seacock and knot meter problems.....resolved!

[Linda]

Hi Just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my questions/problems so quickly, and with excellent advice! I found out that the boatyard bent the pin (during haul out) that the knotmeter paddlewheel spins on, so obviously it wouldn't spin! I found Datamarine alive and well (repairs) in Pocasset, Mass. The replacement kit was $10 and I did it myself this weekend. The seacock problem hopefully is resolved; we'll see if she leaks next spring. Thank you all again, Linda



CD26LA@aol.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Linda,
My Datamarine knotmeter has worked intermitently forever! I pull the paddle wheel and clean it quite often, but it goes wacky shortly after. Might be that it too has a bent pin, from the haul strap pushing on the wheel when the yard pulls or launches her. So, I think you discovered that the paddle wheel should be pulled before the boat is! I'll do that this year when Hanalei goes on the hard.

The question is: Who did you talk to at Datamarine, do you have a telephone number where I can reach them? And, was it difficult to replace the pin, how did you get it out of the housing? Did you replace just the pin, or both the pin and paddle wheel?

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Tom]

Linda,
My Datamarine knotmeter has worked intermitently forever! I pull the paddle wheel and clean it quite often, but it goes wacky shortly after. Might be that it too has a bent pin, from the haul strap pushing on the wheel when the yard pulls or launches her. So, I think you discovered that the paddle wheel should be pulled before the boat is! I'll do that this year when Hanalei goes on the hard.

The question is: Who did you talk to at Datamarine, do you have a telephone number where I can reach them? And, was it difficult to replace the pin, how did you get it out of the housing? Did you replace just the pin, or both the pin and paddle wheel?

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

BTW if you're having knotmeter problems and want to check to see if it's the paddle wheel or in the head here's what the local knotmeter repair place had me do. Disconnect the paddle wheel wire at the unit. Then put a short piece of two strand wire with that same bnc connector on it into the unit. By touching the wires together and then opening them quickly your unit will start reading if it's OK. You can get it up to 18 knots or more and it's a brief thrill. If the head gives a reading (mine did) then it's in the paddle wheel unit or wire rather than the electronics. Paddle wheels seem to go out about every 10 years from one thing or the other.



TomCambria@mindspring.com

[Linda]

Hi Dave, Everyone at Datamarine knew exactly what I needed, it was a "paddlewheel kit" and set me back $10. The tel # is (508)563-7151 located in Pocasset, MA. All you do, is tap out the old pin with a nail and insert the new pin/wheel, but observe the orientation of the paddles, as well as the arrow on the unit. It must be installed with arrow pointed towards the bow. The paddles kind of slope upwards...Hey if I could do it, trust me so can you!!! Linda



CD26LA@aol.com