Mostly of late I have been mulling over how to organize and execute my electronics upgrade. Things still too much in question to draft a final design. I received some valuable input from the forum on helm design in this thread.
Two truths and a lie:
1. "It's important to be able to remove your wheel from your pedestal in the event you need to use your emergency tiller or serve drinks in the cockpit to more than 3-4 foreign dignitaries."
2. "The wheel on a 30 year old Edson pedestal is easy to remove. Just spin the locknut off and slide the wheel back."
3. "Dude, it works fine, let's just go sailing today."
The first is certainly true. As the truth of the third statement is reinforced by successive owner/operators, the second statement becomes the lie.
I tried to pull my wheel off. It wouldn't budge. I applied PB Blaster. I did the right thing, the careful thing, and hit it with my hammer a couple of times. Still wouldn't budge.
I e-mailed Edson. They responded very quickly and said if PB Blaster wouldn't work, I should try a wheel puller. Pullers are marvelous tools. I remember buying a Moen valve stem puller for a recalcitrant 70's shower valve on a house flip a couple of years back. Saved tens of thousands of dollars and a month of remodel time.
When I need a special tool I expect to use once and am unlikely to use much in the future, there's a magic source to which to turn. Harbor Freight Tools. $16 + tax gets you a 3 jaw puller from China. Wonderful.
I assumed this would pop it off in 5 minutes. 45 minutes later, and a tremendous amount of twisting force applied, I finally freed it. The shaft, cleaned of rust and gunk with an abrasion + vinegar cocktail, looks like this:
I re-greased and re-assembled. The wheel comes off now, very easily. Ready to serve drinks to Angie Merkel next time she comes through on a visit. Could be months, given the travel restrictions. Anybody need to borrow a cheap puller in Marin?
Paddlewheel Transducer
Airmar paddlewheel was crusy and removed from the hull when I got 'er. Needle nose pliers to clean the gunk, soaked in white vinegar for 2 hours. Back in the spinning wheel business. Sea trial tomorrow probably. Pulling the blank and replacing the transducer looks scary, but after seeing some youtube videos, won't be that big of a deal (?!?!?!?) Need some silicone grease for the O-rings.
Speed Mods
Are attractive mer-people constantly trying to climb on board your boat? If not, you may need to replace your ugly swim ladder rubber feet. I had that problem, until I noticed how degraded my inherited feet were. Bought some new ones on Amazon, installed 'em. Wiped off the pictured smudges later. Boat's definitely faster now.
I also replaced the degraded stopper/bumpers for my lazarette hatches. Probably added half a knot of theoretical hull speed. Forgot to take a picture of the final product. You get the jist.
Two truths and a lie:
1. "It's important to be able to remove your wheel from your pedestal in the event you need to use your emergency tiller or serve drinks in the cockpit to more than 3-4 foreign dignitaries."
2. "The wheel on a 30 year old Edson pedestal is easy to remove. Just spin the locknut off and slide the wheel back."
3. "Dude, it works fine, let's just go sailing today."
The first is certainly true. As the truth of the third statement is reinforced by successive owner/operators, the second statement becomes the lie.
I tried to pull my wheel off. It wouldn't budge. I applied PB Blaster. I did the right thing, the careful thing, and hit it with my hammer a couple of times. Still wouldn't budge.
I e-mailed Edson. They responded very quickly and said if PB Blaster wouldn't work, I should try a wheel puller. Pullers are marvelous tools. I remember buying a Moen valve stem puller for a recalcitrant 70's shower valve on a house flip a couple of years back. Saved tens of thousands of dollars and a month of remodel time.
When I need a special tool I expect to use once and am unlikely to use much in the future, there's a magic source to which to turn. Harbor Freight Tools. $16 + tax gets you a 3 jaw puller from China. Wonderful.
I assumed this would pop it off in 5 minutes. 45 minutes later, and a tremendous amount of twisting force applied, I finally freed it. The shaft, cleaned of rust and gunk with an abrasion + vinegar cocktail, looks like this:
I re-greased and re-assembled. The wheel comes off now, very easily. Ready to serve drinks to Angie Merkel next time she comes through on a visit. Could be months, given the travel restrictions. Anybody need to borrow a cheap puller in Marin?
Paddlewheel Transducer
Airmar paddlewheel was crusy and removed from the hull when I got 'er. Needle nose pliers to clean the gunk, soaked in white vinegar for 2 hours. Back in the spinning wheel business. Sea trial tomorrow probably. Pulling the blank and replacing the transducer looks scary, but after seeing some youtube videos, won't be that big of a deal (?!?!?!?) Need some silicone grease for the O-rings.
Speed Mods
Are attractive mer-people constantly trying to climb on board your boat? If not, you may need to replace your ugly swim ladder rubber feet. I had that problem, until I noticed how degraded my inherited feet were. Bought some new ones on Amazon, installed 'em. Wiped off the pictured smudges later. Boat's definitely faster now.
I also replaced the degraded stopper/bumpers for my lazarette hatches. Probably added half a knot of theoretical hull speed. Forgot to take a picture of the final product. You get the jist.
