On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 10:18:15AM -0500, [email protected] wrote:
>
> I do have a
> relay (one of those small black cube types with push-on quick connect
> blades) between the switch and the pump. I use these relays in various
> places and I think they help prolong the life of the actuating switch as
> well as help deliver more amps to the loads.
Having made a living down in the islands by fixing electrical systems on
boats at one time (often a matter of rectifying bad design,
unfortunately), I carry a bunch of these as spares. I've resolved many,
many starting and other problems by installing them.
> Mechanically challenged people must become capable of dealing with
> engineering problems on their boat if they are to be "out there". You
> cannot achieve the livaboard lifestyle dependent on outside help to deal
> with the myriad of technical issues that constantly appear on a active
> vessel as reading the logs of voyages published on the List will quickly
> reveal.
*Very* well said, Norm. That's going to become the second quote of yours
that I add to my quote file.
> I have heard of many instances of vessels loosing engine power when
> encountering rough seas. This is a devil built into the vessel during
> manufacture by building diesel tanks where the pickup tube does not go to
> the bottom of the tank thus insuring the collection of water at the bottom
> of the tank up to the level of the pickup tube.
Been there, done that - stormy passage from Bermuda back to the States.
Unfortunately, in my case, it wasn't quite that simple: my tank actually
does have a bottom drain (and takes the fuel from it as well.) The heavy
pitching and rolling broke loose some sort of gelatinous gunk that would
literally plug up the tank fitting - so whoever was on watch had to dive
down into the engine room, use a chopstick to break it up, slap the hose
back on before too much diesel came out, and restart the engine
(miraculously, we never ended up having to bleed it.) After three days
and a couple of dozen rounds of this, plus two primary filter changes,
the gunk seemed to be all gone.
I will *not*, however, be recommending the services of _that_ fuel
polishing company to anyone. "Gulf Stream Unlimited", indeed...
> Do not trust "authorities" blindly. Use your own brain. "Authorities" are
> often correct (and so are you), but they are also sometimes wrong. You are
> the superior decision maker because you must live with the consequences,
> "authorities" do not.
In addition, if you make your own decisions - and thus your own mistakes
- you get to learn from them. Letting someone else make the decision for
you takes away the critical part of the learning experience. You can let
the "authorities" be a factor in your decision... but always stay aware
that it's your decision. As I'd heard a boat boy put it once, "you're
the captain, Captain."
--
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