Wind generator wiring accessories


We stopped at Marine Exchange and picked up some more wiring accessories for the wind generator(WG).
The fuse holder will sit on the battery and supply the fuse for the positive wire.


The large but connectors will we hope work with connecting the #10 green and #10 black from the WG together.

Air Breeze wind generator Cam Clam - 2012

 We centered the hole according to the WG mount.
We had some time, so we got the cam clam for the Air Breeze wind generator (WG) wires installed on the stern of the boat.

Wind generator mast bracket and LanoCote


 While we had the mast off we removed the top fitting for the stern strut and applied LanoCote to the mast and the bracket. The to the screw and washers and nut. All the stuff :) 



We put the bracket back together and ran out of time. 

Next will be the other bracket. We are getting close to wiring up the Air Breeze wind generator(WG) to the #8 wires we bought. Then we can set the Air Breeze into place and mount the mast for what we hope is the final time.
 Then it is running the wires and adding the switch and the fuse etc.
To keep the Air Breeze from spinning when we are wiring we can short it out. This is OK and will not damage the WG. They say to just connect the tow wires together, in this case the neg and the neutral.

Beta engine to hot water heater fittings came


The fittings for the Beta 38 hp engine to the hot water heater came in.
 The only area which is going to give us a problem is by the oil change pump. We saw Phil at the boat show and we talked about it.
Now it is getting it all ready but the fittings.


Life Sling finish work.


Debbie removed the Life Sling to do some finish work.
Debbie filled some old mounting holes from the Catalina 30 we had on the Life Sling box with 3M UV 4000 and then placed the instructions on the back. She first taped around the holes and then did the fill. This keeps the moisture out so the Life Sling does not get all moldy.
 We had a bag that held the Life Sling(LS) but it fell apart over time. For years we looked for boxes for the LS at the swap meets  but never found any. Just after we bought this box we went to the swap meet and there it was and for cheap! That’s the way is it not?

Now to flake the line and tie it to the rail.


Mast lighting, wiring, labeling, and trouble shooting - 2012

2012 - Marina Cortez San Diego, CA

The mast is getting pulled the 9th of February 2012. We are doing the wiring un-hook and hook up our selves. We did a look see this last weekend. Our current lights are:

A mast head light
Masthead running lights
Mast head anchoring light
Mast head strobe light
All are part of the same light.

What are not working is the masthead anchoring light
and mast head strobe light

Purchased first Garmin electronics!


 The first electronics have been purchased. These we need to get the mast set up when it comes down in a couple weeks.
We did not get the 740S as we decided we did not need the added fish finder and the contoured bottoms. Also this requires a transducer that goes in as a through hull. It will give you water temperature etc but we are keeping it simple if you call these electronics keeping it simple :)




Garmin GPSMAP 740 Touchscreen Marine Chartplotter


Garmin GMR 18 HD 4kW Digital 18" Marine Radar 







Garmin GMI10 Wind Bundle (Includes GWS10 Wind Sensor)


We will use the GMI10 for a repeater at the nav station. This way we can set anchor alarms etc.




For various reason we purchased them from :


EMS, Inc. DBA Shelter Island Marine Electronics
2330 Shelter Island Dr. #101
San Diego, CA 92106
Ph # 619-223-2182

Mast step template


  For the mast steps we decided to make a template to hurry along the install and get them evenly spaced as we can. Debbie started the template and we will use some kind of material that is stiffer than card board. We are thinking of two cut outs. We decide 15” apart is our comfort zone for steps up the mast.
 We are thinking a cut out for the first step and then a cut out for the next step.



 Debbie ordered 24 Sea Dog folding aluminum mast steps from Downwind Marine for our installation. This may be too many but we rather be safe than not have enough to finish the job.

Air Breeze wind generator strut brackets installed - 2012

January 2012 - At Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA
Aft mount for the Air Breeze wind generator pole brace.
The Air Breeze wind generator got some more work done on it. We finished off the strut brackets.

Foil holder mounted



 Debbie decide it was time to mount the foil holder. We wanted to have a dispenser for foils. Like aluminum foil and saran wrap. We plan on not bringing much card board aboard the boat one we start living abroad. Even now we usual strip most of it away and dump it in the recycle bin. The card board can carry critters and sucks up moisture. It also takes up lots of space.
 To this end Debbie identified the space under the galley counter are next to the sink.
 Note: We have a 1978 Islander Freeport and in the later years they did away with this side access.

This took drilling the mounting holes and getting it mounted level.  
Also climbing inside to fasten the mounting screws. Sounds easier than it is but that's a boat.


 Some of the stuff this area holds. It also holds our pressure cooker. 




Still smiling



 Debbie had to contort  into all sorts of positions  to get this thing mounted. She did away with the paper towel mount that came with it. We now need to re-configure some shelving for better access but the dispenser is mounted and working.

Here is the under sink look - you can see Debbies sleeve through the slot.


Now we need different shelves.


This still a work in progress, as we use it it develops.

 It was not on the list and should have been so no crossing off to do J
One more thing done and it makes life easier!

Wind generator wiring


 The wind generator(WG) wiring should be here soon and we picked up some terminal ends for connecting the stop switch and the WG and #6 wires and the #6 wires to the batteries. We got this at Marine Exchange.
Also we picked up some LanaCote for dissimilar metals. This will be used on the stays and WG mast and the WG bolts to mast etc.


Re-plumbing the Force 10 stove with Trident Marine propane alarm - 2012

 When we installed the Force 10 stove we plumbed it up using pipe tape. One day we were at Downwind Marine talking about it and Criss mention we should have used gas pipe tape (yellow). That the pipe tape (white) will start coming apart after a couple years. OK never knew there was such a thing. So it has been more than a couple years and our Trident gas sensor alarms have been going off too often. 

Wind generator fence pole clamp installed - 2012

Can you believe it is January 27!
 It was time to try out our chain link fence pole clamp on the Air Breeze wind generator  (WG) mast. The one we wanted to use did not work. 

Were pulling the mast! equipment to install - 2012

2011 - Marina Cortez San Diego, CA
  
This kind of a scary thing, pulling the mast out of the boat. There is no firm commitment on pricing from the riggers as labor is concerned and can we get the mast steps installed in time and will they be correct? 

Refer thermostat set in place - 2012

 Debbie got the refer thermostat set in place.  You can see a little space in the close-up picture. Looking at it normally you do not see the space. Also, once this area is cleaned up and varnished all or any sins will be covered. It looks good and functions great. Now to secure the wires and cove the backs.

Topping lift replacement - 2012

January 2012 - Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA
Attached to the boom with a shackle.

Ordered 45’ of 8 awg wire for the Air Breeze wind generator - 2011

 Ordered 45’ of 8 awg wire for the Air Breeze wind generator. Dam wire is getting costly. We will not need too much more though. Or wire run we measured from the wind generator to the negative battery terminal was 45’. The start is 8" above the wind generator mast and then all the way to the battery bank.

Ordered 25 feet of #10 W\B wire for dump load


  Just ordered 25 feet  of #10 white and # black wire to hook up the Blue Sky Duo to our dump load. That is the water heater element.
 The positive wire, in this case the white wire (got too many red wires) will be going to the dump load.
On the other hand white is for AC but the order is in.
 The black negative wire will be going from the dump load to the negative battery buss.
It is hard to tell what the lengths are but I am fairly sure the 25’ role will easily make the dump load of white. The black will be more than enough. It is just more cost effective to buy this online than at the chandlery. We will get more wire for less money than we would spend at the chandlery getting the exact lengths.



Wind generator mast bracket


 The one bracket we got from  San Diego Fence company that goes all around the wind generator mast seems to be the strongest. We used the drummel with a sanding wheel to clean it up a bit to get off the sharp edges of galvanizing droppings.
 Now to do the install.
 A boat neighbor Bill let me use his large magnet on a line to drag for the dropped bracket. After several attempts to find it I gave up. It is probably long sunk into the silky bottom.


Solar panel AMP meter

 Just found out our Solar panel AMP meter will only read 9 AMPs. Bummer. However the eBay seller (giorgio11185) said they would take it back and send a 50 AMP version. How cool is that!


Guess I grabbed the wrong picture as this one reads 12 AMPs :)

EchoMax EM230+ Radar Reflector for our mast


 We ordered the EchoMax EM230+ Radar Reflector (echomax.co.uk) for our mast. Echomax would like you to hang the reflector from the spreaders but that means you need to move it when you tack. Besides we have thin spreaders so it will be a mast mount for us.
We also bought the mast mounts.

We purchased ours from:

Landfall Navigation 
151 Harvard Avenue 
Stamford, CT 06902 
800-941-2219 





Beta engine fittings for water heater - reservoir tank


We just ordered the two Beta engine fittings for our engine to reserve tank to hot water heater hook up.
One fitting is a restricted fitting so the engine does not send too much water to the reserve tank.
 We do nothing with the cap on the engine and of course do not use it to put fluid in the engine, we would use the reserve tanks for that.
 Had we known we would need these we would have ordered the engine with them installed.

PO Box 5, Minnesott Beach, NC 28510 Tel
Shipping: 11702 Hwy 306 S, Minnesott Beach, NC 28510
Toll Free: (800) 682-8003
betamarinenc.com





Refer thermostat and freezer lid


Debbie got the wood veneer glued back on and the refer thermostat is ready to be mounted permanently. Then we will clean up the wiring by pulling the extra wire out to the lazerett and securing it all.
 Then we will cut up a plastic electrical out let box and cover the back of the thermostats so they do not get damaged from cabinet items.

We also made a temporary cover for the back freezer lid so we can glue and fiberglass the insulation.


Water heater dump load AMPs


 Well I contacted http://svhotwire.com again. Wanted to see if boosting the dump load AMPs from 20 AMPs which the Blue Sky Duo controller will supply to 40 AMPs would work with the 12v element dump load. There is an add on to boost the 20 AMPS to 40 AMPs by Blue Sky the CBM4070 
.


 John at Hotwire said the dump load will only use 25 AMPs so it would be a waste.
So there some more info not in the instructions that did not exist J, the instructions.

Wind Generator mast clamps purchased - 2012

The other half of the clamp I dropped into the drink is on the lower right with the SS fastener in it. Ran over to San Diego Fence Company and grabbed some fence post brackets to take the place of the half bracket I dropped into the drink for the wind generator pole. They hold the strut to the pole (mast) and the strut holds the pole to the boat.

Marine Wind Generator Accessory Set - 2012

January 2012 - Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA

Marine Wind Generator Accessory Set
25ft 10 AWG Marine BOAT CABLE 3-Conductor
30 AMP Analog Current Meter 
Weatherproof Fuse Holder and (2) 50 AMP Fuses
50 AMP Triple-Sealed Stop Switch
100 AMP Battery Disconnect Switch

How the stern windlass wiring works - 2012

December 2012 - Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA
The windlass is old and we have searched the web etc for manuals and have found none (it is a Powerwinch).

Seaward F600 hot water heater partially installed - working - 2012

OK we installed the new Seaward F600 hot water heater. Simple but not so. Some parts are not installed yet.

Solar panel AMP meter


Our Mini Blue LED Digital Panel AMP Meter Gauge came in and will be used to read the AMPs being produced by the solar panels.
First we will need to install the new fuse block because the terminal ends are a different size than the buss size. Or maybe we will just re-do the ends. At any rate it is small but easy to read and the price is right. You can see the size next to my Droid X phone.
 If we like it we can get another for the wind generator.


Mast radar antenna mount, radar antenna, reflector & Hailer - 2012

January 2012 - Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA
Radar antenna mount installation.

Under nav station wiring work


The wiring under the nav station got some further clean up. We are still running some wires so we did not put any permanent wire holders on yet.




VHF radio - Standard Horizon?


It is getting time to purchase our VHF radio.

For our VHF radio needs we are looking at the Standard Horizon brand
MATRIX AIS+ GX2150 which has AIS
Also we are looking at the:

GX5500S
The GX5500S got the Practical Sailor October 2009 award.
They both work with the STANDARD HORIZON 5" Round Hailer/Foghorn Speaker
They also work with an externl mic and the GX5500S is Bluetooth Headset capable.


GX2150 which has AIS

GX5500S does not have AIS but is Bluetooth Headset capable