Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-17-2016, 05:56 PM   #41
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
Lots of changes. Interested to hear how you make out with the new wheel and rudder.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2016, 06:53 PM   #42
Guru
 
Aquabelle's Avatar
 
City: East Coast, Australia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 935
"Starboard sure is handy stuff. When I did this project on the sailboat I used G10. It was much harder to work and fabricate, and I had to paint it. Starboard cuts like butter. Just be careful using a hole saw..."

What is the problem using a hole-saw on Starboard?
Aquabelle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2016, 06:55 PM   #43
Guru
 
Aquabelle's Avatar
 
City: East Coast, Australia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 935
[QUOTE=questionmark;466648]Here's the labeling system I use for wiring.

Those labels look great. What is the gadget you're using to make them?
Aquabelle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 09:28 PM   #44
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquabelle View Post
What is the problem using a hole-saw on Starboard?

It melts rather than cuts from the friction, making a real mess and requiring constant clearing of the teeth. And lots of edge cleaning afterwards.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 09:34 PM   #45
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
[QUOTE=Aquabelle;470884]
Quote:
Originally Posted by questionmark View Post
Here's the labeling system I use for wiring
Quote:
Originally Posted by questionmark View Post
.

Those labels look great. What is the gadget you're using to make them?

Just a standard label maker. It's one of many good ideas from Compass Marine.

On another note, I was recently trying to troubleshoot an electrical problem with one of our apparatus here at work, and when I pulled the panel cover off I found that the entire wiring harness was built with wire that had been custom printed with the circuit label. It certainly makes it easy to trace wires through the harness.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 10:11 PM   #46
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
When I got to the boatyard Thursday morning my boat wasn't where I left it. A good sign. The little travel lift dock got blown out by a big squid boat when he couldn't stop and crushed it, so the yard uses the big commercial lift for everything right now. So they used the little lift to move the trawler over to the big lift, and then used the big lift to launch. So they moved me over first thing.

I have been procrastinating dealing with my nasty bilge since day 1. But no longer. I used a cheap Harbor Freight transfer pump to pump it into a 5 gallon bucket. It was so nasty smelling I just tossed the pump in when I was done. I plan to go grab some elbow length gloves before scrubbing it.

The launch went as scheduled, and nothing leaked. The engine started right up so I buttoned everything up for the night. It felt great to finally be back in the water.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 09:43 AM   #47
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
We did a sea trial Friday morning. I can't even begin to describe how much better the boat handles (but I'll try.) If you don't have a wedge on your rudder, do whatever it takes to add one!

First the new prop: the acceleration is impressive. Before, when I throttled up it would immediately make more noise and slowly add speed. Now the stern dips and the boat picks up speed smoothly. Slowing and stopping is night and day different. The first few times I goosed it in reverse I not only stopped but ended up drifting backwards. The engine hit WOT way too easily, with the tach reading 3100 RPM when I backed off, so I'll have to experiment with that later. Also, on the trip up it seemed that the top end speed was lower per RPM, but the trip was uphill and up current. "No honey, I HAVE to go out again to test the prop. The prop shop guy said so..." :-)

The biggest change was the addition of the rudder wedge. An amazing difference is that I now have steerage, without throttle input, at speeds above about 1.5 kn. The turning radius is much tighter, and I can manage the turn into my slip in a single smooth movement instead of needing to use reverse to help walk the stern.

Another pleasant surprise is the handling in reverse. I actually have some steerage in reverse. Above about a knot of speed I was able to turn to starboard (counter to my walk direction) with the throttle in reverse idle. I'll have to go practice more down at the side-tie, but I think it might be physically possible to back into my slip now. Another perfect excuse for boat time: handling practice.

Overall I'm super pleased with the results from the mechanical changes. The boat is much quieter and smoother, the shaft vibration is gone, and it handles like a completely different boat.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 09:52 AM   #48
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
Great result, well done.
__________________
Craig

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 06:04 PM   #49
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
Made the trip back up from Ventura to SB on Friday morning. I didn't have time to finish the autopilot install, so I hand steered. It was significantly more pleasant with the revamped steering. I also played with the new electronics toys, and drove quite a bit from the flybridge. It's just so pleasant up there. Conditions were great, although it was pretty windy in SB when I arrived.

Leaving Ventura. Perfect weather.
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1471819831.784571.jpg
Views:	140
Size:	20.0 KB
ID:	55415

New toys to play with... The transducers in action.
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1471819916.128780.jpg
Views:	138
Size:	21.0 KB
ID:	55416

Rock ledge structure seen via sidescan. This is going to make the upcoming lobster season way more fun...
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1471819980.533927.jpg
Views:	140
Size:	18.1 KB
ID:	55417

Nearing Santa Barbara. The weather is still perfect. That isn't haze, it's smoke from the Rey fire.
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1471820074.082568.jpg
Views:	147
Size:	19.7 KB
ID:	55418

Back in paradise after two months. And there's even still a beer in the fridge...
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1471820163.442489.jpg
Views:	136
Size:	20.0 KB
ID:	55419

The new radar worked great. I need to calibrate the heading sensor a few degrees to get the overlay dialed in, but it's already usable even without. I spent a little time playing with the various gain and noise reduction settings. I somehow managed not to take any pictures of it in action, but the color differentiation of return strength was nifty, although I don't think the 18" dome really has the angular resolution to make it a "must have" feature.

I didn't see any whales this time, and only two pods of dolphins. A few came over to say hello, but none really surfed the bow for long.

All said, another great trip and good time.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 07:31 AM   #50
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
Sounds like everything worked out well although you may be a little under pitched on the prop. Have always liked a big rudder that makes things happen NOW.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 10:49 AM   #51
Guru
 
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
Congrat's awesome work, thanks for sharing.
Marlinmike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2017, 10:32 AM   #52
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
It's been short of forever, but sometimes life just gets entertaining.

I've been using the trawler rather than working on it, as I've been doing projects on other boats. That and the boss declared a moratorium on tearing her up for the fall.

I had shoulder surgery, and it wasn't until this week that the doc has finally released me to start doing real stuff, as long as it isn't over my shoulder height, or heavier than 10 lbs. That limits the boat yoga...

But, I have at least been sitting on her a ton, which is nice. And we spent a spell back in Wyoming, where it got to -40F and snowed most of the time. So it was nice to get back and sit in a tshirt and shorts.
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1446.JPG
Views:	132
Size:	126.3 KB
ID:	60246

So I've been spending my downtime learning digital electronics, among other things. I've always kicked around building a custom boat monitoring / management system, so I figured this would be a good time. I decided to go with the low hanging fruit, so my first piece is a temperature and humidity sensor. The plan is to put several of these around various places (salon, cabins, engine room, bilge, flybridge, fridge.) There are lots of sensor options I've been considering, such as water level monitors, bilge pump counters (and duty cycle monitoring), heck, I even have a UV level sensor on the way (slow boat from China, literally.)

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1442.JPG
Views:	141
Size:	35.0 KB
ID:	60247

Version 1 functions so far. I have an upgrade with a tiny OLED screen that is working, but I'm in the middle of learning the screen drivers, so it doesn't display data properly yet. That'll be the next goal. I have set up a raspberry pi with a little touchscreen that will be the control head and primary display. They can talk over the wire now, but range is limited.

As soon as the doc clears me to start boatwork again I have one other boat to finish, and then it's back to work on the trawler. My goal is to back to trawler work by mid-march. Until then my plan is to build the boat monitoring system here at the house, and then install it this spring.

Thanks for following, folks. If there's interest, I'll document the building of the monitoring / management system.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2017, 04:36 PM   #53
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
Back in business

So the doc has cleared me to do a little bit more, like crawl around, so it's back to work in boat-ville. Sort of. I've been filling my time volunteering at my kid's school, and the school my wife teaches at, so that's been burning up about three days a week. The PT is a real bear, and seems to take forever. I think I need to get back to work so I can have more time to work on my boat... Fingers crossed on that one.

At any rate, I did manage to get down and start up the boat refit again yesterday. That was a couple hours of "getting everything back out" and "where are the parts hidden" and "crap I left that tool at home" and "what was I doing again, and why?" I did manage to get the rest of the cabling run for the autopilot, and all the cables up to where I'm going to mount the control unit. I managed to get them terminated, and was just about to mount it when I ran out of time. So that part felt good.

I took the measurements for the new DC panel. I spent this morning drawing up version 1.0 in Inkscape. I'm supposed to supervise the "liquids and solids" lab for the 2nd graders tomorrow (basically melting things with a torch and heat gun) but I'm hoping to sneak over and fab it afterwards. If I manage it, I'll post a photo or three.

On the electronics front, I did manage to get my sensor units speaking NMEA2000, and built a N2k to USB gateway (for $6 in parts, yeah!) First up is a monitor of the fridge and freezer with dual temp gauges and a nice little display. Hopefully this weekend it will find it's way off the breadboard and onto a proto-board and case. I brought home a cut end from a N2k cable, so it should be complete by the time I've finished the new DC panel and wiring. Fingers crossed again.

I'm glad to be back at it after a couple months break.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2017, 07:10 PM   #54
Guru
 
Xsbank's Avatar
 
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
That was an interesting read! The satisfaction of doing a job properly and knowing that a system will run as best as it ever can is immensely rewarding, even if it will remain forever (until the next owner) hidden from the light of day.

The other nice thing about your work is that you know it will probably outlast the boat. Any systems done once properly are frequently never done again. Think of the crap you have pulled out of your boat and marvel at how nice it is now.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
Xsbank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2017, 05:23 PM   #55
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
Thanks. I'm having a great time, and the next owner of this boat is going to be way ahead of the current one...

I am super stoked with how the new DC panel is turning out. I had to redo all the text, because a standard SVG file is only standard if the proprietary software importing it agrees. So that took a while, and since I was in the center, I ended up spending the majority of the morning helping out the kids, and not much doing my project.

Here's the current setup:
Name:  IMG_1492.JPG
Views: 608
Size:  12.3 KB

Here's my project loaded up and ready:
Name:  IMG_1497.JPG
Views: 613
Size:  8.0 KB

The laser cutter going to work:
Name:  IMG_1500.JPG
Views: 609
Size:  9.0 KB

Here's the cut acrylic panel:
Name:  IMG_1504.JPG
Views: 612
Size:  11.8 KB

Populated with all the breakers I had:
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1505.JPG
Views:	137
Size:	26.5 KB
ID:	61045

The rest of the breakers should be here tomorrow, as well as some more heat shrink. I ran out of little stuff, and want to label all the wires in the wiring harness individually for the new panel. The hole at the top is for a battery monitor. I'm still working on ideas for some form of panel light. Maybe incorporating an LED strip. Any thoughts on that front are very welcome.

This piece of acrylic is what I had, but it's 3" too short. I'll have to order a piece that's 27" long for the final version, but I need to get moving on this next week, so I'm going with it for now.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2017, 05:59 PM   #56
TF Site Team
 
FlyWright's Avatar
 
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
Love the new panel. Beautiful work! Is the top hole for a SOC/Battery Monitor?
__________________
My boat is my ark. It's my mobile treehouse and my floating fishing cabin. It's my retreat and my respite. Everyday I thank God I have a boat! -Al FJB

@DeltaBridges - 25 Delta Bridges in 25 Days
FlyWright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2017, 06:09 PM   #57
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
Very nice work!

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2017, 06:23 PM   #58
TF Site Team
 
Insequent's Avatar
 
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Insequent
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 50 Mk I
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,262
Sounds like you are having fun, very important for a project of this scale. Love the panel, but I would invariably not think of all the breakers that would be required at the time, and have to add some later with stick-on labels.
__________________
Brian
Insequent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2017, 12:34 PM   #59
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
Quote:
Originally Posted by Insequent View Post
Sounds like you are having fun, very important for a project of this scale. Love the panel, but I would invariably not think of all the breakers that would be required at the time, and have to add some later with stick-on labels.
Well, it does help to have a 40 year old boat. Most of that stuff has reached equilibrium, and I just had to change over the electronics labels. And the stuff I've added, like our portable chest fridge/freezer, although to be honest I haven't figured out exactly where I'm going to put that thing. Right now it sits on a counter burning up space.

The other great thing is that I have regular access to the laser cutter. I have the file, so making changes and cutting a new panel is pretty easy. I actually have been referring to this as "version 1" of the panel. Sadly, I've already come up with enough changes that I'm considering cutting another one before mounting the rest of the breakers.

The reason that the hole to mount the battery monitor is centered is to match the shape of the cutout in the woodwork without having to cut more of the helm station out. I don't really like it there design-wise, but it fit and was a good use of the space. However, I think I've figured a decent way to do the panel light.

I'll float my idea for the panel light and solicit input before I get everything out to fabricate it... I have a few issues I'm trying to handle. Firstly, the acrylic pieces I had around are all three inches too short for the space. Secondly, there's a centered notch cutout at the top, requiring me to center the battery monitor if it's at the top. Thirdly, I'd really like to have a "panel light / courtesy light" that can be easily worked in the dark.

Our first boat had a pull knob right next to the entry door that lit a little courtesy light on the companionway stairs so that it wasn't lethal to try and get into the boat at night. Our last boat had a switch at the top of the electrical panel that lit up the panel so you could see what you were turning on. Given the location of my electrical panel, I'd like to combine those functions.

So my current plan is to take a piece of Mahogany lumber that's 3 1/2" by 10" and rabbit out a slot on the bottom edge to recess an LED strip. Then I'll route in channels for the wiring and connector, Then I'll wire up a switch towards the top of the panel, and a parallel one by the door (I can use the now depricated auto-pilot pull knob switch which will be super easy to find by feel) that will both light the panel and the floor in front of the door. It'll serve as the panel light, the courtesy light, and both cover the gap in the acrylic and move the panel down enough that I can move the battery monitor to the left side. If I do so, I was thinking I would use the upper right hand side for a sort of "bilge pump" control area.
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 08:53 PM   #60
Senior Member
 
City: southern California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 179
Since you can't let sleeping dogs, I stayed up late and designed a v2. Of the DC panel that incorporates the bilge pump controls, and since I had to finish the growler of beer before it went flat, I did up an AC panel too.

I ran out of time between when the kids left and the instructor had to leave this afternoon in the center, so I didn't get to finish the DC panel. I did get the wood test panel done, and got lucky... everything fits.
Name:  IMG_1513.JPG
Views: 561
Size:  9.9 KB
Here's a bit of a closer view of the upper part. I also tightened up the tolerance on the circuit breaker holes.
Name:  IMG_1512.JPG
Views: 564
Size:  10.2 KB
Here's the wood test cut of the AC panel. I had a mounting hole out of place, so I had to adjust for the final run
Name:  IMG_1511.JPG
Views: 559
Size:  10.1 KB
Here's the before of the AC panel as it came. I should note that the red lamp is not connected to anything, it's just there.
Name:  IMG_1506.JPG
Views: 561
Size:  9.3 KB
And finally, the populated version of the AC panel. I have to pick up the last two breakers at WM tomorrow afternoon. Then it's down to the boat for install!
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1514.JPG
Views:	134
Size:	34.9 KB
ID:	61174
The little boat icon is to show which of the shore power inlets is in use. I actually have to add #1, but it's going where the cable/phone connector is now, so it'll be a quick replacement. I needed something to fill the space, and I think it adds a "cool factor" in some nerdy way.

I should be able to cut the DC panel in acrylic tomorrow at lunch, since I'm volunteering in the center again tomorrow morning...
questionmark is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012