Practical ideas and what used ....

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rubber cup on foot ....

never thought about that .... I didn't mean if anyone thinks I did - the water ballasted job - bugger that thing .... no I considered a small piece of suitable plastic pipe set into the cockpit sole just deep enough to stop the pole sliding.

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
This is the Practical Boat Owners site !!

There are so many ideas out there that it is a shame that a lot will go unlisted or recorded.

Has anyone had trouble refastening a deck fitting cause they cannot get their hand up into the toe-rail moulding or behind a fitting ? Then buy a length of studding ....... pass it down through the required fitting and its holes till it shows underdeck. Place washer and nut on and pull studding back out till this washer and nut sits in place in the blind place. Now run suitable wahser and nut down to fasten. Cut off stud and hey presto its done. For a quick emergency job - you can use B&Q galvanised studding till you get the proper alloy or stainless steel later.

Really got a blinder that you cannot do with studding ? Heard about expander bolts ? designed for stud walls etc. Alloy versions can be found in strong versions that prove a good emergency fit till proper job later ....

Temporary non-stick deck pad .... self adhesive wet & dry paper.

Plastic cable ties - thet type that pull through and lock ..... one of mans greatest inventions .... but there's a better type - the RE-USEABLE type !!

Burgee stick got broke / bent ? B&Q alloy tube + alloy self-tapper screw + piano wire and a cable tag (eye type) Bend piano wire to desired size with cable tag soldered eye in top arm and large eye in lower to pass over alloy tube. Screw through top eye into tube to fix. Now sew burgee to this and hey presto good as new. You can even put a top arm right out like some to hold the flag out in light airs ...........

Les Smiths / B&Q / Halfords ..... they do a 12V inspection lamp ideal for cockpit lighting, has a hook in top to hook to mainsheet etc. Can even double as anchor light if you don't mind the amps ...

Caravan / car shops do a reversing white lamp that uses a festoon bulb ..... ideal cockpit lights as they fit flush or have the raised body with brass or alloy surround.

Any more ?????


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
umbrella

Is there something I should know about umbrellas and boats.


Im not going to like this, am I?


Cheers

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Ok - so whats the joke ????

Umbrella is a lot cheaper than paying out for a bimini and frame ...

OK so UK doesn't have much sunshine to worry about - but this last trip back was glorious !!! Had to get out my B&Q blue tarp cover and put it over the boom to give some shade !!!! 9.99 and it even has eyelets at even spaces around to tie it off ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Do you know if the Arisaig Hotel public bar still has those amazingly ancient whisky bottles over the back wall?.

<hr width=100% size=1>A day not spent on my boat is a day in my life wasted.
 
got fed up with buying regular small supplies of gelcoat to repair each years scars, only for it to be useless the next year. so instead I now put it in the freezer after use and so far its kept viable for 5 years.

instead of buying one of those expensive special boat hooks, I bought cheaply the plastic head (to thread the rope through the ring on a buoy) and attached it to an extendable aluminium pole sold in the diy stores for sticking up the handle of a paint roller to use on ceilings. now 7 years old.

the pipe round standing rigging.r to protect your sails / sheets - use the narrow white abs water pipe from B&Q. incidentally, this pipr is first rate for plumbing in thye neads since it never gets porous and starts to stink. marley do suitable fittings.


<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
DIY stores have various nice wooden / plastic / metal poles of various colours / grades etc. - they all have use as boat-hook poles, awning supports, burgee sticks, ensign staffs, any other area you could think of .......

Winch handle pockets ...... why pay chandlers price for a piece of white plastic that goes gooey and discoloured after a couple of years ? White plastic Guttering ...... cut into suitable length

Need light into cabin but not wind ...... plastiglass in various shades and clear ...... even drill holes in pattern to allow ventilation - put that in instead of wash-boards ....

Want some fancy cabin lights - but don't want to mortgage the cheque-book ..... hop on down to local caravan store .... beautiful downlighters, wall lights, spots, etc. all working of 12V
(While in the Caravan shop ...... have a REAL nose around - you will be amazed what you find ...... hatch stays (window stays here - but same beastie !), gas and water fittings that put marine crap into the bin ....

I have a habit .... amongst others ! .... of checking out all sorts of beach shops, DIY, Caravan places etc. for all sorts to fit on boat ....

Recently had Dip-stick problem with replacement engine (4107 Perkins) .... the tube extended up and was vibrating against the manifold ..... finally cracked at the securing nut into block and needed replacement. Couldn't find Engine shop open on Sunday ..... so of to DIY shop ...... for alloy tube.
Removed old stub still left in engine. Found that about 3-4" prtrudes into sump from the olive and nut..... with about 1" still available above. Turned the stub around and cleaned it thoroughly... so that now the 3-4" sticks out of sump providing a stub to araldite the close fitting new tube too. Slid the new tube right down over the stub that had been smeared liberally with araldite till near nut .... allowing enough gap to have spanner on nut to resecure. Left to set ...... perfect and with such a long joint - I suspect this will become a permanent new dip-stick tube .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
On the subject of electrics even caravan lights etc are expensive compared with domestic which also gives much wider choice. So buy a small invertor...I got a 300watt mastervolt unit which is also good enough to run the laptop/printer/telly etc
Buy domestic lamps and then fit the energy saving bulbs which are now available...I have 2 x 60watt light output but only 11watt drain so less than an amp per hour each compared with 5 amps for normal 60w..........charging batteries like laptop/mobile/camera etc also much quicker from 240volt supply.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>
 
I too run a Inverter - but stopped generally in favour of a Maplins 12V to ??V for Notebook computer. It charges nearly as quick as the mains without the drain of the inverter itself.

I have changed most gear over to direct 12V supply or 12V converter rather than inverter - cause I noted on the amps the draw ..... seems inverter likes to draw a reasonable current even when not powering an item .... whereas the converter way does not draw anything like so high.

Now I am going to be told that I have an error in my electrics .... probably right !!! But I have reduced my consumption significantly.

I agree that Caravan stuff is NOT the cheapest - but sure beats the average chandlers..... with greater range of gear as well.

My next project is to fit 240V mains lights to my UK boat to gain that bit when connected to shore power ... at present I use the 12V while batterys are connected to automatic-charger.

I mention the 12V Notebook charger as I use these regularly in the car while traveling ..... best bits of kit ever for portables ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Extending data / power cable on GPS ...

If like me you need an extra xxft on your GPS data / power cable ..... there is a way that I found works and is effective.

Hunting around the junk box ..... I lifted out 30ft of multi-core telephone cable, broken PC serial mouse, old DIY Serial cable socket and plugs, telphone wall socket and a bag of telephone connectors and crimper.

Therefore made up a serial cable that extended my GPS data cable with telephone plug on other end to fit the telephone socket. Two wires of the cable were NOT connected to GPS data and were left ready to connect to cigarette lighter socket - the trailing kind.
Telephone socket then had 12V into the back on two terminals not required. The other terminals that corresponded to the data in / out connections were then wired with serial cable to the PC.

Result a single connector in form of telephone plug into wall mounted socket providing power and data. The socket had lead to PC and also fixed 12V power in.

Others reckoned that screened special cable was required etc. - but honest this worked and I had no problem with engine / vhf etc.interference.

I must add though - don't blame me if yours doesn't work as mine did ...... !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
I know - but I'm known as a Cheapskate !!!! Never knowingly want to put hand in pocket and spend !! If I can find a cheaper item - then thats mine. I even save batterys for lesser jobs when they run out in other things !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: umbrella

Yes- the story goes that if you hang an umbrella over the bow while working with any bits it may catch them if they fall in the drink.

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Vel;cro and a thousand uses

Seen prices for Swindlery cockpit cushions ? OK so they are probably flotation jobbies as well ?? Are they ? Not so sure actually !!

But garden chair cushions, the ones that do back and bum ..... use a bit of velcro each side of the vertical bit at bottom .... other part of velcro stuck to cockpit gunwhale .... bobs the proverbial.

Velcro - stick up your Mobile, VHF HH, GPS, WHY .......

Have an Oven door that likes to open and shut as you tack ? Yep - you guessed it ..... strap across fixed with velcro ... can't fix to door - gets hot and sticky goes 'orrible.

Fed up with things sliding in cabin .... if its a position that is normal and expected .... Velcro again.

You can get industrial strength from Maplins etc. and its literally on for life !


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Need something a bit more comfy than bare GRP etc.

Bathroom plastic / rubber matting that has a lattice effect. Get in various colours and patterns to please her indoors.

Its washable, reasonable looking, can be cut to any shape you want, is light and practical.

Even makes a reasonable cockpit or cabin sole covering for those dainty little tootsies !


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Carpet ??? Are you mad ????

Bathroom rubber backed carpet ....... doesn't fray as bad as other foam backed etc.
Doesn't go mouldy as hessian backed does
Washable
Comfortable to those bare tootsies when getting out a bed ....

and above all relatively cheap ... and plentiful.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Inspection holes and hand-holes

How many boats have cabin boards / cockpit boards that are too big / pain the a....e to lift to inspect under ?

I know plenty - having surveyed /looked over a few.

A few cuts with a saw and fitting of blocks to support / battens etc. can reduce the size of these and make life so much easier for owner to inspect bilges etc. etc. as well as guys like me to have a gander to report alls well with Yacht XXX

EG - My present boat .... the cabin sole is in one piece and needs entrance bottom step removed, main to fore cabin door closed and bolted, divan table folded up etc. to be able to start to lift the sole board. This has lines already drawn on for cutting and the battens / supports ready to screw into place to cahnge this pain !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Bit bored actually ...

work is a little quiet ..... oil is not flowing as swiftly down the pipes to us - usual summer season ...... will slowly increase back again for autumn ......

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Lights and bits ...

Having got fed up with the typical Flourescent style strip lights --- ok so they are less demanding on batterys over time - I have trawled caravan shops etc. for alternatives .... 12V wall mounted lights brass with nice shades and inbuilt switch ... 4.99 each.

Car accessory shops for map-lights with red and white lens .... plug into cig. lighter socket

Domestic bits .... water pumps, taps, gaskets, service kits and filters - again the old standby Caravan shop comes up trumps ....

Wonder when a boat will carry the Ci logo ?????


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
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