Recent content by DHeckrotte

Been there, done that. 4 years and $12k ago. Our steel tanks looked like that, with the fiberglass sheath and inspection port. Sawed them out. Had new tanks made to a smaller capacity. Slipped 'em right in...

I used my 'second best' Camilus 'lineman's pocket knife, a hammer and a block of wood. Any strong knife would do. Hammer on the back edge of the blade. Cuts the wire neatly, quickly, with a couple of blows. I recommend using a bit of carpet to protect the work surface, a steel plate to...

Our FuHwa had one 30amp 110v originally. A second 30amp 110v was added for the AC. They're independent, though, I think, grounded together.

I use AutoCAD. Utterly miserable for beginners. But, it's pretty much still the standard for building professionals.

The locals in West Virginia call these places Byrd droppings, after the long-time senator Robert Byrd.

I've done this, but used (I think) carbon fiber tube for the liner. I don't think PVC bonds well with epoxy. I used a hole saw. Care must be taken to not damage the hull. I did not drill the stringers; they had limbers. I only drilled stiffeners. Interestingly. Some had a great deal of...

Been there, done that. We normally drive out of the marina before going up to the flybridge, so we found the problem when in plenty of space. Sure made a mess of the Teak decking while I topped it up. No sign or smell of a leak; where does it go?

Been there, done that. The RME has worked flawlessly for 5 seasons. I, too, did away with the macerator and repurposed the through hull. I bought and installed Raritan's raw water pump and switch but have never used it. Fishing hoses was no big deal; removing the old ones was a PIA. The two...

Well! Well! Well! We left the boat in the rain last week. Left the fridge on with a bowl of water in the freezer. Isaias came through on Tuesday. We came back to the boat yesterday to find that a large part of Ocean County NJ was without power. When power was restored we turned the fridge...

We have always been 'bow first' folks. Both of our sailboats and our trawler. In no special order: Privacy. View. My nice new Mahogany swim platform. Dinghy. Dinghy davits. Launching the kayak. Power and water connections. Prevailing breeze. And an important detail: I've never backed...

I've learned - the hard way - to fold my bimini and cover it with the cover made for it. I've had the bows bent, set screws vibrate out, pins come out, fabric torn. I'm a SLOW learner, lazy, but cheap! Fold it or take it down.

It appears to me that our NorCold 12v / 110v refrigerator has died. The cooling fan runs, it turns 'on' and 'off', it occasionally gurgles, but I don't hear the relay that starts the compressor, and I don't hear the compressor. What I do hear is the cooling fan starting, running a bit, and...

We love our '84 FuHwa 38 Europa sedan. We've had Revel since 2016. Of all the issues you've mentioned, the 'glassed fuel tanks read the loudest. Ours were the same. One rusted through from the inside. $12k later...

Take the bracket off the boat. Find some suitable heavy, immovable object(s). And a suitable collection of large hammers. And BEAT IT INTO SUBMISSION! Appropriate finesse is advised. Bear in mind that that questionable-looking arrangement has worked for that boat for many years.

We have Teak decks on our '84 FuHwa 38. No known leaks. Bear in mind that neither the bungs nor the seam sealant is the source of the leaks. It's the myriad screwholes which are sealed with the goo that holds the Teak strips down. And... who knows what the state of that goo is?