- Joined
- Jul 18, 2011
- Messages
- 18,039
Quick Update:
I am getting closer to launching as I had a few 'banner days' of fix-its and boat prep (and tow vehicle prep)
Still chasing a few demons . . .
Trim Sender - Starboard outdrive. The new (Smartcraft, 3-wire) senders are not serviceable (at least that I could tell) vs. the old (analog) style were. So, I may have to bite the wallet and get a new sender ($125
) . . . For now, the starboard outdrive seems to follow along the port outdrive nicely when trimming and tilting. So, I'll leave it alone for now and think about next steps. I am not sure if the trim/tilt angle on the SmartCraft plays into engine performance or anything like that. I'm also concerned that it is not obvious as to how to test the trim gauge itself to further isolate the problem. The gauge is a Faria Digital thingy and the gauges are all daisy chained via a 4 conductor harness.
So, I'm still in a bit of a learning curve, but I'm assuming that the SmartCraft puts all of the gauge data out on a bit stream and each gauge grabs its information (or something like that). Just wondering what happens if/when I put in a new trim sender and the gauge still does not work
Second Boarding Ladder - I wanted to get a second boarding ladder installed sooner rather than later, and have come up with a design for a pull-out ladder. I'm awaiting a delivery of some HDPE board to build the 'box that will hold the ladder. I could hace gone with an 'under swim platform' pull-out design, as many boats have, but the design of the swim platform itself would make boarding and usage of the ladder far too difficult. So, I'm working on a design that I hope will use the same type of ladder, but be much more 'ergonomic'.
Tow Vehicle - My most significant achievement on the tow vehicle over the winter was to kill the battery. So, $180 later, that is resolved. My new-2-me truck was not going to pass inspection, because of the parking brake not working. I originally thought it was the 'shoe-in-hat' mechanicals themselves, but later realized it was just the cables were frayed/frozen. Anyway, it is now all new, but these things new seem to never go back together the way the came apart, so the struggle for proper adjustment continues.
Lunar Tide Cycle - My local launch ramp is a bit challenging to say the least, and a generous high tide is best for launching. But . . . as (no) luck would have it, the higher tides for the next week or so are in the late evening/middle of the night. Daytime high times are about a foot lower.
I did check to see what the tide was when I pulled the boat last year (Nov 17, 2021) and it was about 4 feet. The highest tides run around 5.5 feet. I'll take 4+ feet, as launching is easier than retrieving.
I could go to a better ramp, but bringing the boat around (7 miles) in ocean conditions and the first run on a 'new' boat are not a good mix, and Murphy's Law usually has a strong grip on the situation. So, the local ramp it will be.
I am getting closer to launching as I had a few 'banner days' of fix-its and boat prep (and tow vehicle prep)
Still chasing a few demons . . .
Trim Sender - Starboard outdrive. The new (Smartcraft, 3-wire) senders are not serviceable (at least that I could tell) vs. the old (analog) style were. So, I may have to bite the wallet and get a new sender ($125
) . . . For now, the starboard outdrive seems to follow along the port outdrive nicely when trimming and tilting. So, I'll leave it alone for now and think about next steps. I am not sure if the trim/tilt angle on the SmartCraft plays into engine performance or anything like that. I'm also concerned that it is not obvious as to how to test the trim gauge itself to further isolate the problem. The gauge is a Faria Digital thingy and the gauges are all daisy chained via a 4 conductor harness.So, I'm still in a bit of a learning curve, but I'm assuming that the SmartCraft puts all of the gauge data out on a bit stream and each gauge grabs its information (or something like that). Just wondering what happens if/when I put in a new trim sender and the gauge still does not work
Second Boarding Ladder - I wanted to get a second boarding ladder installed sooner rather than later, and have come up with a design for a pull-out ladder. I'm awaiting a delivery of some HDPE board to build the 'box that will hold the ladder. I could hace gone with an 'under swim platform' pull-out design, as many boats have, but the design of the swim platform itself would make boarding and usage of the ladder far too difficult. So, I'm working on a design that I hope will use the same type of ladder, but be much more 'ergonomic'.
Tow Vehicle - My most significant achievement on the tow vehicle over the winter was to kill the battery. So, $180 later, that is resolved. My new-2-me truck was not going to pass inspection, because of the parking brake not working. I originally thought it was the 'shoe-in-hat' mechanicals themselves, but later realized it was just the cables were frayed/frozen. Anyway, it is now all new, but these things new seem to never go back together the way the came apart, so the struggle for proper adjustment continues.
Lunar Tide Cycle - My local launch ramp is a bit challenging to say the least, and a generous high tide is best for launching. But . . . as (no) luck would have it, the higher tides for the next week or so are in the late evening/middle of the night. Daytime high times are about a foot lower.
I did check to see what the tide was when I pulled the boat last year (Nov 17, 2021) and it was about 4 feet. The highest tides run around 5.5 feet. I'll take 4+ feet, as launching is easier than retrieving.
I could go to a better ramp, but bringing the boat around (7 miles) in ocean conditions and the first run on a 'new' boat are not a good mix, and Murphy's Law usually has a strong grip on the situation. So, the local ramp it will be.
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