Next best thing to new boat: New Tender!

[TwoHooter]

Well, new to us.

2018 Brig Falcon 330 with a Suzuki 20hp 4 stroke. Replaces a Suzumar 310 with Mariner 9.9hp 2 stroke.

Comfortable seats instead of tubes or a hard thwart to sit on. No more stiff necks caused by twisting sideways to see where we are going. I never minded the tiller steering on the old one but there's no doubt a steering wheel is better after the first hour. Flat deck, so no more slipping and sliding on a sloping floor (I never expected how big an improvement that would be). 3 lockers, 2 of them actually lockable. 4 stroke is quieter of course. Electric start. Electric tilt. And because it's got a battery I can start thinking about rigging it with things like a depth sounder and plotter without having any more things with alkaline batteries that leak when you're least expecting it.

I now have to sell the old one. Included with this excellent RIB are a sore bum, a cricked neck, a sloping floor guaranteed to send you a** over t** sooner or later, no secure storage, a noisy 2 stroke engine, and no electrics. Perhaps I ought to re-word the advert.

The BRIG came to us without a bilge bung. How can anyone lose a bilge bung and not replace it? Perhaps it was because he couldn't find a replacement. Could I find a like-for-like replacement? No I could not. I used a wine bottle stopper to move the tender round from launch at Queen Anne's Battery Plymouth to our berth in Sutton Harbour (because nothing else would fit) and (you guessed) it didn't work. So the first job was to take the old bung housing off and fit a new one. I found one the right diameter with the right screw spacing in the odds and sods bin at Marine Bazaar. Picture shows me looking to see if it had leaked after an hour in the water (it hadn't). Now working on making new chocks for the boat deck, preferably without drilling any more holes in the deck which has a balsa core.
[I went back to Marine Bazaar to buy a second bung as a spare. I had bought the last one. No, they don't know what make it is. No they won't be getting any more in. I have therefore attached my unique bung with a stainless steel chain. It looks ridiculous of course.]

 

[vas]

where is the next pic then when you tipped over?
had the same issue with my avon jetrib, two bungs, both missing, probably nicked on shipment from the UK to GR. Ended up buying the bog standard available on all chandlery down here bung, had to drill new holes and add some sika, never leaked again!
I like Brig tenders, once I decide to get rid of the jetrib, I'll probably end up with a brig (or a highfield sp? ali one)

cheers

 

[TwoHooter]

where is the next pic then when you tipped over?

I made her delete it.

Does anyone know if there's a way of downloading engine data off a Suzuki DF20 ATS? NMEA2000? Bluetooth app?

EDIT: also, any recommendations for a waterproof GPS dongle for the Panasonic Toughpad which will be our plotter on the new-to-us tender (software: OpenCPN + VMH Admiralty raster charts + Google Earth)? Obviously I can do a search but you lot know everything and I'm fundamentally lazy.

 

[rafiki_]

Nice job Michael. Looks a cracker. I guess it goes pretty well too?

 

[Adios]

I invested in and highly recommend seat cushions with bags under them for our SIBs cross thwart seats, as much for not getting a cold bum as a sore bum, but that back rest is looking very civilised. A floating sofa for drifting around on in the sun ?

 

[Hurricane]

Yep - that sounds right - a bigger tender and a bigger engine.

IMO, always get the biggest tender you can.
And then fit the biggest engine you can.

Thats my way of doing things anyway.

Oh yes - I then fall into the trap of finding a way to get it onto the main boat!!!

 

[TwoHooter]

Thanks all for nice comments. Yes it goes well.

Getting it on and off the big boat - on Coracle we have an old-fashioned boom for lifting and I needed 4 new slings for this tender. The stainless steel fittings were an easy buy, I get all my stainless bits and pieces from s3i.co.uk. Finding a rigger to make 4 Dyneema slings was a nightmare (they are all booked solid) but I did find one. Price £264. I said No Thanks, and found a firm on Ebay who did a lovely job for £76 including a load certificate and tags which you will never get from a marine rigger. Not only that but they were very helpful with the design and spent time helping me get the arrangement right. They have a lot of standard items listed on ebay, all sorts of rope and fittings. and seem to do most of their business through their ebay shop at ebay.co.uk/usr/bclproducts, but they also make to order.
BCL Products, bclproductsuk@gmail.com, ask for Chris.

I've just finished making plywood templates for the new chocks - not an easy job - hoping to get them sawn out of hardwood this week. The original chocks seem to be teak. I suppose you could still buy teak in 2005 when Coracle was new, but I'm not even going to try now.

BUMP: Suzuki advice -any way of getting engine data off a Suzuki DF20 ATS? NMEA2000? Bluetooth app?

 

[rafiki_]

Thanks all for nice comments. Yes it goes well.

Getting it on and off the big boat - on Coracle we have an old-fashioned boom for lifting and I needed 4 new slings for this tender. The stainless steel fittings were an easy buy, I get all my stainless bits and pieces from s3i.co.uk. Finding a rigger to make 4 Dyneema slings was a nightmare (they are all booked solid) but I did find one. Price £264. I said No Thanks, and found a firm on Ebay who did a lovely job for £76 including a load certificate and tags which you will never get from a marine rigger. Not only that but they were very helpful with the design and spent time helping me get the arrangement right. They have a lot of standard items listed on ebay, all sorts of rope and fittings. and seem to do most of their business through their ebay shop at ebay.co.uk/usr/bclproducts, but they also make to order.
BCL Products, bclproductsuk@gmail.com, ask for Chris.

I've just finished making plywood templates for the new chocks - not an easy job - hoping to get them sawn out of hardwood this week. The original chocks seem to be teak. I suppose you could still buy teak in 2005 when Coracle was new, but I'm not even going to try now.

BUMP: Suzuki advice -any way of getting engine data off a Suzuki DF20 ATS? NMEA2000? Bluetooth app?

Michael, try giving Tom Parker a call 07540 784984. Tom is a super knowledgeable guy, albeit super busy.

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks all for nice comments. Yes it goes well.

Getting it on and off the big boat - on Coracle we have an old-fashioned boom for lifting and I needed 4 new slings for this tender. The stainless steel fittings were an easy buy, I get all my stainless bits and pieces from s3i.co.uk. Finding a rigger to make 4 Dyneema slings was a nightmare (they are all booked solid) but I did find one. Price £264. I said No Thanks, and found a firm on Ebay who did a lovely job for £76 including a load certificate and tags which you will never get from a marine rigger. Not only that but they were very helpful with the design and spent time helping me get the arrangement right. They have a lot of standard items listed on ebay, all sorts of rope and fittings. and seem to do most of their business through their ebay shop at ebay.co.uk/usr/bclproducts, but they also make to order.
BCL Products, bclproductsuk@gmail.com, ask for Chris.

I've just finished making plywood templates for the new chocks - not an easy job - hoping to get them sawn out of hardwood this week. The original chocks seem to be teak. I suppose you could still buy teak in 2005 when Coracle was new, but I'm not even going to try now.

BUMP: Suzuki advice -any way of getting engine data off a Suzuki DF20 ATS? NMEA2000? Bluetooth app?

I make my own ends for Dyneema - using a Brummel Splice (that assumes hollow braid dyneema)

Chocks
You have done the difficult bit making plywood templates.
I bought real teak from these people Hardwood & Softwood Suppliers UK | Specialist Timber Merchants
Then I marked the shape that I wanted cutting and took it to a local joiner who has a bandsaw.
Did a nice job.
But the teak that I chose was probably a little thick - works for me but could be thinner.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Michael how about using CT1 to stick your chocks down?
I have a spare Bluetooth Garmin gps dongle. if you’d like to borrow it and see how you get on I’ll bring it down next time. Let me know.

 

[TwoHooter]

I make my own ends for Dyneema - using a Brummel Splice (that assumes hollow braid dyneema)

I am willing to have a go at that.... but not for lifting slings! After 50 years of training and compliance (including writing Safety Management Systems for the heritage rail industry) I couldn't bring myself to make my own (amateur) lifting gear. An aside.... when I started boating I was amazed at the complete lack of regulation of things like lifting and working at height. I'm not saying the boating world is wrong, in fact I relish the lack of overbearing regulation, but I see so many things that would mean a summary P45 with no hope of a successful appeal in any other field. Coracle may be the only recreational boat in the UK with a fully documented lifting system!

I bought real teak from these people Hardwood & Softwood Suppliers UK | Specialist Timber Merchants

Thanks for the lead, I'll call them tomorrow.

Michael how about using CT1 to stick your chocks down?

I'm working on the assumption that Coracle will out-live any tender (same as your boat) and therefore I don't want to glue anything to the boat deck. I want future owners to have the ability to make new chocks for some future new tender without having to un-stick my chocks. The existing chocks are secured by stainless steel pins let into stainless steel sockets and my plan is to bolt the new chocks to the old ones so that in the future another set of chocks can replace mine. Also we use the boat deck as a patio when at anchor (see picture) and we want to clear all the chocks off the deck for that.

I have a spare Bluetooth Garmin gps dongle. if you’d like to borrow it and see how you get on I’ll bring it down next time. Let me know.

Yes please. If our visits don't coincide would you be willing to PM me about access?

Picture at Polperro, 2016 - "Patio" deck, and yes I was having fun. This past year almost made us all forget what having fun is.

 

[TwoHooter]

From the Avon thread:

these are just right for the job though you might want to check the height is above your head height if you're mounting it on the transom Navisafe Polelight Pack - All Round White

Thanks for that. I also expect to mount a GPS puck on the same structure as the all-round light so I need to make sure I can get a suitable fitting for that. Shouldn't be too difficult and your suggestion is a lot cheaper than the made-to-measure hinged stainless steel "roll bar" type of arrangement I was thinking about.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I am willing to have a go at that.... but not for lifting slings! After 50 years of training and compliance (including writing Safety Management Systems for the heritage rail industry) I couldn't bring myself to make my own (amateur) lifting gear. An aside.... when I started boating I was amazed at the complete lack of regulation of things like lifting and working at height. I'm not saying the boating world is wrong, in fact I relish the lack of overbearing regulation, but I see so many things that would mean a summary P45 with no hope of a successful appeal in any other field. Coracle may be the only recreational boat in the UK with a fully documented lifting system!

Thanks for the lead, I'll call them tomorrow.

I'm working on the assumption that Coracle will out-live any tender (same as your boat) and therefore I don't want to glue anything to the boat deck. I want future owners to have the ability to make new chocks for some future new tender without having to un-stick my chocks. The existing chocks are secured by stainless steel pins let into stainless steel sockets and my plan is to bolt the new chocks to the old ones so that in the future another set of chocks can replace mine. Also we use the boat deck as a patio when at anchor (see picture) and we want to clear all the chocks off the deck for that.

Yes please. If our visits don't coincide would you be willing to PM me about access?

Picture at Polperro, 2016 - "Patio" deck, and yes I was having fun. This past year almost made us all forget what having fun is.
View attachment 116570

Yes, no problem. I can leave it where it can be easily reached

 

[YellowPeril]

Re. downloading engine data off a Suzuki DF20 ATS...

I have no knowledge of the 20hp outboard, but have done this with a 2016 Suzuki 115.

If you just want to check data such as engine hours as a one-off, then there may be a service port that any Suzuki dealer can connect to.
If you want something more permanent, then see my previous post here: Linking Suzuki df115 nmea to Garmin plotter as it may offer some guidance, if relevant to your engine.

Ignoring the fact that this is a US supplier, it suggests that the SMIS cable is compatible with a 20hp engine:
SMIS Engine Interface Cable (V3.5)

One word of advice – make sure the cable has the correct software version installed for the year of the outboard. For my 2016 outboard I needed version 2.9 but the cable was supplied with a later version. Of course nothing worked and I doubted my wiring, rewired it twice, then finally queried the cable which was the cause.

 

[TwoHooter]

Thanks YellowPeril.
Looks like a project for next winter!