NP 45 Keypower Install#2

Been working and in contact with Rod for quite a while. We have been sharing notes, encouraging each other and i'm getting started after lots of planning on Couple's Retreat.

The actuators are very robust and i like the dual actuators on each fin. Ordered a larger 7.5 sq. ft. fins which should work well at 7-8 kts.

100's of hours thinking, looking at where to install components, wire runs and blocks to support components. Boat goes in for fiberglass/actuator install March 14th. Using Grand Marina boatyard in SFO.

last week I completed "arts and crafts" with wood blocks, priming and painting. planned to put all angled hydraulic fittings on components so most hydraulic lines will be standard straight JIC fittings.

Today I ran the three wire runs from the pilot house to the engine room. Went easier than planned. I have the PTO adapter and V10 pump as well.

Next steps are mounting and wiring pilot house power, GPS, control panel.

Completed pilot house wiring today and control panel install. About as far as I can go before haul out and fin install in 2 weeks.

Haul out coming up?

Funny you should ask. Just departed for the boatyard at Grand Marina. Alemeda ca.

Good luck! Would love to see pics of your haul out.

Boat at yard and #3 for haul out. Guessing late next week. I’m out of town through Wednesday, so hoping I’m there for haul out. Want to see how good propspeed and bottom job has held up as well. Two crates of parts leave my garage tomorrow, and wife is happy about that. $300 to ship 30 miles. Had no way to do it myself as crates are 400-600 lbs.

Very cool - following along

Boat still awaiting haul out at yard. Hoping next week.

Hull reinforcing for fins at the yard, or did you have that done during the build?

Will be done at the yard.

Yard pulled boat yesterday. Will check on it Friday.

Spent an hour with the boatyard plotting out where the fins will go. Lots of discussions with Rod, (Magna) as well. Got all that figured out and they are off to the races Monday. The goal was to be as far outboard as possible without having fins extend beyond the beam of the boat. 13" from outboard chine was the solution. To get the actuator base configured, the yard will apply a base of structural Coosa followed by G10, with glass layup. The yard estimates just a few days. They are just doing the fin install. I’ll then have to order hoses, mount components, finish engine room wiring etc.

I will be moving the boat to Ensenada in the late summer, (likely capt jack Defriel) then September sailing to port Everglades. Likely to end up in Charleston.

Week 1 update

Nice progress from a very solid boatyard. It took them a long time to induct the boat but when they did, they have been very productive. Holes are drilled and as of noon today, port side was all epoxied up. They were starting starboard side after lunch. Monday is glass and paint followed by fin install.

Unfortunately during the visit found previous yard bottom painted over what appears is just a pressure washed bottom. 2yr micron 66 is peeling badly. I have to strip, sand and re-do the bottom paint. Don’t ask how much…

Expect work will take all of next week but looking like a 2 week visit for everything, once they got rolling.

If you are starting the bottom from bare gel coat I would apply a barrier coat first. After the old bottom paint is off I would wipe it thoroughly with a prep solvent. Total Boat makes a nice one. One wet rag followed by a clean rag changed out frequently to get any wax off from the original mold release wax. It is amazing how many years it can stay on the bottom and effect paint adhesion. Then put on the prescribed amount, gallons not coats, of barrier coat paint. Then do the regular bottom paint. Then you should have a reliable paint job that won’t peal off in the future. I say use the number of gallons not coats of barrier coat because one persons coat is another persons thin coat. So instead just keep painting coats until you use all of the paint so you get a proper thickness of barrier coat. Ask the manufacturer how many gallons you should use, not the yard. The yard usually wants to do the absolute minimum instead of what is correct. I have had yards say they use “2 heavy” coats and that is enough. The last boat I did the bottom on Interlux said to use 6 gallons and that actually ended up as 6 coats of paint. But I had a reliable barrier. I usually do the painting myself so I know it is done properly. But as I get older it isn’t as easy. The last bottom job I did I had the yard soda blast off the old paint. Then they brought the boat to my house and blocked it up on the driveway. On the concrete I could use a creeper to roll around under the boat which made it easier to do, also much more convenient.

Thanks for the paint information.

Quick update- fiberglass work done. Cleaned and drying. Hoping for collar installation, then fins this week.

Finally

About ready to float. Just need air compressor installed. 3 months at the boat yard, and many days with zero progress. Happy with the quality of work. awaiting invoice $$$$

Just need to finish wiring and install components, fit and order hydraulic lines.

Hang onto your butt when you get the invoice, I feel for you.

Looking good!

Hope the sticker shock isn’t too great. Curious to hear how they work.

Price very reasonable, nice surprise and work is high quality. Pick up boat tomorrow. Took rpm and GPS speed data in two directions, ( perpendicular to tides) before install, so should have excellent drag numbers.

Update-

Finished all work and tested the system this weekend. I have to say the change is dramatic. I see where people say once they have stabilized boats, they won’t go back. Agree, and wife is happy. I recorded speeds pre- install, and will need to do a post install speed test. Guessing I lost .25 kts. Seems to have no affect with the current but slightly more negative against. Will shoot a video when in conditions that illustrate the difference when I can.

jimdavi said:

Update-

Finished all work and tested the system this weekend. I have to say the change is dramatic. I see where people say once they have stabilized boats, they won’t go back. Agree, and wife is happy. I recorded speeds pre- install, and will need to do a post install speed test. Guessing I lost .25 kts. Seems to have no affect with the current but slightly more negative against. Will shoot a video when in conditions that illustrate the difference when I can.

Click to expand...

Welcome to the “never go back” group

Looking forward to the video!

I will not ever own a stabilized boat but I am interested in seeing how it performs and see the difference with them on and off.

I’ll do that when conditions allow. Headed to fleet week SFO Friday am. It gets a little snotty by Alcatraz, so we’ll see what I can come up with. Initial test, was amazing.

Glad you are so happy since it was a huge investment in time and money to do it.

Update- system finished. Had to reseal a few pipe threads. Learned about locktite 5452. Works great.
Have not been in anything worthy of a video, but boat rocks zero in operation.

Regarding speed, changes are nominal and either are exactly the same pre-mod or .1-.12 kts slower. Really no significant change in speed.