wayneakp

This radar reflector stuff is a nightmare. I am depsperatly trying to sort one out for Sea Jem cos I want to take the opportunity for a sea run at the Salties Easter if the weather is good. It seems from my research that the Echomax seem to be the passive ones to go for but to fit that I think I would have to also buy an arch to staddle my raydome and move my anchor light - so the whole set up will be about £300.00 + - I know you cant put a price of safety but at this stage we wont be doing that much sea work. Obviously we have to have one to comply with SOLAS Anyone got any ideas?? Thanks Wayne

Hopefully get to try it out this w/e - her indoors will be pleased Wayne

Mmm.. not just me that's cynical then...anyway have fun on Breydon Wayne

Agree - i think my radio was last used by Noah - and i dont think i will get to change it before Easter - tp busy looking for radar reflectors to comply with Solas (dont want to give the insurance company any excuses!). Wayne

If by mature you mean does the dishwasher and tidy's her bedroom no - if by mature you mean wraps dad round her little finger then yes. Wayne

Hi Jupes 1 x teenage (15) girl rgds Wayne

Hi Martin I will have charts one way or another by then. Generally Sea Jem (wayneakp + SWMBO + 1 teenager) confirmed for Friday and Saturday. Be gentle with us we are a bit shy. We have never slept on board before - I think we are having a dry run next weekend at WRC. rgds Wayne

Aparently there are two domestic "leisure" batteries - linked together to give a longer use time. The third battery is a cranking battery which is wired to start either of the engines. There is a solenoid that will link the cranking and the domestics should the cranking battery be low. regards Wayne

Well the set up gets stranger. The tank I assumed is a header tank is actually a little lower than the filler tank on the engine. The is also a pipe that goes from the bottom of the plastic "expansion" tank to the engine as well as a pipe from just under the filler cap to the top of the plastic tank. As the tank is lower that the filler it will always be full???? very confused Wayne

Odd is what I thought - maybe the previous owner has been filling up at the wrong place?? I will get the coolant changed anyway - I am planning to get the engines serviced so I know where I am with that. Thanks Wayne

Hi On checking the freshwater coolant I found that on both engines the tank under the filler cap was empty. I then noticed that both expansion tanks were full to the brim. I guess I empty the expansion tanks and fill the engine? many thanks Wayne

Well.. solved that one ...the buzzer is for the oil pressure as said above. After a little tracing back I found the earth wire from the sender was broken at the earth bolt. Problem is the earth bolt was partly covered by the oil filter and I did not want to take that off. In the end I piggybacked the earth off the oil pressure sender. Both wires went to the same point anyway so I guess that is o.k. Now working (and really annoying me by it's high pitched noise) o.k Thanks for the pointers Wayne

Another learning experiance today: With the help of a very nice guy found out that two of the batteries are linked for domestic and the third starts both engines. The batteries are all good, it seems the problem is the cranking battery is a domestic one so it cannot give the engines the whallop they need. I will be going out to buy a cranking battery and guess keep the domestic as a spare. Thanks for your help Wayne

I dont have chart plotter or gps on board so unless I can pick one up Sea Jem might have to stay in the marina. I did my day skipper theory recently so it is reasonably fresh in my mind, but the whole going to sea bit might be best after I have followed up with the 4 day practical anyway. Wayne

Mark you'll show me up - got my Collinite yesterday - heaven knows when I will find time to get down to the boat to actually use it - they way work is I doubt it will be before the meet now - hey there's an idea for something for everyone to do Wayne

Hi When I try to start Sea Jem neither engine will crank on its own battery - I have to use the link - which seems to suggest that both batteries are weak. The dealer did suggest it might be how they are wired - they told me they did a drop test and the batteries were o.k - . I am now thinking about changing the cranking batteries. There are however three in the box - the other for domestic - all have thick cables to them and they all seem to be linked so I am noit sure which ones to change. Are there any electrical experts out they that can advise? thanks Wayne

OK - It would have probably been a long while before then regards Wayne

Many thanks for your help I will check out the silent one Best regards Wayne

Thanks - what is the alarm system for - engine temp etc? regards Wayne

Hi all On my new boat which I love very much there are buzzers on the helm and when you turn the ignition on they emit a high pitched buzz until the engine starts ..well one of the two does - the other remains silent. I am probably missing something obvious but what is the significance of the buzzing?? Thanks Wayne

Sure I have seen Mohammed's boat at WRC - just on the way back from the Waveney Inn

Hiya I was talking to my Mother about the Yacht Station as she lived and worked there. My Uncle did his apprenticeship there as well - when were you there ? Wayne

Her indoors won - looks like I am looking at Plastic tanks and toilets instead of the shiney electronics! Wayne

Hi - this might be a silly question but I'll ask anyway... I have a Racal Decca 130 system with the display being a large CRT - very original but not very pretty and a bit large on the helm. Can I keep the raydome and use a modern display or are the raydomes and displays "matched"? Mind you - her indoors prefers we sepnd the money on a holding tank rather than electronics? thanks Wayne

Tonights listings (with her indoors and a daughter!) are a great reason NOT to have the TV on the boat - Eastenders sandwiched by Corry - Arrghhh... I think I'll invent some techincal reason why our boat cannot have a telly!!!! Wayne