Battery Check
Note: Although most of our boat storage areas are covered by piles of snow, whenever time permits, I feel that it is extremely important that the batteries are fully charged, (if left on your boat, or even if you store your battery at home in this cold weather) to prevent damage.
Informative backissues and various other reference materials will provide Fleet 21 with countless tips on how to service our Catalina(s), etc. Hopefully, you will find these articles both informative and helpful.
John Lauraitis, Rigging & Equipment
Dr. Nautical Here
The Strictly Sail Boat Show is over, and I came away with a new item that I think you might want to hear about. The P.S.S. Shaft Seal (Packless Sealing System) by P.Y.I. eliminates needless bilge pumping that often times wakes you up in the middle of the night. No more unpacking and repacking of the stuffing box. It eliminates trying to get only one to drops per minute with the engine off, and too much water or not enough when you turn the engine on.
I was so impressed that I bought one for my 28 footer (Weak Moment). It took me about two hours to install and was easier than I expected.
No more water in the bilge from the shaft. The bilge pump hardly ever runs. No more having to deal with stuffing box problems at the most inopportune times. It gives great peace of mind.
The cost for most of our boats is around $180 to $190. You can contact P.Y.I. by phone at 425-355-3669;
Fax 425-355-3661, or E-mail P.Y.I. @pyiinc.com. Their web site is at www.pyiinc.com.
Know Your Boat’s
Equipment
*The Battery: An electrochemical storage device capable of lighting an incandescent lamp of a wattage about equal to that of a refrigerator bulb for a period of 15 minutes after having been charged for 2 hours.
Till next time,
Jack Bretall
Dr. Nautical
I make boat calls
P.S. If I don’t know the answer, I will make one up.
The Cutless Bearing
We've heard some talk regarding the cutless bearing. When our boats are stored here in the Midwest region during wintertime, they are stored out-of-the-water. Soon we will begin thinking about the warmer weather and equipment checks. Just found some information worth thinking about...Normally the first sign that a cutless bearing needs changing is a rattle or vibration that's felt at some or all r.p.m.’s when the engine is in gear. The rubber surface of the bearing wears down from use which allows for too much play in the shaft. In extreme cases, the rubber might be completely worn away, and you will hear the very distinctive rattle of metal on metal.
To determine if the bearing needs changing while the boat is out of the water, grasp the shaft in both hands and try to move it from side to side. If it can be moved 1/16 of an inch, consider changing it. This job might be best left to the boatyard. They will probably have a press that can remove and replace the bearing without having to remove the shaft.
A cutless bearing should last hundreds of hours of motoring with a properly aligned shaft and a balanced propeller.
Safety Equipment Check
Now is a
good time to check the fire extinguishers on your boat-including the expiration date.
Update as necessary.
Check
for expired flares. While they may still work, they won't pass inspection by the Coast
Guard. Also look at the dates when you buy new flares
To
prevent flags or pennants from fraying, apply clear varnish along the edges on both sides.
Water System
Run
water through the pumps and faucets, checking hoses, connections and the pumps themselves.
If hoses are cracked or leaking, they should be replaced. If pumps are not functioning
properly, they can often be repaired with kits available from the manufacturer.