Little things can sometimes cause big problems
We’ve learned from experience how a tiny, inexpensive part can cause us significant problems. I specifically remember 2 days of intense watermaker troubleshooting caused solely by the absence of a couple of crucial little o-rings. In a similar fashion, our departure from the BVI is being delayed by another rubber part.
One of the key items on our phase out list was the replacement of the upper seals on our two saildrives. Although the seal is only a small $5.00 part, the drama associated with installing it is considerable. Unlike the lower seal, it can be done while the boat is still in the water. It does require unbolting and then moving the entire engine block though, a feat which requires some serious juggling.
The finishing touches of the port seal replacement was the very last item scratched off our phase out list at Hodges Creek. Having witnessed all that work, we were all (us, the Moorings guys) very dismayed to find gear oil around the bottom of the drive after motoring only the short distance from Hodges Creek to the Moorings base in Road Harbor. For whatever reason, the port seal did not do its thing. While it may seal itself within a few days with a bit of use, there is at least a 50/50 chance that it would never take. Recognizing that it likely should be redone but wanting to leave, we had some decisions to make. We all ultimately decided to delay our departure to give the guys another chance at fixing the issue. Tomorrow morning we will make our way back over to the phase out base so that the guys can do their thing.
The source of much frustration.
So what have we been doing while we’ve been waiting? For one thing, we have been enjoying the hospitality of the Moorings and taking advantage of the free water and electricity on their docks! Rebecca and I have also been working through some maintenance items, learning about the new boat as we go.
Knowing that we will likely be replacing some of the dated electronics on the boat, I removed one of the headliners this morning to research the wire runs from the helm to the mast step. I was quite happy to find that the access points are large and easy to get to. I wasn’t too impressed to find that a couple of the wires on the VHF radio were simply twisted together to make a connection. THAT is not how you do things on a boat!
Definitely get the sail drives sorted out. They will be your biggest headache on the boat.
Mike
Getting caught in the BVI when a big windy thing blows through would be even more of a headache.
Wow – those wires that are just twisted together on the back of the VHF are incredible, shocking really when you consider the importance of communications for any boat but especially a charter boat where the charterers may be in great need of help and/or communication with the Moorings base.
Were I the maintenance manager at the base I’d want to know about a discovery like this so I could go back through the maintenance logs and track down who or at least where this ‘work’ was done.
The wires are to the GPS antenna.
A boat how-to site with some good ideas is http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects. The guy is a professional and also a perfectionist. I’ve also exchanged info with him re. some of my technical articles. Smart guy.
But what brought it to mind was the 3-grade wire twisting. He’s got a post on the subject. Truthfully, I cheat a little sometimes… but not just twisting them together! As I understand it, about 40% of boats are lost to electrical fires. Certainly those don’t carry enough juice to fret over, but that’s hardly the point.
Nice site. I bookmarked it, after reading the post on small gauge wire terminations. That is a tricky subject. I have been known to fold the wire over a couple of times and then use a normal butt connector with my ratcheting crimp tool.
Hey Mike, this might come in handy one day…. the lineman’s splice, the NASA-approved method of splicing solid core wire…. I know you mostly deal w/ copper multi-strand, I’d imagine this works for that as well(I’m admittedly a butt-connector proponent for that myself).
http://makezine.com/2012/02/28/how-to-splice-wire-to-nasa-standards/
Thanks, Brian. If it’s good enough for NASA…
Hi Mike,
Nice blog entry.
I have the same saildrive, fairly new though. So there is some controversy on how often years/hours that the SD seals need to be replaced. What did they tell you? I can’t seem to get a straight answer.
I was curious why you did not replace the lower seals also?
Thanks for your blog, I am learning a bunch from you along the way.
-craig
We did not replace the lower seals because we did not haul the boat to do that job. The upper seals can be replaced while the boat is still in the water. I don’t know the answer to your question. Perhaps my friend Kirk will respond as I’m sure he knows.