Aux placement - Page 2

Downhilldai · 26 November 2006, 20:26

I think there's a lot of apathy towards understanding basic mechanics these days. People just don't seem to understand what's going on. In the past, many motorists would have a basic knowledge of how cars, for example, worked. Where before, a broken down car at the roadside would have the bonnet up and the driver tinkering away under the bonnet, now you just see them sitting in the driver's seat with the hazard lights on.
Maybe this is because vehicles have become more reliable, or it may be because they have become more complicated. End result is the same - a simple fix doesn't get carried out by the operator, because they haven't got a clue where to start looking for the problem.

Nos4r2 · 26 November 2006, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I think there's a lot of apathy towards understanding basic mechanics these days. People just don't seem to understand what's going on. In the past, many motorists would have a basic knowledge of how cars, for example, worked. Where before, a broken down car at the roadside would have the bonnet up and the driver tinkering away under the bonnet, now you just see them sitting in the driver's seat with the hazard lights on.
Maybe this is because vehicles have become more reliable, or it may be because they have become more complicated. End result is the same - a simple fix doesn't get carried out by the operator, because they haven't got a clue where to start looking for the problem.

I think TBH it's got to the point where you CAN'T fix the problem without a diagnostic screen and normal tools won't do it anymore. That and it's now a 4 hour job to get past the bolt-on bullshyt before you can get to a problem...

Downhilldai · 26 November 2006, 22:38

Yes - the complexity puts people off even taking a look - then Mr Seastart comes along and cleans the shit out of the fuel filter, or opens the fuel tank vent, or tightens the battery terminal.........

Nos4r2 · 26 November 2006, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Yes - the complexity puts people off even taking a look - then Mr Seastart comes along and cleans the shit out of the fuel filter, or opens the fuel tank vent, or tightens the battery terminal.........

LOL well, yeah. Point taken.I wouldn't have even considered that as a problem though.

mike · 26 November 2006, 22:47

where's your console? I had a liferaft on the front of one of mine 3 years ago and it worked wellalso keeps it out of the way.

another idea which worked well on a 8.5 metre boat was to use the anchor locker os a water ballast tank holder. we got plastimos fresh water 150 litre tank shut off one of the exits and use hozelock attachments to fill up.
this resolved well the issue of runng 300 hp and 400 litres of fuel all at the back when missing the punters who were the normal ballast,.
the tank cost £50 ish and never let us down.
Italso meant that we were not needing to worry if it was VV choppy as the weight really does a fantastic job.

You don't need baffles inthe tank if you get one a little oversized and really fill it up!! our space was 140 litres .

That way if you get a fat mate to come and he sits mid boat you can always ditch the water whereas the engine will have to stay put.

mike

IBWET · 27 November 2006, 00:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I think there's a lot of apathy towards understanding basic mechanics these days. People just don't seem to understand what's going on. In the past, many motorists would have a basic knowledge of how cars, for example, worked. Where before, a broken down car at the roadside would have the bonnet up and the driver tinkering away under the bonnet, now you just see them sitting in the driver's seat with the hazard lights on.
Maybe this is because vehicles have become more reliable, or it may be because they have become more complicated. End result is the same - a simple fix doesn't get carried out by the operator, because they haven't got a clue where to start looking for the problem.

This leads to an interesting point;historically you decided in the past who looked after your car/engine, that decision was based on how you felt the garage looked after your car (grease on door hinges etc). Good mechanics are very rare these days, I think this has been brought about by munufacturers wanting to control of the lurative service side. we only have fitters in dealerships, the warranties force us to take engines to certain garages only, where only parts are fitted.

As the purchaser of a new engine we agree..we're getting new parts after all. but what about the the poor sod who gets the engine in a couple of years time? The mechanic he knows will look after him in a loyal, really take care of it way stands scratching his head ..so it's back to the dealer and his expensive parts only this time the profit margin is huge,with the THIS customer in the least the position to pay it...

This also involves suppliers recently I was in the position where a manufacturer, was reluctant to sell me a service manual, this only highlighted another attempt at control by the engine manufacturer, I paid thousands for the engine, so don't expect to be told how I will look after it, If I choose to service it myself forgo the warranty thats my choice.

This is bad business as It's compromising the manufacturers position with me.

Sorry for the rant but this does have something to do with the original question of self reliance, I may not know how to sort the thing at sea after reading the service manual, but strongly resent commercial pressures stopping me trying.

Biggles · 27 November 2006, 15:17

IBWET,

Could you please clear your inbox. Trying to send PM.

IBWET · 27 November 2006, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

IBWET: Have you got any pictures of the deck pads for the A frame? I'm interested in how they do this.

Took these today,the deck surface covering obscures the shape of the pad (it was much easier to see when just done) I've tried to outline the shape with the wet line.the surface looks perfectly flat but is'nt roy's boat will be the same.

IBWET · 07 December 2006, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBWET

This leads to an interesting point;historically you decided in the past who looked after your car/engine, that decision was based on how you felt the garage looked after your car (grease on door hinges etc). Good mechanics are very rare these days, I think this has been brought about by munufacturers wanting to control of the lurative service side. we only have fitters in dealerships, the warranties force us to take engines to certain garages only, where only parts are fitted.

As the purchaser of a new engine we agree..we're getting new parts after all. but what about the the poor sod who gets the engine in a couple of years time? The mechanic he knows will look after him in a loyal, really take care of it way stands scratching his head ..so it's back to the dealer and his expensive parts only this time the profit margin is huge,with the THIS customer in the least the position to pay it...

This also involves suppliers recently I was in the position where a manufacturer, was reluctant to sell me a service manual, this only highlighted another attempt at control by the engine manufacturer, I paid thousands for the engine, so don't expect to be told how I will look after it, If I choose to service it myself forgo the warranty thats my choice.

This is bad business as It's compromising the manufacturers position with me.

Sorry for the rant but this does have something to do with the original question of self reliance, I may not know how to sort the thing at sea after reading the service manual, but strongly resent commercial pressures stopping me trying.

Service manual has now arrived.

IBWET · 12 December 2006, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

IBWET: Have you got any pictures of the deck pads for the A frame? I'm interested in how they do this.

Managed to extract these from a video I made down at the factory as the boat was getting built.

Hope they will suffice.

Downhilldai · 13 December 2006, 00:05

Thanks IBWET.
As I suspected, the pads appear to spread the load of the hardware, rather than have them bearing directly onto the deck and the bolts are threaded into nuts welded to plates fixed to the underside of the main deck

IBWET · 27 January 2007, 14:43

The finished article and I believe a success, only thing left to do is make a support pad for the skeg, my very clever father in law has got his pencil/measuring tape out again..

codprawn · 27 January 2007, 17:07

Lovely bit of work - make sure you have a big block of rubber under the skeg and let us know how you get on!!!

IBWET · 27 January 2007, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Lovely bit of work - make sure you have a big block of rubber under the skeg and let us know how you get on!!!

Well funnily enough,I originally thought a bit of marine ply (the real stuff,not the crap sold as MP) would be the way forward. So sourced a bit, salvaged from a old dagger board,and was going to work it to fit ETC, However the previously mentioned FIL (brilliant engineer that he is ) has decided that he will make, out of stainless, a block that can be fine tuned with a screw, to guage and set the correct amount of weight spread over the post, skeg and bracing struts

well what do you say when someone offers to do this....just you go for it my good man!

He designed the the whole thing to date and I'm still not sure how he new how the locking pin would work....there are 3 bends in it?