After ten years of minimal maintenance, the caprail is showing its age and wear. It is made of a composite material and painted, not teak like many boats have. The caprail actually needs little annual maintenance to keep it looking good. Several years ago I put on a clear coat and that is wearing off.... Continue Reading →
The generator is enclosed with a sound shield that reduces the cabin noise while it is running. The five panels attach to a frame and each panel is lined with foam insulation to absorb the noise. After eleven years the foam insulation deteriorated on the top and front panels and needed to be replaced. I... Continue Reading →
The bimini top is situated over the flybridge. Two pieces of Sunbrella canvas fit together and are zip fastened around the tubular stainless steel frame and cinched taut. It helps to protect the flybridge from the weather and bird droppings. It also provides a shady spot from the afternoon sun or to enjoy an evening... Continue Reading →
Good reliable data is important when boating. Coolant temperature, exhaust temperature, oil pressure, fresh water level, fuel level, boat speed, wind speed, wind direction, GPS location, battery charge, holding tank level, and others all work together to make the pleasure boating experience, well, a pleasure. The level of the black water (sewage) holding tank tells... Continue Reading →
From about November through March, the pleasure boating opportunities substantially decline. Those five months usually see steady sequential storms rolling in from the Pacific. The calm between the storms is often short. These are the windows in which to cruise comfortably, but you have to be ready to go (and return) during that window. Of... Continue Reading →
This is very exciting! We use the powerful wash down pump to spray the mud and debris off the anchor and chain when it is retrieved. If we didn't do that, the mud and debris would get all over the bow and collect in the chain locker that is located at the head of our... Continue Reading →
Every couple of years Fiddler needs to come out of the water. Usually it gets hauled out for a visual inspection of the hull, to apply a coat or two of anti-fouling paint, and to clean up the propellers, drive shafts, thru-hulls, and struts. In addition, this time Fiddler's seals on the shafts and rudder... Continue Reading →
Wires are sized based on the amps that will flow through them, and the length of the wire run. If the load is heavier than the wire can handle, it will get very hot and potentially cause a fire. Fuses and circuit breakers are used to protect the wiring. So when an appropriately sized wire... Continue Reading →
Maintaining Fiddler takes a lot of time and requires an understanding of multiple systems. Unlike a car where the maintenance is related primarily to the engine and drive train (changing the oil and other fluids, spark plugs, brakes, and rotating the tires), Fiddler has two diesel engines, two drive trains, two propellers, two rudders, hydraulic... Continue Reading →
With the rainy and windy weather, I have plenty of time to work on projects. This week I replaced the cooling pump and raw water hoses attached to it. The cooling pump draws sea water and pumps it through the three reverse cycle AC/heat units, then over the side. It was showing signs of corrosion... Continue Reading →
Fiddler 