Engine Installation on the Far Reach

[John Stone]

A couple more photos.

[JD-MDR]

You do everything so nice

[JD-MDR]

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

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

Keep moving.

108 only. Thats not very hot. It was 118 in woodland hill ca yesterday. 116 right now

[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

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

Keep moving.

108 only. Thats not very hot. It was 118 in woodland hill ca yesterday. 116 right now

LOL. Ok. 118° is hot. No doubt about it.

But, I spent a couple tours in the Middle East and a bunch of time at 29 Palms in Aug. I spent four years at Camp Pendleton. It was hot. But, it usually cooled down nice at night because the humidity was so low. And if you could get into shade that wasn’t created only by your helmet it was like you were in a different place. But here in the south east. It’s 100° F and 90 percent humidity. The temp drops to maybe 90 at night. You are soaked if you do anything outside-day or night. And it doesn’t dry off. The houses and anything whit a shady side get mildew in no time.

So, while I prefer 70° and sunny with 30 percent humidity—I’d take 105 in the desert any time over 95 here. But, it is what it is. The temps are about to break here. We will be in fall in a month. It’ll be grand. I can’t wait.

[JD-MDR]

Yea hot and humid is awful. For some reason I like the dry heat not particularly this hot 121 yesterday. Im not sure I believe anything I hear on my he news though. They probably measured that in somebodies car.

[John Stone]

After test fitting the “new” ladder I took it home and tapered the lower part of the leg to give it a more refined look. Applied five coats of varnish. Fits well. Super easy to connect and disconnect. Much easier to handle the the old long one.

Hopefully start in on the panel today. Plan to pick up the engine next week.

[John Stone]

You do everything so nice

Thanks JD. That’s what I aspire to do—the best I can do. I don’t always get it perfect but I don’t ever want to step back and think well that’s not very good but push on anyway.

I wired up the panel over the last two days. I still need to tidy up and secure the wire bundles but that will wait as I need to pull the wires for the AIS and the depth sounder. I’ll probably hold off on the depth sounder till the boats in the water as that is when I will determine the precise location of the transducer...which will be installed on the inside of the hull. Probably under the refleks heater.

Wiring is not my high skill area. I have to go slow and think and draw and just plan it all out. I have a long time mentor I trust completely to make sure I am doing this correct and to ABYC standards...at a minimum.

I decided to use two matching terminal blocks on either side of the negative buss bar as they lined up with the chase holes for the bundles of wire. It was the cleanest design I could come up with. The terminal blocks allow me to gang the wires up using jumpers and run to the breaker panel with just one wire per gang. Keeps it neater and simpler. Plus it’s symmetrical which I lean towards. There is room for some growth. Got to have room for the flat screen, forward looking sonar, satellite TV, and of course the hot tub.

I used a label maker to attach Printed labels to the wire sheathing. Then I covered the labels with clear non adhesive heat shrink and shrank them down tight with a heat gun so the labels can’t come off over time. Same method I used for the first smaller panel this one replaced. The labels are under the soft clamps right where the wires exit the chase holes. If I remove the soft clamps I can see each individual label.

I also sorted out how to stow the back up 35 lb spade which has vexed me for months.

[Frenchy]

Beautiful job on the wiring, John. Please deep six the hot tub idea, though. - Jean

[wikakaru]

Beautiful work, John! A neat electrical installation makes troubleshooting much easier later on.

Smooth sailing,

--Jim

[John Stone]

Thanks y’all. Appreciate the kinds words.

[John Stone]

Lookie what I brought home in a rainy day. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad....

[Jim Walsh]

Very cool. Have to admire a new engine. I think you made a wise decision in the grand scheme of things.

[Frenchy]

- I think you'll end up very happy. My new Beta starts up instantly and shifts smoothly. Just remember to keep the
rpms way down when shifting. Good luck, Jean

[Steve Laume]

Forget about all the pretty wood and varnish, that right there is some boat porn.

Now put the thing in and go sailing, Steve.

[Keith]

"I don’t know whether to be happy or sad...."

Don't worry! Be HAPPY!!!!!!