Winter projects


Castines said:
I must say that i use my rudder/drive indicator on the smart craft all the time with I/Os. Just before i get into the area of the slip i change from the RPM syncro screen to the rudder indicator screen. Then i use the throttles mostly to manuver just like an inboard. then if i need a little more help/thrust when backing i will turn the wheel and watch the indicator for a split second to put it in just the right spot and bang! right into the slip.

I find it very helpful. however you must be prepared to go with out it just incase it stops working ;D
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That is the way to go, love the rudder screen on the Smart Craft. Never touch the wheel once they are set straight.
 
I AM REALLY SURPRISED. WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF TURNING OUR OUTDRIVES TO HELP US MANUVER, BUT WE DRIVE THEM LIKE INBOARDS. TO ME, I FEEL YOU ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF USING THE TOOLS YOU HAVE.
I GUESS EVERYONE FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE USED TO.
I DOCK FACING UPSTREAM, WITH WINDS CHANGING ALL THE TIME. WE ARE ON A ROUGH PART OF THE RIVER, WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND WAKES. I MUST GO INTO THE FINGER, MAKE A HARD RIGHT TURN, AND BACK DOWNSTREAM INTO THE SLIP.
LEAVING THE DRIVES CENTERED WOULD NOT BE AN OPTION. I MUST POINT THE DRIVES TOWARD THE PORT SIDE DOCK, TO TURN THE BOAT, IN REVERSE.
 
I do agree with you about using stern drives to their advantage. That is partly why I want the rudder indicator. For purposes of spinning the boat on it's axis in tight spaces, you have to have the drives straight. I always dock with just my shifters. Now that I have my bow thruster, I will use the drives more turned with the thruster to walk the boat sideways. The rudder indicator will allow a quick glance at the dash and ensure the drives are straight without having to go in forward to confirm. Gonna be so sweet once that is installed. Can't wait until summer to start playing with the new toys!! ;D ;D ;D
 
ain't anybody else workin on any of their winter projects out there?? i'm still working on the front panel of my sub box but other than that i've been pre-occupied with the seasonal stuff. can't wait to get back to working on the boat after the first of the year.

how about a little advice. my gas fume detector took a dump and i was thinking about replacing it. what is everyone else using? i'd like to get a few suggestions if anybody has any.
 
Everything else keeps breaking and I can't get to work on the boat. I just rewelded the mailbox for the fourth time and if the kids knock it down again I'm going to add some kind of a bat deflector.
 
I think I know who and it isn't a kid. I think it ticks him off to see me simply weld it back together for free while he had to call a company out to fix his. He has a gripe, just not the courage to talk about it.
 
custom speaker mounts are progressing. i'll post some pics when i get them partially done. after all the work i've put into 'em i hope they end up looking ok....
 
another winter project: i'm helping a dock mate replace an engine in his seabag sedan bridge. turns out his ice maker quit working. my ice maker don't work either. he gave his to me and is going to install a wine cooler in it's place. mine is a u-line and his is a raritan. after a little research and testing (his compressor is locked up) i find out that they were produced by the same manufacturer from the early ninties and back. looks like i'll be able to use all his front parts (door,grill,trim bezel which are stainless) on my unit which is painted and looks horrid. next i'll check the ice maker tray and harvester assembly out of his to see if it will work in mine and if it is functioning properly. i might get lucky and only need a tube of the thermomastic stuff to make it all work. if not i may need to buy the replacement ice maker/motor assembly to get it working but at around 150 bucks that sure beats having to buy a new unit at 900 or better! the admiral is going to be happy if i get the ice maker working. and we all know what it means for the admiral to be happy ;D
 
Being a refrigeration technician I must ask, what do you mean by his compressor is "locked up?" What kind of compressor is it? Danfoss? Is it possible just the module is bad??
 
I have a couple winter projects. removed 16000 btu a/c /heat unit on my 04 40 PC. wasnt cooling very well even after having it repaired. going to install the new 18000 btu unit hoping the little more capacity will keep things cool. Helluva thought on this cold jersey day. lol also installing new lumitec blue lights in the cockpit close to the floor for accent. Also instlled brackets from Edsen marine on my hardtop supports to hold my handheld vhf as well as the mic for the stationary vhf while underway to be able to hear them better.Just recieved mounting system for cockpit tv from www.Tallonsystems.com. Very well built system am considering the table set up for above the sink in cockpit so I dont have to move everything while serving food or beverages to access the sink. Last year I did sat /tv with new TV ,new microwave and oil transfer pump system. Oh might do rear view mirror to keep an eye on the nuts that wake you while passing.
 
JW i ain't no reefer tech so i just assumed it was locked up. when ya turn it on it goes ta hummin and after a few seconds the breaker trips. that was the extent of my diagnostics. after i reassembled everything i was able to get one batch of ice and that was it. the motor and gear mechanism are not working properly but the unit gets cold and keeps everything frozen. i'm thinkin i'm gonna purchase a motor and tray assembly and be done with it. do you have any suggestions? either way i'm pretty sure i'm gonna need the motor & tray to make everything work correctly.

i've never heard of that Talon system stuff but it looks pretty neat. i'm thinkin about tryin ta make my tv (easily) transferable from inside the cabin to outside in the cockpit on the stbd side of the arch. not anything i'm workin on this year but perhaps a next winter project???

if that 16000btu unit used to work good, i don't see why it couldn't be made to work good again?? i like the lumitec lights, hows about a pic when ya get'er done?
 
Formula Tenn. The Tallon products are well built and I was pleased when I recieved my TV mount. Will take pics of both projects when I got'er' done. I installed blue lights on the transom last year to light up swim platform,step and elect shore power connections. I recieved alot of comments. As far as the A/c unit I had it repaired and charged but still didnt keep up. I think it is too small for a hot day to cool off the whole cabin on the 40pc. Didnt want to keep putting money in it
 
understand completely. i've been doing some LED upgrades and those blue lights really look good in the cockpit. i get compliments all the time. several dock mates have had me to order some for them too.
 
custom speaker mounts are moving along nicely, i hope to be able to post some pics on the progress soon. just ordered a Glomex tv antenna so i'm adding that to my "to do" list too. ice maker is sitting in garage, the problem has been found to be the motor and micro switches. they were pretty badly corroded so i'll be ordering a new mechanism assembly in the next week or so. 1st week of February is already gone guys! spring will be here soon and i still have a lot to get done. hopefully everyone else's projects are progressing too. the forum has been kinda quiet lately so if yer workin on something tell us about it so we' can help and/or share in your pain or triumph whichever the case may be :)
 
Tenn, feeling the pressure of time here. Still have my whole after cooler, heat exchanger system apart on both my Volvo Diesels, valve covers back from powder coating, more nuts and bolts and parts that you can shake a stick at.. Literally fills one bay of my garage. Will post some pictures when I get the parts back from the body shop, all being painted nice high gloss Volvo white..
 
yeah now we're talkin'!! diesel project in full swing. seems like i remember reading something about this a little while back. hope all is going well, didn't know it was advisable to paint engine parts like that how long will it last? wouldn't powder coat be a better choice? i'm clueless, just wondering.....

looks like the weather is gonna turn colder here this weekend. too bad, we had an overnight cruise scheduled but the boat is a wreck anyway so i guess we won't be out in the mid-20 degree weather :( the best part of that is keeping warm! ;)
 
Put it this way, between powder coating and paint, I'll br into this thing for $2,000+. gotta know when to say when, it's not a show car, it's a boat! ;)
 
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