.

Purchased "Pacific Mexico: Cruiser's Guidebook" by Breeding and Bansmer

2012 San Diego, CA

Purchased "Pacific Mexico: Cruiser's Guidebook" by Breeding and Bansmer.

 Should have could have purchased it from Dwonwind Marine and saved a few bucks but after talking to the author on the phone I purchased it from their web site. Not thinking I guess.

Any way it is getting that time. 

BluelatitudePess

"Pacific Mexico: A Cruiser's Guidebook" is the most up to date and comprehensive guide detailing the anchorages and harbors of the Pacific mainland coast. The guide contains in depth coverage of the harbors and anchorages used by cruising boats travelling along the Mexican mainland coast from Mazatln to Zihuatanejo. For boats continuing south towards Central America, harbor charts are included for this more remote section of coast."

Mast deck joint sealant work - 2012

 Debbie took a stab at re-sealing the mast deck joint. 

Debbie got it all prepped and she had bought some line from Sailing Supply for the initial fill. 

Pesky water heater leak fixed - 2012

2011 - Marina Cortez San Diego, CA

There has been this pesky water leak from our new hot water heater.