what is in the bottom of the free Seawych

thanks pete

QUOTE=prv;3013495]Looks like you're sorted for sails. If she's after some basic 12v bits I might be able to help - I kept some of the old stuff when I rewired Kindred Spirit and I can't imagine I'll have any use for it or be able to sell it for much.

Nothing fancy; 2 each of 12v fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen fittings complete with bulbs/tubes, plus about a carrier-bag's worth of rather second-hand but still usable wiring. I might still have the original switch panel somewhere; it wasn't in the bag of light fittings I just looked in but may be elsewhere in the shed.

I'm guessing whatever's still on the boat isn't going to be much use after 15 years full of water, so hers for postage if she wants, and good luck.

Pete[/QUOTE]

thanks pete,

it is amazing that we seem to have sorted the sails

as for electrics

not at that stage yet

the switch panel and most of the electrics were above water level in the boat

the only bits below were the terminals on the battery - which was also submerged

I have had a look at the switch panel and my guess is that with a bit of gentle screwdriver work on the contacts then it might come back to life

as far as I can see the only bit she needs to really replace is the echo-sounder

its one of those power hungry rotating disk jobs

handheld GPs for navigation and as compass

plus a spare handbearing compass in case the satelites fall out of the sky

however, becca is going to do engineering at newcastle - she has just finished her maths and physics A levels ... so I assume she knows more than I do

giving her the boat was great and being able to hand her some better sails will be a real thrill

Dylan
 
Dylan, you have to get her to post here! I'm still not convinced she's not just some alter ego of yours... ;):D Would be a great if elaborate ploy though!

Jon
 
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the boat is on her face-book page

Dylan, you have to get her to post here! I'm still not convinced she's not just some alter ego of yours... ;):D Would be a great elaborate ploy though!

Jon

such cynicism in one so young.....



this place is full of old men

its the difference between a comfy old pub and a night club

I am sure she is getting advice and feedback from her friends on face book

I assume not one of them has mentioned wiring, spinnaker poles, strange holes, diagrams of bizarre seagull outboards -

I have no idea where this little project will take her

but... I assume Dame Ellen had a bit of help from some amiable old men along the way


Dylan
 

Brings tears to my eyes! I was instrumental in developing that beastie - being convinced as the Marketing king that there was a huge untapped market in under 20ft yachts (I had a Seawych at the time which did a lot of the development on the reverse gearbox) and small cabin boats. Part of the impetus came from the fashion for wells that were often unsatisfactory - so why not make the outboard a permanent fixture? and part was a local boat builder anxious to find a replacement for the 1.5hp Stuart Turner used in small launches.

Spent many happy hours chugging around Poole harbour in a 14' cabin boat trying various configurations. One of the major problems was trying to reduce back pressure in the exhaust once the long pipe was removed, meaning that the already miserable power output was even less!

What really killed it were two things. The first was that by the time builders had installed it and put their mark up on it was hopelessly expensive for what after all was the budget end of the market. The other was the mix of metals in the transmission meant it rotted away almost as you looked at it - rarely a problem with an outboard where the leg is out of the water more than in.

Another brilliant idea killed by the reality of the market place. Might have worked with the later, more powerful powerhead and if the transmission was re-engineered with better materials and protected better with anodes, but by that time Seagull was in survival mode.
 
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