Recent content by gandy

Thanks. This was one example that I saw with a switch, that I hope would get rid of annoying and pointless lights on all the time. Better if it was a mechanical switch, presumably a "Touch Switch" means some electronics are live all the time. Dual 4.8A USB Car Charger Socket

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations for USB charging sockets, in a panel mount form. There are loads of options on offer with wildly variable prices, so I would appreciate any suggestions for exact products, or products to avoid. I'll probably go for a dual, but there may be some merit in...

That particular mystery solved at least, I downloaded an operator manual and it has the wording you quoted. What I have is the service manual.

Thanks, that must be a different manual as mine says ... I guess the second to last sentence could be taken to imply that the check is done with the dipstick fully screwed in. But it's interesting that there are different manuals. Mine is dated May 2000, and the quote is from the Maintenance...

Good question. Back in 2017 the plug looked pretty normal. This time I haven't yet checked. And yes the oil has just been changed, although I don't think it was over filled. Both will be checked this weekend. Do you know if the engine oil level is supposed to be checked with the dipstick...

Back again. The outboard behaved perfectly after replacing the spark plug, until this Saturday when it started misbehaving again in a similar but not quite identical fashion. This time it cut out when running at full power and took quite a lot of attempts to restart. Once running it would...

25W electrical output with 3dBi antenna gives an EIRP just under 50W. Treating 3dB as multiplying by two is a pretty good rule of thumb.

Great story. We chartered one of these (Aztec from memory) in 2005. My first time even aboard a sailing cruiser.

I looked a mail order site for an aerial that looks like ours and they say it's 3dBi which sounds about right for an omnidirectional aerial. Our fixed set on high power is 25W, with the 3dB antenna gives just under 50W EIRP. In reality less because of cable losses. So using their criteria...

We used to use a small solar panel, but in winter it simply didn't keep up. I think I'd struggle to find a size that generated enough charge during an overcast winter with only 4 or 5 hours of "daylight", but which wouldn't overcharge when it had more like 18 hours of full sun in summer.

Hi, This isn't actually boat related but I thought I'd ask as there's a lot of 12V expertise here. Is there an accepted level of trickle charging that you can put through a conventional 12V battery without damage, for example as a fraction of the AH capacity? The application is for an...

I did wonder about that, but in all the time we've had the boat we've not seen any corrosion on the non-ferrous underwater parts. Setting aside the fact that all this galvanic stuff seems to be a black art, my reasoning was that since zinc is eroding off the anode, why would it not erode at...

Hi, I need to replace the hull anode, it's a standard pear shaped bolt-on, on a GRP hull. As usual by the time the anode needs replacing, the ends of the studs and particularly the mounting nuts are pretty corroded. Thinking about it I suppose the galvanising would have eroded in the same...

Nice thinking! A push button valve might be the answer, like on garden sprayers. I use the device quite a lot to suck up small spillages, and you definitely need a free hand to hold the hose for that sort of thing. Actual oil change is OK because the pipe stays put once it's located in the sump.

Hi, We have a Pela vacuum extractor, the model with globular container and the pump stuck on top. It works OK, but it's a pain that the pump isn't positively retained so needs two hands to work, one to hold the pump down and one to work the handle. Any recommendations for alternatives that...