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Post by fish on Sept 18, 2022 9:40:01 GMT 12
I reckon its time we had a 'Weekend's Achievements' thread.
Yesterday I managed to locate and recover a $4,000 propeller, freediving in the Weiti River. It was a new replacement for a recently lost $7,000 prop. Had about 1 hr of motoring time on it. Obviously an installation issue. It was in 6.5 m of depth not far off the wharf, but the search area was about 2-300 square meters.
Randomly I tried scuba to look for it but freediving was loads easy. I could check my bearings and confirm my position before each drop, where with scuba I couldn't tell where I was in the search area. That, and with free diving I could drop down and stop just above the bottom, and not stir it up with my fins. Soft mud turned to murky porridge very quick if I touched the bottom.
Waited for the last 1/2 hr before high tide, so that there was good clear water and not too much current. Also some reasonably settled weather over the week. Viz went from 3ish meters to less than 1m right on the turn of the tide.
Managed to shoot a trio of fish while I was down there, just because it would be rude not to.
Found one shoe as well. Luckily there was no foot in it. But finding the shoe confirmed my method worked and I just needed to work the area. Only did 5 or 6 drops total before I found the prop.
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Post by fish on Sept 18, 2022 9:54:08 GMT 12
AND, in the last two weeks we've:
1) Installed and commissioned a smart battery charger
2) Changed the engine oil and HE anode
3) Dried out and scrapped 9 mths worth of barnacles off the hull
4) Installed water filters, including a 0.5 micron one, so we can drink the water from our tanks (40 yrs and never removed for a clean). Part of this master plan is so we can take on 'wild water' from marginal water sources while out on longer cruises.
5) Recommissioned our autopilot controller (blew a slow-blow fuse, so installed a fuse holder so we can replace the fuse without re-soldering on the circuit board.
6) Re attached the AP hydraulic ram, that detached, causing issue 5 above.
7) water blasted the winter slime and grime off the decks and topside
Hopefully today (or this week) we will:
8) install a solar powered extraction fan in the heads
9) install a new automatic bilge pump
10) go up the rig and change the battery in the wireless wind gear (so it works again)
11) do a rig check and re-mouse my pole toping lift
and potentially
12) put an air duct and silent axial fan onto the fridge compressor, to improve its efficency and allow for some sound proofing around it, so it doesn't disturb me sleeping in the nearby bunk.
Oh, and commission our new diesel heater.
All this, so we can go on an October school holiday family cruise, whoop whoop.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2022 11:46:23 GMT 12
I got the dingy and canoe storage sorted on the Ute. Sorted another solar panel and are running 320w, and are off to Cairns and Port Douglas via Hervey Bay...
I like Morten bay though! And could live in Point Wellington or even some of the other " burbs"
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Post by sabre on Sept 18, 2022 20:19:46 GMT 12
You have been busy fish! Hows the heater.. happy with it?
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Post by fish on Sept 18, 2022 20:26:29 GMT 12
You have been busy fish! Hows the heater.. happy with it? Haven't got it going yet. My Father is putting it together (he's done a couple now) but he's been helping me with the boat jobs while the weather has been good. I'm just hoping the weather will be good over the October school holidays, with all this effort. This coming week is looking a bit unsettled. |
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Post by sabre on Sept 18, 2022 20:56:16 GMT 12
Not a lot of progress on the refit this weekend but I did shoot up to Auckland to pick up the new outboard that is going in a cockpit well. A friend also came by to dry fit the new compression post.
I pulled the diesel donk out last weekend so if anyone is looking for a good low hrs (680hrs) 2GM20F and gearbox let me know..
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Post by sabre on Sept 18, 2022 21:06:07 GMT 12
I got the dingy and canoe storage sorted on the Ute. Sorted another solar panel and are running 320w, and are off to Cairns and Port Douglas via Hervey Bay... I like Morten bay though! And could live in Point Wellington or even some of the other " burbs" |
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Post by ComfortZone on Sept 19, 2022 10:17:57 GMT 12
I like Morten bay though! And could live in Point Wellington or even some of the other " burbs" When I lived in Aus, bought my Vindex off a guy living in the Raby Bay waterways, just round the corner from Point Wellington. Then spent rather alot of money having it trucked to Perth |
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Post by fish on Sept 19, 2022 10:50:26 GMT 12
Not a lot of progress on the refit this weekend but I did shoot up to Auckland to pick up the new outboard that is going in a cockpit well. A friend also came by to dry fit the new compression post. I pulled the diesel donk out last weekend so if anyone is looking for a good low hrs (680hrs) 2GM20F and gearbox let me know.. How come you are changing your donk for an outboard? Did the price of diesel traumatize you? Or is it just the weight V power thing? |
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Post by GO30 on Sept 19, 2022 14:24:33 GMT 12
Can you get them to pronounce the place correctly please. The muppets pronounce it Harvey Bay. The airport staff didn't know why when I asked them.
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Post by GO30 on Sept 19, 2022 14:35:10 GMT 12
Friday arvo took 1.5hrs to get past Warkworth, a large transporter with big bully on the back broken down in about the worst place possible, and I was on my Duc and still couldn't wiggle past. Got to rural them spent an hour chasing 2 wayward calfs back into their herd.
Saturday shifted 1/2 cube of lime using a fish bin strapped on quad bike to build up a trough so the calves could reach the water, that was tuff yacka. Restrung a shortish fence, wasted 5 possums and 2 rabbits. Came back south Saturday evening which when I came across 2 Harley Fergusons and a GS1250 turned into a wee race, which I cleaned up and left no record of nudging 175kph...opps it's just so easy to do without realising on these performance litre class bikes.
Sunday spent a loverly few hours on the water showing a mate new to boat ownership a few tops and tricks while racing and we finished a very creditable 3rd out of 14, considering we had no kite nor can you believe no bloody beers either. Then a few winds up at the PG as we sponsored one Div of the WBC/GHYC Winter series.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2022 17:06:21 GMT 12
I like Morten bay though! And could live in Point Wellington or even some of the other " burbs" When I lived in Aus, bought my Vindex off a guy living in the Raby Bay waterways, just round the corner from Point Wellington. Then spent rather alot of money having it trucked to Perth Perth!.…. Probably the cheapest way |
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Post by sabre on Sept 19, 2022 18:49:10 GMT 12
Not a lot of progress on the refit this weekend but I did shoot up to Auckland to pick up the new outboard that is going in a cockpit well. A friend also came by to dry fit the new compression post. I pulled the diesel donk out last weekend so if anyone is looking for a good low hrs (680hrs) 2GM20F and gearbox let me know.. How come you are changing your donk for an outboard? Did the price of diesel traumatize you? Or is it just the weight V power thing? My thinking is that the outboard will be heaps easier and cheaper to service in the long run. Also the 2 cylinder yanmar was a bloody tight fit that made it a hassle to do any maintanance on. My hull shape allows it to be set up so the prop will be in the same place so I don't think there will be much or any performance loss. I will also gain some very useable space that will be filled with a large lithium battery and a slide out freezer. It wasn't an easy or quick decision given that the diesel is a good motor.. if it was 40yrs old it would be a no brainer.. |
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Post by fish on Sept 19, 2022 19:09:32 GMT 12
How come you are changing your donk for an outboard? Did the price of diesel traumatize you? Or is it just the weight V power thing? My thinking is that the outboard will be heaps easier and cheaper to service in the long run. Also the 2 cylinder yanmar was a bloody tight fit that made it a hassle to do any maintanance on. My hull shape allows it to be set up so the prop will be in the same place so I don't think there will be much or any performance loss. I will also gain some very useable space that will be filled with a large lithium battery and a slide out freezer. It wasn't an easy or quick decision given that the diesel is a good motor.. if it was 40yrs old it would be a no brainer.. I sold a 35 yr old diesel for $3k. In full working order, with a few new parts on it. Was 38 Hp though. Had two guys who were keen on it. Advertised it whilst still in the boat so people could test drive it easily. There is a real market for people who's donk has packed up, their boat isn't worth putting a new engine into, but they really want a replacement donk so they can keep using their boat. I don't know much about the fuel costs of outboards, but I just changed the oil in my Beta 35 and I'm traumatised. 7.5 l of oil, 10 l barrel was $100. Can't remember the filter cost, as I have a stash of them on the boat, but yes, annual maintenance of my donk now needs some financial planning. HE anode needs changing every 6 months. Think they are about $25, and the HE needs to come out regularly for a de-scale, which is a new set of O rings and some Barnacle Buster or Rydelime. (Will try Rydelime next as Barnacle Buster is 3 times the price). Still, cheaper than getting a mechanic to service the car. I assume you've got a 4 stroke OB? If you want to sell your donk for a good price, I do recommend setting it up so you can run it, and people can come and look at it running. Bolt the engine mounts to a pallet or some old bearers. Connect a battery to the alternator and starter motor, and obviously a little fuel can, and off you go. |
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Post by chariot on Sept 19, 2022 19:50:11 GMT 12
Did the same when I repowered. Sold the old engine whilst still in the boat so buyers could see and hear it running.
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