Building a '93 Caravelle 1750 Classic Bowrider

[Reserector_]

Problem with using ink or a marker on foam is that it can bleed thru especially with white vinyl. May take a year though.

Marking on the back side of the vinyl is even worse.

What would you suggest?

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Yep, I agree with @Scott06
I tend to keep my bilge blower on all the time while I’m running, because I tend to forget to turn it on when I slow. The bilge vents will move more air than the blower when under way.....at least in my boat.
Sure wish those pics would come through. I’m really interested in the vinyl work. Maybe it’s my iPhone???

 

[Reserector_]

Yes only use prior to start up and theoretically at low speed. You’ll find factory vents will blow air into engine compartment when moving, exhaust will suck off the bottom where vapors heavier than air will accumulate. This is not not only for fuel vapors but engine compartment cooling as well.

The odd thing about this boat, and all of the Caravelle boats from early 90s onward is that both vents are rear-facing. So I fail to see how any fresh air is forced in while underway with this setup.
Earlier models had the louvers on the sides with one facing forward and one rearward.
I will post a pic of a complete boat as an example (not mine). Maybe some of you can shed some scientific light on this.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

I would think that the engine compartment is airy enough that the vacuum pulling on the rear of the boat is enough to draw air out of the vents through the tubing in the bilge.
I’m not an expert, and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[Reserector_]

Sure wish those pics would come through. I’m really interested in the vinyl work. Maybe it’s my iPhone???

 

[Reserector_]

I would think that the engine compartment is airy enough that the vacuum pulling on the rear of the boat is enough to draw air out of the vents through the tubing in the bilge.
I’m not an expert, and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I think that is called the Venturi Effect. Air flowing over the vents draws air out. The low pressure in the engine compartment is replaced by air from the interior of the boat, I assume?

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Well that sounds scientific......with the vent tubing low in the bilge, any sinking vapors, (heavier than air), would be drawn out.

 

[bruceb58]

What would you suggest?

chalk pencils and erasable pencils
I know the supplier I buy stuff from sells cedar pencils for marking.

 

[Scott Danforth]

just remember, the blower only moves about 100 CFM before plumbing. the motor is the most effective air pump, and even a small 3 liter will move over 200 CFM.

while not needed, I keep the vent motor running when the ignition is on out of habit.

 

[bruceb58]

just remember, the blower only moves about 100 CFM before plumbing. the motor is the most effective air pump, and even a small 3 liter will move over 200 CFM.

while not needed, I keep the vent motor running when the ignition is on out of habit.

So if the blower motor is on and it is 100cfm and the engine is 200cfm, that means the in vent has to have 300cfm input. Why not just keep the blower off so that the vent only has to supply the 200cfm for the motor

 

[Scott Danforth]

So if the blower motor is on and it is 100cfm and the engine is 200cfm, that means the in vent has to have 300cfm input. Why not just keep the blower off so that the vent only has to supply the 200cfm for the motor

agree that there is no need to turn the blower off.

However most of the air is coming in from under the gunwales and everywhere else there is an open are to the outside. the benefit of a blower is to extract the fuel vapors from the bottom of the bilge and expell prior to start.

 

[bruceb58]

agree that there is no need to turn the blower off.

Actually....no need to leave it on once the boat is moving over idle speed. I think that is what you actually meant.

 

[Reserector_]

Engines an I have allot in common. When we are asleep, we drool, and vent gasses. But when we wake up, the drooling and venting stops.

 

[Scott Danforth]

But when we wake up, the drooling and venting stops.

not really.....I drool and vent all the time.....

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Like an engine, the drooling and venting seems to get more prevalent with more total hours......

 

[Baylinerchuck]

By the way, thanks for reposting those pics of the vinyl work. The stitching looks great.

 

[Reserector_]

I got started sewing the first cover. I needed the top bolster cover first, and that proved to be difficult because it was so small.
I had jam after jam until I saw that the thread had gone slack and jumped out of the tensioner. Finally got the settings right, but struggled for quite a while.

Some of the stitching wandered off track while all that was going on, but I think it will go unnoticed if I don't draw attention to it.

I got the back and side panels together, and the top bolster attached to that.
Did a quick test fit, and it looks to be on track for a good, snug pull when the time comes.

 

[bruceb58]

Your stitch length is WAY too short. What machine are you sewing with? It's a walking foot machine right?

 

[Reserector_]

It's a heavy duty Morse with a walking foot attachment. Not a true walking foot machine. Stitch length was set to 4mm.

 

[bruceb58]

It's a heavy duty Morse with a walking foot attachment. Not a true walking foot machine. Stitch length was set to 4mm.

There is no way those are 4mm stitches. I know that's what the setting is but that's not what you are getting. 4mm would be a little more than 6 stitches per inch.

When the stitches are as short as what you are getting, you can have a big problem with them tearing through the vinyl.