Desperate Times...

This is either an act of lunacy or genius but it is driven by desperation. Either way I hope to solve the problem of the leaking coolant overflow bottle. Coolant has been escaping out of the cap's vent hole.  Try as I may I have been unable to stop it. Even reducing the bottle's water level to almost nothing hasn't helped. The engine's vibration, and subsequent coolant sloshing, is the source of the problem.   Hopefully the balls will contain all the fluid well below the cap's level.

Anchor Washdown Hose

Finding the right length hose for the anchor washdown bibb has always been problematic.  While in Ace Hardware the other day I found a good solution: individual, aluminum, hose fittings (shown above).  The hose, purchased separately (under $1/ft), can be any length you like.  In the future, when the hose needs to be replaced, the aluminum fittings can be reused.

Replacing Deck Caulk

Teakdecking Systems SIS-440

Dug out some failing seams, taped the edges, put in SIS-440, used a putty knife to level the surface, and removed the tape before the caulk setup.  Got a great result.  The SIS-440 set up fast, stuck well, and seems the perfect durometer for a deck joint--not too hard or too soft.  The color also matches the existing caulk.  It's also priced under $15/tube.  What's not to like?

I bought this tube last winter and it summered aboard in the southern Florida heat.  Amazingly, the tube was still good.  Clearly, shelf life isn't a big problem.

Hydraulic Steering Pump Leak

There has been a slow hydraulic oil leak from the steering shaft for a while.  I was unable to wiggle the wheel off.  A gear puller was needed. Replaced an o-ring around the shaft.  Yahoo, it worked.

Class B AIS

Installed the West Marine AIS-1000 behind the Garmin 5212s. It's using the
Kenwood's antenna.

Voltage Regulator Grounding

Grounding the alternator's external voltage regulator to the engine block,
in lieu of the alternator's ground connection, is a more efficient way to
charge the batteries because it eliminates the problems associated with the
electrical resistance inherent in the mechanical connection between the
alternator and the engine block. Whew, that's a mouthfull ;-)

Here's a real-world example. With Nellie's engine running and the batteries
charging, the voltage between the battery's + and the alternator's ground,
aka the regulator's sense voltage, is 14.2V. However, the actual voltage
between the batteries + and - posts is 13.7V. Hmm, this is a problem. We
need the sense line to measure the battery's voltage, and it's not. The
voltage difference results in significant battery undercharging. By moving
the regulator's ground from the alternator to the block, the sense and
battery voltages will be the same.

Bottom line, I'm moving the voltage regulator's ground from the alternator
to the engine block.

New Throttle and Transmission Cables

Pulled out what looked like perfectly good throttle and transmission cables this morning; but don't the cables always look good, until they break. 

Throttle cable close-up

Taped the new cables to the engineroom end of an old cable and then pulled the old cable out at the helm.  It took a little feeding, but the new cables were able to snake along the old cable route.  Good thing there are two cables.  The first time we tried this technique we pulled the wrong cable, i.e. the one that wasn't attached to a new cable, duh.

For the record:  transmission cable is a Seastar CC33222 and the throttle cable is a Seastar CC33224 (generically 33C 22' and 24' respectively). 

New insulation

Yesterday new insulation was added to the engine room.  The forward Racor is being replumbed with 3/8" fuel line with barbed fittings between the Cummins and the Onan.  Both the Onan fuel line and the gallery saltwater hose were rerouted under the Onan.  The portable water pressure tank, after being degreased, acid etched, primed with POR-15, and painted with Rustoleum white enamel was relocated outboard of the port battery.  The bilge under the engine got another coat of Rustoleum gloss white enamel.  Put the lift pump on the Cummins and added a 3/8" barbed fitting to its supply side.