Messages

I am a day sailor that uses very little fuel over the course of a season.  Last season I used only 5 gal.  At the end of the season I treated the fuel for winter.  This year i have probably only used 1 or 2 gallons.  As i start thinking about winter, should i: 1. Just leave it alone - does the protection wear out after a year?, 2. Treat the fuel again as if it were all fresh fuel- can you overtreat the fuel? 3. Sail to the Caribbean for the winter? 4. Something else?

The most reliable method is weighing it.  I have a Mk 1 and therefor no propane, therefore i dont know how it is installed, but if you can get a common scale under it, determine what the weight is for a full and nearly empty tank, you have a very reliable method.

Glad to hear you found the source of the problem. IMHO, I would still put replacement of the brass idler pins on your maintenence list.  Using the emergency tiller is not fun! From what i have heard, when one goes, they go without notice.  Pins are relatively cheap and will only take a hour max to change.  Just dont overtighten the cables when done.

I replaced my idler pins earlier this year. When doing so, Edson told me NOT to overtighten the cables.  They said this could cause premature wear.  I am wondering if it would also cause a squeaky wheel.

Also, if i leave my wheel break slightly tightened, i get a squeak.  I am sure that you have checked to be sure that it is loose, but have you checked that the actual break pads have pulled back?

Yours looks like mine.  Mine is a Grohe, which is owned by Masco (Delta, Peerless, Baldwin Brass and..)  Relatively common, but not sure if in Lowes.

Gotta agree with you.  I did mine on the hard, but the job was very smooth.  One note. I also installed a gWind wireless.  It would work for about 20 minutes and then quit.  Took a while, but finally realized it was not a problem with the gWind, but with the voltage.  Batteries were not holding a charge, and when dropped to about 10.8v, it quit.  I have replaced batteries, and am hoping it is now fixed.  I only mention this to save you some time if it happens to you.  Garmin was not even aware of the issue.

I am in Lake.Michigan. The only zinc I have seen at my marina are on boats that came from a salt water location.  Last year I had to search to find one to show a friend what they look like.

Would their be a problem with just tying on some regular pfds? Would seem to be easier than worrying about whether the inflatable ones are compliant. And, as a extra bonus, you could use them in an emergency!!

I am out of town and not able to get to the boat now, but I just called Federal Marine (708) 352-2200)
and talk to them. VERY Helpful.  Be careful Someone else has a Web address similar to them. Call them direct.  They do sell direct.  They we are to ship in 2 days.  I am supposed to relaunch this Friday.  I will post after that to give my impression of results.

Not sure where Fairport Harbour is, but I am in Holland, MI, so I guess I am not close.

Where is the boat and where are you taking it?  If you are nearby, I might be able to assist at some point.

Hang a totally irrevelant bracket and ask people to guess what it is.  It's a conversation starter.

As a followup, I am installing a Federal Marine flexible.  Price was great and it fits better on my Mark 1 with a PSS dripless. Thanks to everyone for their advice and especially to ROC for the suggestion about Federal. I would not have know about them otherwise.

I asked the yard why this happened.  They said that since my old shaft was bronze, I probably should have tightened the set screws on the old coupling every year to prevent it.  I don't know what brand I had, but it does not appear to be OEM because there was a small white spacer in it that I don't think the OEM had.

Does anyone tighten their set screws? New coupling doesn't have set screws, but I was going to suggest to my slip neighbor that he check his.

That looks great.  But it is a liitle beyond my skill and equipment.  Could i pay you to make one
Ike that for me?

Thanks Jon and Stu.  Will try to get to the boat soon to remeasure and plan.  This weekend we are going to the Louis Vuitton Cup in Chicago!  Maybe I can get a couple of ideas on how to coax another 30 knots out of my rig!!