It Starts Today

[BDofMSP]

First lesson today. I've been working on electronics upfits all week, which are pretty standard and little opportunity for excitement. But today I had a conversation with my dock neighbor and the fun began.

She mentioned to me that you really need to keep an eye on your AC strainers here in these warm waters of Florida. I'm a northern freshwater boater so I really appreciated the tip!

Of course cleaning a strainer is about as easy as you can get, so I jumped right on it. I shut the seacock, opened the strainer and yes, it was full of various nasties. As I was leaving to rinse it, I noticed that water hadn't really stopped running into the strainer. Hmmm. Yep that seacock was tough to move. Note to self to address that on haul out.

My wife took the task of cleaning the strainer basket while I went to town on the enclosure. It was coated with barnacles and sludge and needed love. After scraping all that off, I worried about it flowing through the system so I shop vac'd it out. I swapped the shop vac for the strainer basket and reassembled.

I was going to start and test it but she wasn't back yet, so I exercised the seacock a bit. Then we tested and ... Of course no water flowed out.

In my last boat I would get air locks when I pulled it on the trailer, so that's the first thing that entered my head. I pulled the shop vac around and sucked it on the outlet to try to force prime. No joy.

I thought some of the debris might have been clogging the system. I took a hose pick and pulled one hose off the pump. Water flowed freely. Hmmm.

Then I noticed that I'd never shut off the seacock before pulling the hose. Well duh, because it was already off. When I was exercising the handle I'd left it off which was why water wasn't flowing! Easy solution and just cost pride.

Ran it for a bit and noticed that water was dripping from the hose that I'd pulled. Turns out it was brittle and the hose pick had broken it. So I pulled that again, cut a couple inches off and reassembled. No problem.

Except that tightening the hose clamp they both broke. And since I've just taken this boat over, I have no spares.

So the neighbor who got me started on this whole thing saved me with a couple of clamps. Hopefully I can get to a store and restock both of us.

Anyway. A 10 minute strainer cleaning took 2.5 hours. Seems about right! Tomorrow is another day. We'll see what dumb mistakes I can learn from then.
BD

[Comodave]

Yes, it is a good idea to check all the hoses, clamps and through hulls to make sure of the condition. I am going through my boat and replacing the hoses and clamps if the clamps are not true 316 S/S. Going into the hardware store and buying S/S clamps doesn’t mean that they are actually all S/S. Take a magnet with you and if they are magnetic then they aren’t S/S. I buy either AWAB or ABA clamps. They are all 316 S/S, don’t have the through cuts in the band and the band edges are rolled a bit so they don’t cut the hose. They are expensive but last and won’t rust. Good that you found the problem before the clamps let go and potentially sunk your boat. Have fun and good luck.

[JT and Estee]

Congratulations on the new boat! I'm looking forward to reading about your travels from Florida to Lake Superior. Thanks for sharing about your boat projects also.

[OldDan1943]

You should have a long length of the most common diameter hose. Probably 3/4 inch and a supply of each size SS hose clamps plus some hose and clamps of the other diameters. Chances are there is only 2 diameter hose on board. Then add in some hose barbs and Teflon tape.
I think the life expectancy of the hoses are the date on the hose plus 5 years.
For sea water, use the black rubber hose with the wire inside. Sounds like it might be time to change out all your seawater hoses before you start the loop. Ah and dont forget to lube the barbs so you can easily get the hose off when needed.
I had 4 or 5 half in through hulls. The first trip to the hard, I had them change them to 3/4 inch bronze. The boat came with the "plastic" through hull valves. I have little faith in those so, before they became old and brittle I changed them over to bronze putting them all on the bonding system. I expect a thank you note from the next owner. LOL

[BDofMSP]

Agreed. My electronic refit should be done Wednesday or Thursday and I'll be refocused on ER stuff going forward. I did get high quality replacement clamps today and a few spares but I'll measure what I really need and lay in supplies.
BD

[BDofMSP]

Did our first trip out of the slip today. We warned our dock neighbors that we were going to be practicing, and didn't need help, but that didn't stop people from the other side of the marina from running over to see why we kept coming in and out of the slip.

We took her out to the Gulf (with only paper charts !) and had a very enjoyable cruise.

When we returned we got more "help" and we politely declined. Unfortunately that guy decided that he knew more and started yelling instructions and commands. I told him that I was only listening to my wife's instructions. When we successfully got tied up he yelled at me that I shouldn't let my pride stop me from asking for help. I tried to explain that it was a new boat for us and we wanted the practice, but he was still very offended. Whatever.

Anyway, at the end of the day our colors fly with satisfaction and pride.

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BD. Well done!

[OldDan1943]

Originally Posted by BDofMSP

Agreed. My electronic refit should be done Wednesday or Thursday and I'll be refocused on ER stuff going forward. I did get high quality replacement clamps today and a few spares but I'll measure what I really need and lay in supplies.
BD

"A few"? At least 6 of each. Dont forget the misc sizes....on the engine.

[BDofMSP]

Yes of course. A full inventory is pending.

[Comodave]

I started my clamp kit with an AWAB kit from Defender. It came with a flexible driver to tighten the clamps since they are metric.

[catalinajack]

7mm socket. I just replaced all of my engine hose clamps with embossed-drive grove clamps when replacing my heat exchangers. A 1/4 drive socket worked easily.

Originally Posted by Comodave

I started my clamp kit with an AWAB kit from Defender. It came with a flexible driver to tighten the clamps since they are metric.

[JohnEasley]

Congrats on your first successful cruise. You did the right thing, practicing the way you did. Ignore the guy who yelled at you. You nailed it.

[rgano]

Originally Posted by BDofMSP

Yes of course. A full inventory is pending.

I am glad you are having fun and gaining confidence in all your endeavors on your new-to-you boat. I am into a new-to-me boat experience here with the 1500-mile delivery for a friend. In our third day aboard after a day and a half of orientation by him before he left us on our own, I am into my usual "product improvement" mode. He believes in a FULL inventory, but I have only a vague recollection of where a few things might be. There are duplicates of tools hither and thither, boxes of bilge pump and actuating flippers (my today project to replace one), spare turbo, alternator, filters galore, but where in the heck would I find the metal link to allow the mast to lay back for running under bridges, or for that matter a spare windshield wiper blade. It's all here, and he answers the phone in Florida to tell me where, but sheesh, it gets tiresome roaming around looking through his idea of an organized and full inventory.

Lying Coinjock, NC and hoping to get to warmer weather soon.

[BDofMSP]

Ah yes. The PO kept an inventory too, but it was simply a list of things (like "filters") but no model numbers or location. But more importantly there is no log of maintenance so I don't know when said "filter" was last replaced. Fortunately there's a book of service invoices so much of it's knowable, but you gotta do the leg work. Spreadsheet will be created soon.

BD

[rgano]

The new custodian of my 42 Grand Banks and I got on well, and ever since 2015, there has been a regular dialog about plans for maintenance, mods, and improvements. There, "where is stuff" questions went away pretty fast.

[Pete Meisinger]

BDofMSP, Congratulations on how well everything is going so far. Silvertons are very nice boats, there are quite a few of them at my marina and tons of them in Sturgeon Bay, there must have been an aggressive dealer there at some point in time. My only gripe with Silvertons is the lack of a walkway around the boat. A very close friend has one and he and his spouse have become very good at docking so I imagine it is just a matter of practice.

I probably have 100 various hose clamps on board. I even save used clamps when I replace. One of my bucket list items is to replace every clamp in use with a high quality SS clamp and then build a good inventory of spares. High quality clamps are expensive, worth it but expensive.

FINALLY.. We love Chambers island. We spend numerous nights in the bay on the north side of the island. Please do make contact with us when you get to Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Also Washington Island, Sturgeon Bay, Door County, etc.

pete

[rclarke246]

Originally Posted by MV Wanderlust

Congrats on your first successful cruise. You did the right thing, practicing the way you did. Ignore the guy who yelled at you. You nailed it.

Amen! When folks start barking instructions to me when in close quarters I DO NOT listen.
You're doing things exactly right and learning how to get her where she needs to be.
Congratulation!

[JustBob]

One of my dock neighbors has nearly the same boat and loves it. His third Silverton. It seems well built and feature rich. Well done!

[aevdg]

May I offer you my compliments and I hope you enjoy your boat.

[Mischief Managed]

It's been fun reading this thread. Congrats! I love your can-do attitude and spirit of adventure.