JW's Upgrades for 2016 - Tender

[Hurricane]

I like all that. Sounds a good way of handling "tender tracking" generally. I didn't even know these position request polling functions existed. If you go ahead and do all this do please keep us up to date on progress

I have known of these DSC functions for a few years but I didn't think they would be that useful.
Since my last post, I've been thinking about using the HX870E instead of installing a fixed cockpit VHF.
It actually makes sense - no extra wiring - might even be able to get it running on the tablet.
More research needed though.

Has the Novu landed yet?

A bit of a hold up on that front.
Essentially, it is ready for despatch.

Here is a pic with the bimini fitted

However, I didn't like the way that they had done the Marine Deck 2000 - IMO looks awful - I know this stuff is fake teak but I think there needs to be an effort to make it look like teak.
I had assumed that they would be making it like yours and Bart's but, for some reason, they changed their minds and did this:-

So they are reworking all the Marine Deck 2000 at the moment - should be ready very soon - the next thing is the shipping - Peters and May are doing that so I'm hoping that bit will be ok.
I want to get it here in Devon before we take it to Spain.

 

[jfm]

It's only the"teak" deck on the 2 tube steps you're having reworked, right? I see what you mean about the steps but the rest looks ok (I can't tell 100% from pic)

I didn't love the idea of marinedeck2000 when they proposed it but it was the only product they would factory fit. I was unconvinced about the corkiness. Now having had it a couple of seasons I love it. I find it perfect for the tender and would happily order it again for a tender. It is the best of all these products for grip when wet. You can jump into the tender with wet decks and the grip is so good you have no worries about slipping. Really good product, for a tender. I'd hate it on mothership because close up it does look like cork rather than teak

That's a serious bimini - good going!

What's the button, white with chrome ring, immediately above throttle lever?

Just my $0.02: the console looks slightly like a cash register(!) when viewed from front of boat. Imho get upholsterer to make a backrest cushion to "break up" the slab of fibreglass and make it look nicer, and also more comfortable for that passenger:

 

[Hurricane]

It's only the"teak" deck on the 2 tube steps you're having reworked, right? I see what you mean about the steps but the rest looks ok (I can't tell 100% from pic)

I didn't love the idea of marinedeck2000 when they proposed it but it was the only product they would factory fit. I was unconvinced about the corkiness. Now having had it a couple of seasons I love it. I find it perfect for the tender and would happily order it again for a tender. It is the best of all these products for grip when wet. You can jump into the tender with wet decks and the grip is so good you have no worries about slipping. Really good product, for a tender. I'd hate it on mothership because close up it does look like cork rather than teak

No they did it everywhere
Like this

So, to see what it would look like and to explain what I wanted to them, I Photoshopped that pic.
This is what I want

What's the button, white with chrome ring, immediately above throttle lever?

No idea - I wondered if you would spot it - I haven't asked.
Here's another pic of it

I'll look at doing the cushions later - JW really needs new ones all round so maybe thats the time to do it.

 

[jfm]

Oh heck yes that teak margin patterning is truly awful. They had a perfectly good set up on my boat and Bart's - why oh why did they mess with it? Good going in getting it changed

To be honest I have never loved the way my two tube steps are "unmargined" but it's too small to worry about and my main deck panels have been done nicely. And your tube steps look even worse!

In case it helps here are couple more pics of mine showing the teak patterning

 

[MapisM]

So, to see what it would look like and to explain what I wanted to them, I Photoshopped that pic.
This is what I want

M, I can't remember to have ever given a contribution more trivial than this, but it's December and this is a boat forum, after all...
Anyway, here goes: are you sure to want also that caulking in the border, half way along the curvature?
Can't see from jfm pics what he has in that area, but It looks redundant to my eyes.

The bimini is indeed impressive, can it be folded away inobtrusively enough?

 

[Hurricane]

M, I can't remember to have ever given a contribution more trivial than this, but it's December and this is a boat forum, after all...
Anyway, here goes: are you sure to want also that caulking in the border, half way along the curvature?
Can't see from jfm pics what he has in that area, but It looks redundant to my eyes.

The bimini is indeed impressive, can it be folded away inobtrusively enough?

Thanks for the comment.
It is too late to change it again but I think the pic that I Photoshopped looks much better and will do for me.

The bimini can be folded away but I think we will probably remove it completely and store it on JW when we don't need it. If you remember, that is what MYAG did when we met him in the summer.
Actually, I have made sure that the bimini fitting on the deck tube steps is a flush type fitting so that the bimini can be removed leaving a smooth flush fitting that won't catch in clothing etc

 

[MapisM]

Yup, I fully agree that the deck looks nicer with the caulking along the corners of the margins, it's just the one along the curvature that I wouldn't have even thought of.
But hey, didn't I say it was a trivial suggestion?!

Understood re. the bimini usage - it's just that considering the speed of the thing, I'd rather fold it before hammering the throttle, also in those occasions when you actually want to use it once reached the destination.
For some reason, I had in mind that the one MYAG has was much smaller, though actually I've only seen it folded...

 

[BartW]

FWIW the caulking grooves on mine are all the same like Jfm's, except mine are black
the hinges on the seats are corroding / sticking, had to replace them on the helm seat, and probably soon also on the mid seat.
the hinges on Jfm's are bigger size than mine, they are visibel in pic below
Mike do you have pic that shows these hinges ?

 

[petem]

M, I can't remember to have ever given a contribution more trivial than this, but it's December and this is a boat forum, after all...

P, I can't remember ANYONE in the ENTIRE history of this forum making a more trivial observation. Truly a first world problem by anyone's standard!

 

[Hurricane]

FWIW the caulking grooves on mine are all the same like Jfm's, except mine are black
the hinges on the seats are corroding / sticking, had to replace them on the helm seat, and probably soon also on the mid seat.
the hinges on Jfm's are bigger size than mine, they are visibel in pic below
Mike do you have pic that shows these hinges ?

The only pic I have that shows the hinges is this one - out of focus.
There should be more pics coming when they complete the Marine Deck 2000.
Difficult to say from this pic if they are like yours or JFM's

 

[Hurricane]

What's the button, white with chrome ring, immediately above throttle lever?
[/IMG]

I asked them this morning and they say it is "a vent for the fuel vapour canister, emissions control system"

Don't you have one then!!!

 

[BartW]

The only pic I have that shows the hinges is this one -

they look the same like mine,
keep them clean, and rinse with fresh water after every usage,
ang grease regularly to avoid trouble like me,

I never went back to Novu to complain about this issue, It would have made sense for you now, sorry for that,
You could mention to them that you heard about this issue from another owner (rib is 2,5y old)

 

[Hurricane]

You could mention to them that you heard about this issue from another owner (rib is 2,5y old)

No - they will only take another two weeks to change them!!!

 

[jfm]

Don't you have one then!!!

No, and I ain't missing it either!!!

 

[MapisM]

P, I can't remember ANYONE in the ENTIRE history of this forum making a more trivial observation. Truly a first world problem by anyone's standard!

Can't argue with that. Otoh, as you know by now having seen my old tub, I don't practise what I preach.....

 

[rbcoomer]

Love the tender tracking concept and well thought through as I would expect with your aptitude for these things! Only thought that occurred to me was battery drain given that you're suggesting a TX every 30 seconds or so? (presumably only at 5W?) Battery won't be charging, so what would be the longest you'd expect to tow for and what size battery is in the tender? (Time rather that distance as a few hours leisurely 'pootle' along the coast could potentially such a fair bit from the battery - especially if towed at night, when you'd presumably also run Nav lights?)

 

[Hurricane]

Yep - I have been considering battery drain.
Plotter is about .7a - radio is about 1.5a when transmitting (say every 30 secs - the shortest time that can be set in the Standard Horizon poll)
The 1.5a is going to be a very short pulse so I looked at the VHF with receiver only at 1a.
Even if I consider it to be 2a, the boat's battery is about a 45ah 12v car battery - so say halve the amp hour rate (say 20ah) - that is the max that the battery will be able to provide.
So, thats 10 hours at 2amps - very roughly.
I would expect that a passage of that length, the tender would be back on board the mother ship.
I'm really only thinking of towing for a couple of hours at a time.
But if power becomes a problem - maybe a bigger battery.

I also have a couple of these on board.
http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...FF5498D5C3153D6E29B&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

which also have auto position reply and a GPS built in.
So, I could simply put one of these into the tender and switch it on.
The mother ship could be set up to interrogate either the dinghy's VHF or the hand held VHF.

Actually, this outlines just how this concept can be used generically.
On the mother ship, all you need is one of these modern DSC radios connected to a modern plotter that can plot the position.
The Standard Horizon is particularly useful in this case because it can be set to do all the polling and then send any replies to an appropriate plotter.
The result is a low cost "buddy" tracking system using kit that most of us already have.
(I've not checked other VHF manufacturers to see if they have this useful auto polling feature)

I've been thinking about my own system.
I will probably buy and extra HX870E - one of these:-

These portable VHFs incorporate a USB interface - I'm currently checking with Standard Horizon but I would expect that the HX870E will configure itself as a virtual COM port through the USB onto my Windows ships PC. If this works, very little wiring would be required - I already have USB connections throughout the boat and OpenCPN should be able to read the VHF Position Reports in the same way that it displays AIS targets. My ships PC feeds to every display throughout the boat so I should be able to "see" the dinghy on any of my displays. Likewise, any of my friends who have set their VHF sets to "auto respond" will also appear on the ships plotter.
As I say, this could be an alternative "buddy tracking system" for those without AIS transponders.
Look at the image above - you could even use the HX870E to track another VHF on its own without any other equipment.

 

[jfm]

Back to the important matter of teak caulking patterns, here are pictures of the 3 panels, and shock horror the little joint in the curved margin starboard bow IS there on the OEM panel

Detailing at bow (last picture) around the nav light isn't too perfect! Also second picture has close up of a hinge

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks JFM

I've just had these in - about half an hour ago.
We are finally there - it is being wrapped as I type.

Been on to Peters and May in Southampton this afternoon - just got to tie up all the loose ends now.

Up to this weekend, I was wondering if this would ever happen - looks a bit more likely now.

 

[Whitelighter]

Great news mike