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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Got Rained out (and Robust Canadians)

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/23/2006 : 13:57:37

So, I went to the boat this afternoon to see if I can do some deciphering with my electrical gremlin problem. I did a quick check of a few things, and remarkably, battery 1 (deep cell) is reading about 8 volts (on the portable charger), and battery 2 is reading about 8 volts (on the guest charger). Strange that now it appears to be working. Oh well. I will let them work over night and check tomorrow.

FTI, I checked them yesterday morning, only to find that I had left the battery switch both, so the deep cell that was reading 12V was now down to about 1V.

My boat has a ton of extra wiring that is not used anylonger. For instance, there was once an alarm system that is hooked to a big horn located next to the wiring blocks in the dumpster. The arams were magnetic and there was one located at the top hatchboard, the 2nd is located at the dumpster hatch. So, today I removed both of the alarms and started to remove the appx 30' of wiring, only to find myself sitting in the bottom of the dumpster and getting poured on. The forecast today is mid 60's and rain, but it was clear when I started. Oh well, maybe tomorrow I can get back to it.

On a side note, I saw a Canadian group of 4 or 5 rig a 30+ footer and prepare to head out to the lake (downpour and all).

'84, C-25, SR/FK, #4663, "ILLUSIONS", Chazy, NY (Lake Champlain)
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/illusions

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 14:39:19

One of the great things about my C25 was that I bought it new with only a battery, shore power, and Coast Guard required navigation lights. Since that time, 1988, I've added a number electrical things but have been able to keep the wiring neat and orderly. The only real problem I've had thus far was when I accidently pulled the wires out of the deck plug for the mast lights and had to deal with the factory installed stuff in the cabin truck. The whole factory installed system reminds me of an old MG Midget I once owned - full of factory design flaws. The botttom line is, think about what you want to install now, then what you might install in the future, and allow for both in your wiring system design. Draw the whole thing out and keep it handy for later installations.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 15:11:23

Like you John, my boat had wires going nowhere. I must have pulled out about three miles of both marine and non marine wire off the boat before I rewired it. I have not had any problems since then. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1767 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 15:21:46

Here is the extra crap I pulled out of my boat ... 'hard to believe, huh?

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 15:47:20

Hey Buzz,

Nice nest. I makes me think that I will keep all the extras I pull and take a pic of it when it is removed/replaced.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 09:00:39

MG Midget. I had an Austin Healy Sprite back in the early 60s. Just about the same thing as the MG. I sure liked that thing. 'cept Looking at the axels on the 18 wheelers on the freeway was a little scary.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 09:01:19

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 10:33:04

Had a '78 Subaru wagon that was the same. Rats nest of wires, and tiny!!!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 12:47:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John P
 ...So, today I removed both of the alarms and started to remove the appx 30' of wiring, only to find myself sitting in the bottom of the dumpster and getting poured on.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
So just close the lid on the dumpster...

(I've had that happen inadvertently...)

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 15:28:52

Funny dave,

Edited by - on

jimhart
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2006 : 14:47:09

I have a 1973 TR6
What makes it fun to drive is that you never know for sure what electrical item will work at any given point in time.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2006 : 15:12:31

I had a TR7 - The wedge hardtop. It was great to drive, but when the warranty ran out so did my patience.
1. Front and rear transmission seals.
2. Engine seals.
3. Two head gaskets.
4. New clutch when oil leaked on the first one.

I figured if I could have afforded it I would have torn the car down and rebuilt, and rewired it before ever driving it. Maybe it would have lasted. Should have bought the TR6 that was sitting next to in in the showroom. Kinda miss those old sports cars.. my sister had the MG Midget with the rag top. She put a small sign in the drivers window letting anyone know it was unlocked. She didn't want to have to replace the top if all they wanted was the stereo. It was an 8 track though...

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2006 : 15:08:34

I recall on my old subaru that there were at least 3 separate wiring harnesses for car stereos. I remember there was a short somewhere that when I would hit a bump in the road hard enough, the fuse on the headlight circuit would blow. Scarey!

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 06:14:23

PO installed shore power plug and then ran romex from that to a metal box with a receptacle in it, nothing secured, this sat behind the cooler next to the battery, which is where the rain water collects that gets by the hatch boards. Didn't even seal the screws that mounted the plug. Nice.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3436 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 07:52:50

I am working on my new 8 circuit breaker switch panel and rewiring up to the cabin deck connector. So far, I have the switch panel mechanically installed on the front panel of the galley sink. This weekend, I threaded in the new wire bundle - Anchor brand mast wire 14 gauge. I just put the terminals onto the end that will connect to the switch panel. I bought 10 gauge wire for the power leads to go to the switch panel. Still have theose hookups and then tackling the new deck connector hookup left to do.

My first year of college, I had a 1961 MGA. Loved the car...but not the maintenance/cost headaches. My part-time job could not afford the costs and so i had to sell it after 6 months. I did not check out the car thoroughly when i bought it - not knowing that much about cars and did not know how to drive a manual. I experimented driving on my block and...then ran out of gas. then ran out of gas a second time. First two expenses were to replace the gas tank float sensor/indicator and replace rear brakes which were frozen (bought car from someone that lived near the south shore of Long island and suspect the seawater environment did a number on the brakes. Then had to replace both batteries (2 batteries to make 12 volts).

The fuel gauge then worked and I estimated I was getting 3 miles per gallon ! Had the SU carburetors overhauled and the float levels had to be adjusted because the PO installed the wrong electric fuel pump. An oil plug had to be installed in one of the cylinders because the PO messed up on the ring job he did. Then 2 of the shock absorbers required adjustment and the mechanic told me to forget about fixing the other two because the lever arm shocks would have to be replaced and if he did that, then he said i ight as well turn the car over to him because of the expense.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 07:59:54

Ed,

Interesting. I owned my Midget in Salinas California. I was driving it down to the parts dealrer one day to get a new wiring harness and the tranny blew. It wasn't unexpected, but it was inconvenient. Luckily my wife was with me. We pused it down a freeway off ramp and into a Toyota dealership where we traded it in on a Toyota.

I loved driving that car but got tired of fixing it.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 09:02:10

"So just close the lid on the dumpster... (I've had that happen inadvertently...)"

That could get real embarassing if the locking hasp flipped down over the bail. Probably flimsy enough you could bust your way out if you needed to.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 09:22:20

About working in the dumpster, it takes moments to remove the quarterberth bulkhead. a couple of throwable cushions to sit on and you are way more comfortable.

Edited by - on

jimhart
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 10:02:18

I have a 1973 TR6 that I drive mostly on weekends from my house to my boat slip a distance of 3 miles. What a fun car to drive because
your are never sure what will or will not work. Also getting the car inspected each year is a adventure.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 12:36:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 About working in the dumpster, it takes moments to remove the quarterberth bulkhead. a couple of throwable cushions to sit on and you are way more comfortable.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Now you tell me! ...and I already sold the boat.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 07:12:41

Didn't take the picture of all the wiring I removed either but this is what is there now. I think this is the fourth rewire results but I did solder and crimp and put a box with plexiglass over back of panel. I drive my Dad's 57 Silver Hawk to the boat which I drove when it was new. Yes, it too has been pushed but not too far as it is very heavy. There is just enough wire to make the enqine run.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 10:49:34

My first car was a 1934 Morgan 3-wheeler (the famous "Mog"). It was fun to hang a wheel on the corners (sort of like flying a hull - only faster!). It had twin Matchless 500cc motorcycle engines on the front, a hand throttle and cable brakes (which were known to break in a crash stop). When properly tuned, at idle you could watch the valves go up and down.
My next one was a 1937 MG TA - great sports car with no suspension to speak of. I had to have the twin SU carbs retuned about every 6 weeks - never did find out what screwed them up all the time. Then I got married and had a son...

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 12:08:33

Wow a Morgan, with a strap on the hood! Talk about automotive art! I cannot imagine building a wooden car today but I think Morgan does still build some that way.

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