Engine Installation on the Far Reach

[JD-MDR]

[quote="Jim Walsh,. Orion also has her electrical breaker panel under the bridge deck. It’s an out of the way yet immediately accessible spot.r [/quote]
I'm still trying to decide where I want my instrament panel and distribution panel. The reason I don't want it under the bridge deck ( I think) is because it gets wet there. The new dodger has stopped most of it and I will rebed the companionway boards soon. It seems like I could find another place for them in case this boats get turned over to someone who doesn't keep up and that area could get all rotten again.

[Steve Laume]

Raven's electrical panels, two DC and one AC, are off to the side of the companionway.

I made a little trash box that fits behind the ladder and below the companionway. It is a great use of that space in that I can access it from the galley or the cockpit. It has gotten wet in the past but the trash didn't seem to care, Steve.

[JD-MDR]

[quote="John Stone"]. I only used four of the breakers before: 12v accessory plugs, LED lights, AIS, and compass light. .


I am using so many more breakers, I think you don't have windlass, auto pilot , chartplotter? What about blower ,mast lights.depth sounder etc. ? I think I have at least 14 circuits that need fuses or beakers. I know on houses your not supposed to double up two circuits on the same breaker. I'm trying to simplify and organize what I have.

[John Stone]

. I only used four of the breakers before: 12v accessory plugs, LED lights, AIS, and compass light. .


I am using so many more breakers, I think you don't have windlass, auto pilot , chartplotter? What about blower ,mast lights.depth sounder etc. ? I think I have at least 14 circuits that need fuses or beakers. I know on houses your not supposed to double up two circuits on the same breaker. I'm trying to simplify and organize what I have.

No electric windlass—I have a manual windlass. No spreader lights. I use a LED headlamp. No wired VHF. I use a battery operated hand held. No SSB transceiver. I use a portable battery operated SSB receiver. No chart plotter. I carry a hand held GPS and my sextant. No electric bilge pump. I rely on a bronze Edson model 117 gallon-a-stroke manual pump.

I have 8 breakers. Four are empty. I’ll probably tie the new LED nav lights to the compass light. So I’ll still have four spares. If I add a depth sounder I’ll have three spares. I can’t think of anything else to add. Still have to sort out the steaming light. I’ll figure it out though. I have a few ideas how to keep it simple.

For me, the simpler my life, the happier I am. This extends to the boat. No doubt about that. A general observation I have made throughout my life is that people—provided they are reasonably healthy, not in debt, have some money in their pocket, and have some friends—tend to be happier the less they have. People who make more money, have more debt, have more stuff and obligations to manage seem to not be very happy people. This of course is a general broad-brush view. I can’t speak for other people but that’s my personal observation. Less is more. I know it’s true for me. I keep trying to make my life as simple as possible. Sometimes I get it right. Still workin on it. Thoreau had it right, “Our life is frittered away be detail.” So did Hayden, “How much does a man really need....” And of course Herreshoff, “Simplicity afloat is the surest guarantee of happiness.” It’s also true some people need more...at least they think they do. Some people never have enough. So perhaps Shakespeare had it the most right, “to thine own self be true.” We all have to figure it out for ourselves. But I yammer.

“Carry on Mr Bowditch....”

[JD-MDR]

I wonder how important is an exhaust blower. I've used mine a few times but that was just to make sure it works. It is so old and is always in the way. I've moved it a few times trying to find a home for it. I would love to toss it.
John, I'm watching closely how you make the cabinet . I will be remaking mine but not for a while. I wonder how I will join the stiles and rails without a jointer. Sometimes when I need to, I cut them square and join them with a bisquit and pocket screws. But that's when It doesn't matter. You probably will mortise and tenon. I made doors on my previous boat companionway but I had to take them to a shop to join them.
Thanks for posting all your work. Your Awesome!

[Keith]

I wonder how important is an exhaust blower. I've used mine a few times but that was just to make sure it works. It is so old and is always in the way. I've moved it a few times trying to find a home for it. I would love to toss it.

MOONDANCE came with a bilge exhaust blower as well. I don't think I have every used it except when I first got her to see that it worked and it did. I don't think that I even have it connected to power at the moment. Like you I was thinking of tossing it but just never did and yes it is in the way when I'm crawling around under the cockpit. Hmmmmmm perhaps this will motivate me to pull it out.

Keith

PS John when is that engine going in???? Every time I see you post I'm excited with anticipation to see the engine on the mounts.

[JD-MDR]

I guess as a bilge exhaust it would be good if you have a propane leak.. Mine doesn't go all the way to the bilge only down close to the motor mounts. I think it might be required? At least on gas engines. I've always heard it was smart to use the exhaust blower everytime before starting the engine

[John Stone]

John when is that engine going in???? Every time I see you post I'm excited with anticipation to see the engine on the mounts.

Ha! Me too. I need to complete the electrical/ engine panel build and then install it as it is much easier to do that without the engine there.

I’d think within a month. I plan to order the folding propeller from flex-o-fold Monday.

[Steve Laume]

I put in an exhaust blower on Raven. It was mainly to get rid of extra heat and any oders from the engine. It turned out that I hate the sound of the thing more than the benefits it provides, most of the time. If you are in the cabin, it's all good. When I would turn it on at the end of the day while in the cockpit, not so much, Steve.

[John Stone]

I'm watching closely how you make the cabinet . I will be remaking mine but not for a while. I wonder how I will join the stiles and rails without a jointer. Sometimes when I need to, I cut them square and join them with a bisquit and pocket screws. But that's when It doesn't matter. You probably will mortise and tenon.

JD, thanks for the kind words. I use a Freud Tongue and Groove bit combination set. Same set I used for all my panel doors. I have cut panel cabinet doors on a shaper with this set which is the best way but I don’t have a powerful shaper. I have a small inexpensive bench-top router table that I bolt my router into. It’s works fine. I just have to go slow. Takes about 1.5 hours to set it up and figure out what shims to use and then cut some samples to make sure it’s aligned just right. Then takes about 5-10 min to cut the slots and tenons.

I’ll take some pictures of it in action later today when I cut them.

If I had mahogany marine grade ply I would use it and then just install simple 1” wide hard wood banding since the ply is stable. But, I’d have to buy a 4x8 sheet for just this little bit and I have a lot of wood already in my racks as it is. I had the mahogany on hand since I am making more staving as part of the new engine box. Because it’s solid wood it has to be a floating panel or it will warp or crack. And anyway I like making the panels since they are not difficult but lovely to look at.

[John Stone]

I put in an exhaust blower on Raven. It was mainly to get rid of extra heat and any oders from the engine. It turned out that I hate the sound of the thing more than the benefits it provides, most of the time. If you are in the cabin, it's all good. When I would turn it on at the end of the day while in the cockpit, not so much, Steve.

I hear you Steve. Concur. I have not worked everything out yet though I have a pretty good plan that I make minor adjustments from. I can ventilate the engine compartment pretty easily. I cut lots of air holes throughout the boat During the rebuild. With the deck hatches open and the lazarette hatch up I think it will cool pretty quickly. At least that’s my thinking. I have the aft dorade and mushroom vent to help during inclement weather.

This topic along with the breaker panel etc is a large part of my trepidation about installing the engine. So keeping is simple and streamlined with as much access and airflow as I can manage is part of my mitigation plan. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[John Stone]

Per ABYC, blowers are not required in diesel equipped boats.

[Jim Walsh]

Orion had a blower when I acquired her. It was the first thing I removed. I have two cowl vents on my aft deck which each have hoses running through the lazarette into the “engine room”. I can turret the cowls as needed to facilitate their intake and exhaust function. They seem to work well, certainly not as efficient as a blower but it works for me.
I can also remove the cowls and insert their deck plates to seal them if need be. I’ve done that a couple times offshore when the Gods were angry.....

[JD-MDR]

Perfect. Thanks Guys. I will be removing my blower this weekend and those unsitely wires . I think that is the last one that is still connected to their famous neg. bus junction.

[JD-MDR]

Perfect. Thanks Guys. I will be removing my blower this weekend and those unsitely wires . I think that is the last one that is still connected to their famous neg. bus junction.