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Messages - scotty

#1
Main Message Board / Re: Cleaning Rub Rails
February 26, 2015, 07:19:07 PM
Gee, now I really feel badly.  I went out for a sail today.  I had to put on a jacket!  Saw a whale swimming around.  We, my brother and I, sailed into the harbor and tied up to the fuel pier (out of the way) then then went up to the local deli and had a pizza sandwich.  Then we went back out sailing.  The boat is so gleaming clean that I had my brother take a bunch of pictures.  So if your in the cold zone, hang in for a little longer.  Your day is coming soon!!
#2
Main Message Board / Re: Cleaning Rub Rails
February 24, 2015, 07:40:07 PM
Thanks, Guys.  I got some Bartender's Friend.  Wow, the stuff worked great.  I had some teflon boat polish, so I used that.  I thought it would be a good match for the rubber material of the rail.  They look terrific.  So now, at the end of 6 days of work the boat is ready to splash tomorrow. 

I buffed out the topsides with 3M FinesseIt.  I didn't use the rubbing compound because the hull was in pretty good shape.  I then applied Carrumba wax (spelling??-Little joke).  The hull is like a mirror.  On the bottom I have two coats of Micron 666 (Hell of a deal) (OK, it's only Micron 66 - I guess it's not so Damned good), with extra at the waterline and leading edges.   I fixed some broken spots on the two vinyl stripes, polished the strut, shaft and the prop.  Sooooo Prettttttyyy.  Actually when I say "I", you should think of my three adult sons doing all the heavy stuff.

Oh yes, I also rewired my electric horn.  Yes, you heard me correctly, an electric horn.  When I beep, everybody listens.  I mounted the horn on my radar pole.  I got horn envy when I went under the Golden Gate Bridge in the fog and heard the volume of the bridge (unbelievable), and of the various vessels in the channel.  Scared the heck out of me.  To borrow from the movie  Jaws, "Got to get a bigger horn".
#3
Main Message Board / Cleaning Rub Rails
February 23, 2015, 07:56:00 PM
The rub rails on my boat work well, but they are kind of faded.  Does anyone have a suggestion of how to care for them?  I was thinking of spraying them with Armor All.  What do you think?
#4
Main Message Board / Re: Moving on...
February 11, 2015, 07:44:18 PM
Congratlations.  My brother and sister-in-law bought a 380 and they LOVE it!
#5
Main Message Board / Re: Inverter recommendation?
October 09, 2014, 12:57:58 PM
Interesting, Noah.  My unit does not have that alarm.  I don't know if that is a result of how it is hooked up. 

So far my unit is working well, although I only use it for light loads (heating up food inthe microwave) mostly.
#6
Main Message Board / Re: butyl and wasps?
August 29, 2014, 09:35:40 AM
How about putting screen over the slots in the companionway slats?
#7
A minor detail, Noah.  You might want to add post protectors (rubber boots) to your batteries.  This is to protect the circuit if somthing metallic falls into the battery locker.  The Coast Guard Auxillary told me  that this is a Coast Guard requirement.  Great job on the wiring work - including the diagram.
#8
Main Message Board / Re: Weird battery wiring
July 07, 2014, 07:25:35 AM
One of the "electrical guru" guys can help you more, but it sounds like you have one battery switch as a motor start switch.  The wiring is so that you can isolate your house bank (two batteries) from your start - or emergency - battery.  In different combinations you can start your engine from the starter battery, or the house battery, or both.  you can find explanations of these on the electrical 101 threads here on the tech wiki.  For many people, this seems to be fairly easy to understand, but for some (like me) it is pretty complicated.  Don't give up if it seems like Greek.  After studying it over and over, it's starting to make sense even to a illlitterate like me!
#9
Main Message Board / Re: Inverter recommendation?
June 12, 2014, 09:38:05 PM
Noah,  By coincidence I just ordered the same unit today.  I have a  Charles battery charger that works fine, and just need an inverter.  I thought about going to an inverter/charger, but this seemed a less expensive option.  You'll notice that the 2000 Watt inverter has a 4000 W surge capacity.  Like you, I'm hoping that this unit will stand the test of time.  Let me (us) know how it works out for you.  I'll do the same.

I'm aslo adding a seperate starting (or emergency) battery - my boat currently has two house (4-D, 180 amp acid batteries).  I'm adding an ACR unit to handle the charging.  Thanks for the electricity 101 assistance, I'm using that as a template for my system, although I'm having the work done by Johnson-Hicks Electronics here in Santa Cruz.
#10
Good advice.  Tack is last to be taken off.  However, if in the heavier breeze you head up, the spinnaker will drive more.  Last time I headed up to drop, because I wanted to make windward gains, the boat was broaching and pulling like a horse.  It was fun, but made it much more exciting.  In my experience, it is easier to drop heading dead down-wind.  Have others found this to be the case?  Thanks.
#11
Main Message Board / Re: A TRIBUTE to Ron Hill
April 06, 2014, 07:29:39 PM
I'll jump on this bandwagon.  Thanks Ron for your help in A LOT of projects.  One example is when I put on an electric windless, complete with designing the platform it was mounted on.  You imput made that job sooo much easier and with a muuuuchhhh better outcome.  Thanks Ron, and if you're ever out on the West Coast and want to sail out of Santa Cruz, you've got it!!

Scotty
#12
Thanks, Steve, for the excellent diagram, and Stu for your comments.  I'm in no position to offer any ideas (I am definately not one of the "smart guys"), however I've gotten to the point where with a bit of thought I think I understand what you guys are talking about!  While I am a ways off from doing some modifications on my system, I'm starting to get the idea of what I need to do.  Thanks for your help, all of you who have been posting on electrical 101 and other threads!
#13
Ralph,

Could you post a wiring diagram of your installation?  I'm going to do that job at some point and would like to see your system.  Two specific questions I have is how is the alternator wired up, and did you use an echo charger? (and why or why not)?

Thanks,

Scotty
#14
Main Message Board / Re: Live Aboard Simulator
February 12, 2014, 09:18:04 PM
God, Stu, that sounds like fun!! :thumb:
#15
Main Message Board / Re: Preference for tying up
February 03, 2014, 11:08:59 AM
I perfer to tie to the port side.  This preference could be mitigated by current, wind or obstructions, etc.  With the typical prop walk, I give it a burst in reverse and the stern gently moves to port, right onto the dock.  Like gentlemen and ladies we step, never jump, onto the dock.   :thumb: