Engine Installation on the Far Reach

[John Stone]

Does anyone actually read this stuff? Is it useful...? I normally post a full write up on my website when complete. Looking for some feedback....

Yes, you have an avid following! I've learned a lot reading about the way you do things. Plus the projects you post here will likely benefit someone later on who is contemplating a similar task.

--Jim

Well, I appreciate the interest of four people...LOL. I might have to rethink it. Perhaps most folks have gone over to the CD Facebook page. I don’t have Facebook anymore. Ate up too much time. Anyway, I’ll probably finish this up and then perhaps focus on my website after from them on.

So, today I test fit the bulkhead extension. Fit great. I marked it to trim it down about 1/16” proud. Recut in the shop this afternoon. Will use flush-cut router bit and guide bar to make final trip after its epoxied in place. I installed the depth-sounder. Pretty simple. I have two trim rings and I started with the square one. I can swap them any time. Will start on the rear cover box tonight.

Been thinking about how to support the panel when it’s open. Didn’t want to install lanyards and padeyes. So, I made a couple black walnut wedges and covered the top side with leather. They seem to work very well. So I’ll use those.

Just finished applying the first coat of sealing varnish. I’ll get a couple coats on it and then epoxy it in place. Apply last couple coats of varnish on the boat.

Ordered the two blade flex o fold prop. Should have it a couple weeks. Dropped by the machine shop yesterday. Talked about the shaft.

Need to start wiring the panel.

[JD-MDR]

Make that five. Sorry my response didn't go thru. I was anchored out at San Miguel Island when I posted it. I really appreciate you sharing all your work and I can't wait to copy you on most of it. My new ground tackle is great. I got it rigged with two 3/4" snubbers and I slept so good last night. It was blowing 25 with gust to 30. I was scared to cross the channel between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands because there was so much lightning. I turned around and went to a little cove, Fry's harbor. I'm having problems still with the Cape Horn windvane. I got the control lines good but something is wrong Maybe the adjustment on the threaded rod in the tower. I messed with it when i had to take the tower apart. Maybe the problem is with ratio of the quadrant to my rudder angle and the drum they sent me,. First they sent a 5.5" drum then they refigured a 2.5" . Or maybe the problem is too much friction with the worm drive and the sprocket drive auto pilot.Although I don't feel much friction I can steer with my little finger even in the roughest conditions. I'll keep at it. Heree are a few photos of the awsome weather here. I feel sorry for the people on the mainland. It's really hot.

[John Stone]

John
OK. Five. I appreciate it.

Wow. The coastline and the beaches in the cove are just spectacular. When it comes to scenery and weather nothing beats California. ‘Course there are all those other things that drove me nuts there but that was 30 years ago. Still, if I had the money....

You sure are getting a lot of sailing in. That’s what you have to do to to make the kind of voyages you want without drama or fanfare.

Glad the ground tackle is working out to your satisfaction. It’s a big relief off ones mind to be confident about staying in one place when the wind is up. That’s got to be frustrating about the Cape Horn though I admire your attitude. I just don’t know anything about worm gear other than it’s suppose to be the most reliable next to a tiller. Keep at it.

Keep on keeping on amigo....

[wikakaru]

Well, I appreciate the interest of four people...LOL. I might have to rethink it. Perhaps most folks have gone over to the CD Facebook page. I don’t have Facebook anymore. Ate up too much time. Anyway, I’ll probably finish this up and then perhaps focus on my website after from them on.

Don't underestimate the "silent majority". This thread has 4291 views and 302 replies as I write this. Most people don't reply when they read. And don't underestimate the value to posterity. Just yesterday I was over at your web site looking at your sculling oarlock mount that you posted years ago.

If you do move your content back to your web site, maybe you can repost some of your engine install content there. It's a great example of what can be achieved with skill and thought, and it's a very unusual install in many ways (like the offset shaft).

Please keep posting somewhere.

Smooth saiing,

--Jim

[ghockaday]

Tiller Project.jpg (277.12 KiB) Viewed 571 times

Off subject but we converted from wheel to tiller also. I was inspired by some of your earlier work. Dennis

[John Stone]

Hi Dennis. Nice work. Always great to see another tiller conversion.

In other news—slow going. Tangled up in work on truck. Took kids (two sophomores) to college. Bet they will be back home in a couple weeks. Repairing the much abused utility trailer. Starting work on a 12x12 shed Gayle has wanted for several years.

Built the depth sounder box and cover as well as trim for supporting wiring.

The long piece of mahogany has three laminations as it has donut dimensions. It has a fair size dado cut in back which covers the wire for the nav lights I installed earlier this year. The compass box has to fit up against it flush so I can creat path for power and data cables which support the sounder to that dado race in the long mahogany trim. A number of complex angles involved. All solid mahogany. Just using scrap I have left from other projects.

In the photos below the long piece of vertically oriented mahogany is not yet radiused along its edge nor is the cover for the sounder box trimmed to fit or radiused. I’ll do that tomorrow. Also, the box for the back of the sounder has to be positioned to allow the wiring to take as gentle a turn as possible. That’s why it looks like the compass is not centered. It’s that way by design.

I’ll finish trimming them tomorrow and get a seal coat of varnish applied. Then start work on the utility trailer. Good grief. Will we ever get back to sea? Stay tuned to find out.

How is that for a cliff hanger...?

[John Stone]

Trimmed the cover and radiused the edges with a low angle block plane. Drilled the hole between the box and the trim for the wire run. Applied the first coat of varnish.

[John Stone]

Oh boy! Look at what just arrived from Denmark. LOL.

[Jim Walsh]

Nice!

[John Stone]

Spent the last week rebuilding our utility trailer and taking the kids back to college. Varnishing everyday. A little boat progress but not a lot.

This morning I installed the newly varnished trim and box to cover the back of the depth sounder. All solid mahogany. It’s lighter but will darken with age. Bronze fasteners all around. Easy to remove. Easily covers electrical and data wire.

Local wx station reported temps feel like 108° today. I believe it.

Keep moving.

[John Stone]

Because of the new engine box the companionway ladder can’t be full length. The ladder will have just one step. The bottom of the ladder will land on the workbench top. The top will be larger, one benefit of the engine box, and will serve as the second step down. Then there will be another step on the front access panel. The last step be below the access panel on the old landing, 11” above the sole. The spacing will remain evenly spaced the same as before—11” between steps.

Cutting up the ladder I so painstakingly built six years ago was not easy, though it was necessary. Boats that live long healthy lives, like the humans that love them, sometimes have to endure changes to adapt to new circumstances. That’s what I am telling myself tonight.

I removed the bungs and screws for the second step then cut the tread out to preserved the teak for some future project. Then I carefully cut the ladder at the correct angle Right at the dado slot with the chip saw.

Press on mister.

[Jim Walsh]

Just looking at the before and after photos of the companionway ladder is painful. I can’t imagine actually performing the surgery......

[JD-MDR]

I decided to show my steps just to be in the conversation. I suppose they are typical for all the 30’s. I’m supprised they have lasted so long,43 years, just fastened to the 3/4” engine cover with those braces. They are off to one side to make standing room for the cook. I wonder why some want the stove in the other direction. It seems like the gimballs work this way?

[John Stone]

I decided to show my steps just to be in the conversation. I suppose they are typical for all the 30’s. I’m supprised they have lasted so long,43 years, just fastened to the 3/4” engine cover with those braces. They are off to one side to make standing room for the cook. I wonder why some want the stove in the other direction. It seems like the gimballs work this way?

John
Copy. Well, I mounted my stove ‘thwartship... and you’re correct the final won’t work that way. I did it because it created a lot more room. Also, no chance of getting burned by falling into the stove or having something hot come off the stove and down on to me. Anything that spills goes left or right with the cook in front of the stove. I think it dramatically reduces the chance of getting bad burn at sea. Sailors crossed the oceans of the world for millennia without gimbals. I have never had an issue with it. We use deep pots. Not for everyone but I love it.

[John Stone]

I installed the bulkhead trim. Other than wood plugs and teak oil on the bare walnut to help it match the other trim it should be good. The new mahogany is lighter but most of it is in the engine compartment and the little that shows won’t be obvious even to me and it will darken with time.

I installed the gauges. The doors still allow good access. With the leathered wedges the door folds down and is positioned securely.

All the wires look like they will fit. I’ll pick up a 20 connector buss tomorrow.

Need to taper the legs back on the ladder so it doesn’t look “cut off.” I’ll shape it like the lower end of the old one. An easy jig and a couple quick cuts on the table saw. Then revarnish while I finish up the wiring. But, I’m pleased so far.

I think I am getting close.