N4RNV

Hi RW,

Visible progress at last. For so long everything was cleaning, prepping, removing. Finally in the maintaining, fixing, reinstalling phase. Engine we stripped all the peripherals: alternator, pumps, starter, wiring, hoses, heat exchangers so we could clean up, derust (is that a word?) and repaint. Almost back together.

Now working on the refer. Ripped off the front and top of counter, cut the box into 4 pieces to get it out of the boat and made it 2" shorter, filled the hole with new insulation, glassed the pieces back together (inside the cabin since it wouldn't fit in the hatch reassembled) and just returned from putting another coat of epoxy on the inside. Hope to finish this in a few weeks if I can stay in town. Hope to launch this winter.

At some point want a good sewing machine but have too many things higher up on the list for now.

Yeah, I'm a visual type. Do much better with pictures and diagrams. Speaking of pictures, never could get the photos off my new Android so took some new shots of the shaft log. As soon as I catch my breath I'll download those and send them over.

So you have two filter banks. Are they single or dual filters? I'm going with one dual Racor system fed by the Peason selector valve. Where is your selector mounted? Mine was under the companionway and I moved it to under the chart table. The fuel hoses were old and cracked and needed replacing anyway and I like to be able to access the selector without having to get inside the engine box.

email skip dot mac at earthlink.net

By the way, you asked earlier if there is ever an end. I'll tell you a story. My last boat before a 30 year detour to career and family, I owned for 6-7 years. For a lot of that time I lived on board and tried to stay on top of maintenance on a regular basis. In that 6-7 years I recall just one period of about 2 months where every system on the boat was working perfectly all at the same time and I had no major overhauls, repairs or upgrades pending.

OK, I'm having trouble visualizing your system so if I may, let me ask a few questions. I guess first, what I'm thinking about is a backup for the electric fuel pump on my engine that feed the injector pump. After all, that pump is 25 years old and if it dies I am assuming the engine will not get fuel and not run.

1. Which electric fuel pump are you referring to, the one on the engine that feeds the injector pump or a second pump you have added (like the one for the polishing system)?

2. Where is this pump getting the fuel feed? From one of the standard tanks?

3. Outlet of the pump to a 3 way valve. To the common side of the valve or one of the switched legs? What goes to the other two legs of the valve.

4. From there to a T but not clear about the T. This is where I really get lost.

Have a dual Racor and a dual/bypass oil filter that I will install once the engine is bolted back down. Will be looking into a backup fuel feed system as well.

Took the photo with my new Android and haven't transfered it to my laptop. Will try to send it to myself and the forward over. If I don't like the resolution will go back and redo it with the Nikon. Since it's hard to see under there I want a good record of what it looks like in case I have to mess with something in there as it will certainly be by the Braille method.

I didn't totally remove the engine since I am keeping the original W58 but did need to replace the motor mounts, all the hoses, and trickiest, the hose attached to the shaft log which is pretty much inaccessible with the engine in place. So I disconnected at the flange and hoisted the engine in the engine room. Removed the pedestal, built a brace on the cockpit floor and hooked a chain hoist through the hole in the cockpit down to the lifting ring on the block. Wrapped a chain around the transmission and braced across the engine box under the companionway and lifted that end with another hoist. If you have never seen the whole area under your engine I can send you a picture.

I certainly would like to do some sailing but am enjoying this part of the messing about. Latest, I ripped out the old refer box and will be adding extra insulation and a new Frigoboat. If all goes as planned I will be putting the old liner, but a bit smaller, back in the old hole.

Wish I only had a filter and generator to install. I'm (hopefully) approaching the end of a two year overhaul of my old Pearson. Just about ready to reinstall the engine, new cutlass bearing,motor mounts, etc. Then to finish the rewiring and plumbing. Will do the rerigging when I splash.

Makes me a bit nervous as well. Seems like you have as many generators laying around as I do. I'm tempted to dig my old Tektronix out and take a look at the outputs. Wonder if I can borrow a Honda somewhere to test.

This is the first negative report I have heard about the Honda. I know they are inverters but they do advertise true sine wave output and I have read glowing praise from others that use the Honda to power computers, Hams and other rather sensitive electronics. Any chance yours has a problem? Ever look at the output with a scope?

I will be using wind and solar for my primary charging sources and a Victron inverter for moderate AC electric. Like you I want a gennie only for those rare times that I can't live without air con. I can remember one or two hot, windless nights when the bugs were eating me alive but it was too hot to close the hatches and screens don't stop noseeums. I would have paid $1000 for air con just for that night.

Hi RW,

Crashed PC always a hassle. Have had it happen and try to be good about backing up essential stuff. I just had to get a new one due to job change and it took most of a weekend just to get the basics (transfer old email, install Office, link to my network printer, etc).

Let me know how the Phasor works out. I've been looking at them as they are one of the few gennies < 4KW. Don't really see the need for bigger. I am installing a Victron inverter and for now will parallel that with a Honda EU2000 which should give me about 4 KW max. The Victron will give the extra power to start the AC compressor and the let it run on the Honda on those occasional nights when I can't live without AC. Other than that and some battery charging to save hours on the main diesel I can's see a need for a big generator.