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03-13-2016, 09:41 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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How often you used a spare?
Everyone has a supply of spares and I get the why.
But, how often, while away from home, have you actually used a spare; pump, alternator, starter, voltage regulator etc. etc?
How do you know your spare this or that is even any good?
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03-13-2016, 09:58 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,307
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You bring up a real issue. Spare parts, especially those with rubber components have a limited shelf life. Impellers are changed often enough that I'm comfortable putting in the spare in the pump and buying a new spare. My spare mechanical fuel pump, I wouldn't be comfortable using it if I had access to a new one.
A few years ago I had the belt break on my engine. I had a spare belt and could have easily changed it. It was late in the day, my guests were tired, the beer was cold, I've been paying for unlimited towing for years and never used it. I made the call. That was the only time I've been towed in in more than fifty years of boating. So no, other than light bulbs, I've never used an onboard spare.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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03-13-2016, 10:02 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
City: Freeport Tx
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 135
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I have used spare belts offshore and impellers but if it's hard to change you got to think will I do this when out or will I get a tow in
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03-13-2016, 10:03 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Dang Hawgwash, you come up with some great questions.
Never needed to use a spare, but then I only have a spare impeller, fuel filter, and belt. The belt is probably too old to be any good to be honest.
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03-13-2016, 10:08 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
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You (actually everybody) should read Vigor's Black Box Theory;
Good Old Boat - Vigor's Black Box Theory article
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
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03-13-2016, 10:21 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Edmonds, WA
Vessel Name: WESTERLY
Vessel Model: 1974 Pacific Trawler 37
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 502
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Hawgwash says: "Everyone has a supply of spares and I get the why.
But, how often, while away from home, have you actually used a spare; pump, alternator, starter, voltage regulator etc. etc? How do you know your spare this or that is even any good?"
During cruising, I've had to install my spare high output alternator and fresh water pump assembly.
When I purchased this boat in 1997, one of the first things I did to learn the boat was to take all of the spares and put them into service. This means I needed to have the proper tools and procedures in place to make it happen. The removed spares were then evaluated for remaining service life, rebuilt if needed, and put back into spares if appropriate.
This means that I have replaced raw water pumps, coolant pumps, starters, belt tensioners, both low and high output alternators, heat exchangers, transmission coolers, low pressure fuel pump and injectors. All while at my dock.
Certain spares have a calendar life, such as belts and impellers, after 8 years they get replaced with new.
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03-13-2016, 10:24 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MurrayM;
You (actually everybody) should read Vigor's Black Box Theory;
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Well M, I am suspicious, so just accept that I smiled and nodded. Ok?
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03-13-2016, 10:26 PM
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#8
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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Never.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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03-13-2016, 10:37 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markpierce
Never.
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Not even a spare camera??
__________________
Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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03-13-2016, 10:43 PM
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#10
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hmason
Not even a spare camera??
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Never.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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03-13-2016, 10:43 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markpierce;
Never.
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What...no picture of never?
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03-13-2016, 10:44 PM
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#12
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
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Broke an alternator/water pump belt in a fairly remote area offshore from the Everglades. The previous owner had carefully stashed a spare on board. Assured the Admiral that we'd be back underway soon. WRONG... was the wrong size and no way in hell to make it work. The fix required a long Seatow.
Blew an oil cooler on main engine in the Bahamas. No worry... only took two days to find the spare. (Yeah, I know...make an inventory location list). Install was no problem and cruise continued.
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03-13-2016, 10:48 PM
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#13
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawgwash
What...no picture of never?
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Everything is fine here in the engine compartment.
Have professional maintenance annually. That's cheaper with one engine rather than multiples. A fallacy of redundancy is when one does not maintain.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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03-13-2016, 10:52 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawgwash
Well M, I am suspicious, so just accept that I smiled and nodded. Ok?
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__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
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03-13-2016, 11:03 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawgwash
Everyone has a supply of spares and I get the why.
But, how often, while away from home, have you actually used a spare; pump, alternator, starter, voltage regulator etc. etc?
How do you know your spare this or that is even any good?
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Use spares all the time.
I know they're good because don't keep useless spares onboard.
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03-13-2016, 11:07 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay N
When I purchased this boat in 1997, one of the first things I did to learn the boat was to take all of the spares and put them into service. This means I needed to have the proper tools and procedures in place to make it happen. The removed spares were then evaluated for remaining service life, rebuilt if needed, and put back into spares if appropriate.
This means that I have replaced raw water pumps, coolant pumps, starters, belt tensioners, both low and high output alternators, heat exchangers, transmission coolers, low pressure fuel pump and injectors. All while at my dock.
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You win!
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
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03-13-2016, 11:10 PM
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#17
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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It's not that you expect to use the spares, it is to appease the gods of machinery that you respect them and take reasonable precautions. They approve of your effort, and therefore they prevent any breakdowns.
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03-13-2016, 11:15 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC
It's not that you expect to use the spares, it is to appease the gods of machinery that you respect them and take reasonable precautions. They approve of your effort, and therefore they prevent any breakdowns.
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Except the things you don't have a spare for, right?
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03-14-2016, 01:07 AM
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#19
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Veteran Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Dream Catcher
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 97
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Always carry a rebuild kit for the heads. Shit happens. And I needed to use the kit. Everyone else went for a dinghy ride with the Admiral well I fixed the "problem with the guest toilet."
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03-14-2016, 01:19 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
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I used a spare bilge pump switch on my last outing. The old one wasn't playing the game anymore.
It's something that I'd rather not be without.
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