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Messages - Stu Jackson

#8401
Main Message Board / ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP
August 04, 2004, 04:48:21 PM
Being out on the boat more than being home for the past month has been great.   :lol:

We went out yesterday for an overnighter.  When we engaged the engine key, the electric fuel pump did NOT start clicking - Cory noticed it right away.   :(

References are made to previous posts, including this one, found, along with many other great posts and information, with the new search engine at:

(Note: the old message board is disabled, so clicking on the link below will not take you there...)

Fuel Pump: see: http://c34.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=329609511&f=829605811&m=817606394&r=105604816#105604816

This one should get you to the NAPA replacement #, it's called "Tech notes Mainsheet 11/03," in the search results

http://www.c34ia.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1328&highlight=fuel+pump

I have a Facet installed, the one that stopped working.  I also have, thanks to the PO, another Facet replacement!  Wow   :mrgreen:

Question is  :?:  in your experience, do these pumps just stop working all of a sudden?  

Of course, I know that I'll have to check the wiring to the pump that's in, but it may be simpler to swap the old one with the new one.  I could also try powering the old one that's in with wires directly from the house bank to see if it works, which would confirm whether or not it's an electrical power wiring problem.

Any other ideas?
#8402
Main Message Board / Usernames
August 03, 2004, 01:26:33 PM
Phil

For a little more detailed explanation of what I meant above, see:

http://www.c34ia.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1535&highlight=identification
#8403
Main Message Board / Usernames
August 03, 2004, 11:46:41 AM
Given that, I just went and updated my signature.
#8404
Main Message Board / Let's Keep This Simple
August 03, 2004, 11:44:14 AM
All we have ever suggested are two things

1. that we avoid the use of "cute-y" nicknames, and use real names, like Bob and Ted and Carol and Alice.

2.  that we identify our boats by the hull #s and year - this is important in helping to diagnose problems and provide answers

Regardless of the user names and all that, the signature section also seems to work, so that your user name can be anything, IF you include your name, hull # and year, and whatever else you like, in your signature (or at least in your user name as it pops up).
#8405
Main Message Board / Starter Solenoid Fuse Reminder
August 02, 2004, 08:47:12 PM
When you're having a great cruise, but then, magically, the engine won't start, one of the first things to do is to check the starter solenoid fuse holder.

We did last week, and found the wire from the solenoid intact, the fuse holder intact, but a space of about 3 inches between them!

Evidently, the 18 year old, $1.24 fuse holder solder connection failed.  Don't ya just wish they made better stuff that would last longer!

In about a half hour I installed a new wire with a new spade connector to the solenoid, and put in a new fuse holder butt connected to the wire through the harness to the starter button.  The old fuse looks to be a slow blow, so I cleaned it up and put it back in the new fuse holder.

Just a reminder that it's there.  BTW, it's VERY helpful to have electrical tools, wire and fuse holders on board.  This was written up in one of the earlier 1980's FAQs, but it happened to me last week.  Glad I could still remember reading it.

Stu
#8406
Main Message Board / Head & Lag bolts
August 02, 2004, 11:57:30 AM
John

All the one's I've seen have lag bolts into the floor (the raised little section of the deck) in the head.

Don't know if you already have the replacement head, but Peggy Hall recommends the Raritan PH II as the best head.  I believe they also make a smaller model of the head that would fit better in our boats.  It's a smaller bowl with the same pump mechanism.

We have a Wilcox Crittenden Head Mate that's been doing fine, and I would probably just replace the head with the same one so I don't have to do the new hoses routine.  Our head is lag bolted in, too.  I serviced it a few years ago, and just bought a new pump assembly for it.  Now I have to get one of those plastic bolts that holds the seat cover onto the bowl.  Always something...

Good luck,

Stu
#8407
John

No, I haven't installed the new alternator yet, so can't give you a definitive answer.

I'd also recommend going back to Ron Hill's old conversations.  I believe he stepped up to a 1/2 inch belt and recommended that idea when increasing the size of the alternator.

In the meantime, you could use the amp manager feature on your regulator (if you have one with that feature), which is what Steve Lyle did when he first installed his larger alternator.

Also, any newer alternator will most likely put a bigger load on the belt, even though they run free, the new alternator will not have been as "broken in" as a 15 year old OEM alternator.

Stu
#8408
Main Message Board / Cutting Board
July 29, 2004, 10:13:32 AM
Ran

Re matching material.  Catalina is still in business, what a great source.  :)

Stu
#8409
Main Message Board / Strut protection
July 29, 2004, 10:11:55 AM
Jack

Aquavite has a strut zinc in addition to the shaft zinc.  Always had both.

Stu
#8410
Main Message Board / Alternator charging
July 28, 2004, 03:41:51 PM
Jim,

Ray's right, loose belt is a good first idea.

Anytime anything jumps (other than me!) it's a loose wire (which, when I think about it, could also be me :)!!! )

Check the connections.  ALL of them.

I found a loose wire on my OEM alternator during our recent trip, tightened it, variations disappeared (I was fortunate enough to be allowed to stay).

Stu
#8411
Main Message Board / Window Blinds
July 28, 2004, 03:42:57 PM
WC

Go to www.catalinaowners.com, they sell replaceemnt curtains, check their store.

Stu
#8412
Main Message Board / Good Bye
July 27, 2004, 02:41:06 PM
Jim

It's been a pleasure having your input and advice over the years.

We'll miss you.

All the best, fair winds.

Stu
#8413
D&D

Aso, in our earlier correspondence, i.e.:

http://c34.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=329609511&f=829605811&m=364604153&r=432606153#432606153

The "100 amp alternator" thread, we discussed an energy budget, so unless the TOTAL amp hours per day OUT of one system or another were different, there's NO advantage in that regard.  

Think of total daily out, cycling doesn't matter as far as your batteries are concerned.  There's no difference in "energy efficiency" of a machine working one hour at an output of 24 compared to another machine working 24 hours at an output of 1.

Full time DC running of an A/B unit won't hurt your batteries if you have a good charger and a good house bank.

You may have read and/or contributed to the Finds on "chargers" and "batteries" already.

There's a nice advantage of having the unit switch automatically from DC to AC once you plug in, but who plugs in [only] to keep their fridge's running anymore anyway?

With a good house bank you can stay going for more than two days away from shorepower and only plug in when necessary.  A few hours at a gas dock or a restaurant will do wonders if you have a quality charger.

As far as pure DC" goes, that's "pure B/*."  The A/B units and most other pieces of equipment will have transformers inside all over the place.  Don't hassle the internal differences, go with what you can afford and install.

You're buying a refrigerator, after all, and both are fine products.

Nice work you're doing on your Good Old(#71) boat.

Stu
#8415
Doug

Have you considered the Good Old Boat reference I noted earlier?  Not a joke.  We also use a Sun Shower, which hangs up fine inside the head on hooks we have installed above the head sink.  A few minutes of heating hot water on the stove goes a long way.

One idea we have used a few times is to run the engine when the inverter is running the hot water heater.  A law of dimishing returns, but not too bad for fifteen minutes and some hot water without complete dependency on only the batteries, since something's going in while a lot is coming out.

Also, don't forget, in your arithmetic, what you've used the night before from the house bank.

It sure seems like a pretty expensive way to get some hot water, but your boat, your choice.

I continue to suggest some more time to get used to the boat before you make more major moves.

Good luck,

Stu

PS now you're #71. Hi!