Radiomariner
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Posts posted by Radiomariner
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Ha ha. Agree with your sentimentsProbably more effective and cheaper than that rip off blue.
Point madeI was once stopped from filling a Broads hire boats diesel tank with water by a neighbouring boater who spotted my error in time.
The caps were identical (apart from the labelling) and even on opposite sides of the boat.
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I consider that the fuel type marked on the filler cap is normally OK. Some boats have diesel tanks and petrol tanks and sewage tanks all with similar caps which could be interchanged, these are the ones I would insist on having the filling aperture clearly labeled. Despite of clear labelling I have heard of a case where a boat had a sewage tank filled with diesel.
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Get rd of that plastic beaker arrangement before your next BSS inspection. Definite failure.
Edited to add. Many Lister's I see do not have such a 'T' piece or have it blanked off, the spill being entirely returned to the tank.
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I have lived in the area long enough not to be at all surprised. Weird folk quite commonplace
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Regarding left handed RO's. Over time I progressed from a regular morse key, to a "Bug" (Both vibrating and electronic) where the thumb and forefinger operated a sidways moving paddle allowing the wrist to rest on the desk while operating. (Essential when sending messages of over 2000 words) The thumb would make the dits and the forefinger the dhas. Was a "left handed Key" ever made? Most of the 'lefties' I knew managed ok but one who originally learned using the right hand after an arm injury had to turn the key upside down to use his left hand.
Edited to add: _
I sold my vibrating bug when I got my electronic one. I regret that now. The electronic one has little value, but the mechanical vibro will no doubt become an object of great interest. For my 21st birthday Ship's engineers made me a beautiful morse key. A useless object of art, could not achieve more than 15 words per minute due to it being badly balanced. That compares to 30-35 words per minute on the electronic bug
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Me in my Dad's radio shack (G3NXU)
Wow. The HRO. Did he have a full set of coils?
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What is recommended for internal doors, not something that affects us as we don't have any full length internal doors
Most/Many internal doors have large gaps both high and low allowing sufficient ventilation throughout the vessel. If the doors are completely sealed the examiner should consider each compartment separately considering any appliances and persons likely to occupy that compartment. I have on a few occasions given an "advisory" where an internal door did not allow sufficient ventilation to a room with fuel burning appliances. I also fear that there may have been times that I have failed to notice an open pinned back or sliding door
It depends when it was tested, it is only advisory now, previously it was compulsory, I also know of one boat that failed but it was a few years ago.
Perhaps, Radiomariner can confirm, or not that I am correct.
Prior to 2005 I believe the BSS requirements for ventilation were mandatory as they still are for commercial and hire boats. I was not an examiner then but was a bit miffed when the Examiner told me to fit three more UFO type ventilators. I was upset some time later when I discovered that all I had to do was replace one of the existing UFO's with a mushroom. I don't think it would have been too much for the examiner to suggest that. I think I said this recently in another thread but I think it is part of the examiners duties to help the boat owner to solve any problems that he, the examiner, presents.
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It's all a bit of tinkling into the wind:-
The OP can't measure his charging rate
OR his usage rate
Doesn't know what state his batteries are in
doesn't know if there are any bad connections
so it's difficult to offer specific advice.
For starters perhaps the SG of the batteries could be measured,
and the use of a DC clamp meter might be good initial points??
I am shocked that this is the first mention of S.G. in this thread. The best way of checking standard Lead Acid (and some other types) is with a hydrometer, Very cheap only £4-£6 For a reasonably reliable one. At that price every boater should have one. It would be a great help also keep a battery log. Say once a month or at least four times a year, about 30 minutes after fully charging the batteries check and record the SG of each cell. Comparison with previous readings will highlight any deterioration. Must add that I had to do this all my working life, but as far as my own boat is concerned I presently do not practice what I preach .
Edited to add: - For those that do not know, those little "magic eyes" that indicate the state of charge of the battery are useful but only indicate the condition of one cell. It can indicate a full charge even when other cells in the battery are goosed.
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Perhaps he meant the owner was issued with a warning notice, assuming the ventilation short fall was sufficient enough.?
Reading the guide no low level ventilation at all would seem to indicate sufficient reason for the examiner to issue such a notice.
Quite right. No low level ventilation requires a warning notice. However, still remains advisory. Some people find it hard to get their your heads round that! (Including some examiners)
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Modesty and leopard skin y-fronts make strange bed fellows.
Twas "funny ha ha" presentn from SWMBO. Being a tight fisted Aberdonion I just had to get the use of them. After all, who would ever see them!!
Had you shot the leopard yourself?
MtB
Leopard Skin print. .
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Andy's trousers falling apart brought back an experience I had as a young man. I managed to splash a very small drop of battery acid down the front of my uniform trousers. Just a tiny splash about 5mm radius. I immediately removed the trousers and plunged the affected area into a water filled hand basin and, let it soak about ten minutes. I thought that would have diluted the acid enough so as not to cause damage. About five days later, as I hitched up my trousers to sit down at the breakfast table the material just fell apart in my fingers, Every time I moved a bit of trouser material would rot away, An area of about a foot in diameter (the area I had soaked) just fell apart, revealing my leopard skin Y-fronts. I had to sit, with my napkin in my lap until everyone finished breakfast and left the dining saloon. Somebody saw what happened however, because some of the wives teased me about my Y-fronts until I left the ship months later.
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As someone whose preferred method of dealing with things like hornets is to swat them, I would advise caution based on my own experience. It seems that when attacked or killed they give off a defensive pheromone which attracts other hornets to come to the rescue and attack the threat.
Yes, I heard that. After letting the irate hornet go (Post 111) we shut all doors and windows in fear of retribution SWMBO even put sellotape over the keyholes! What whimps! (SWMBO says she was worried for the baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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Living in India in the 1970's, SWMBO comes into the living room and says "There is a Hornet in the baby's room". I jokingly replied, "If you can grab it by the wings it can't sting you!"
Next thing, SWMBO says "What do I do Now?"
Three lessons learned that day:
1. It is possible to catch a hornet by the wings.
2. When you are holding a Hornet by the wings it is impossible to open doors or windows
3. A hornet, having been held by the wings, when let go is as mad as hell!
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Personally I think current interpretation of the legislation is a bit dodgy. It says that the legislation doesn't apply to vessels not "(iii)used primarily for domestic or residential purposes;". So if a boat is a holiday / leisure boat (ie not live-aboard) it is either out of use or, presuming you live on it for a few days, when in use used for domestic and residential purposes. So this latter is the primary (or even only) use. Hmmm, never mind, hopefully no-one will notice.
I agree that the interpretation of the legislation is a bit dodgy, and often being "piggy in the middle" I worry about it quite a lot. I do not entirely agree with your cut and dried conclusion. I believe It once was more simple, boats licensed as residential, were residential, boats that actually moved around were not. I think the licensing changed and the "used primarily for domestic or residential purposes" was slipped in to keep everyone happy. You have honed in on the idea that if the boat is 'used' it is being resided in. I think the"purpose of boat ownership" is more like the question intended
Any how, it is a can of worms I do not wish to delve into
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You are quite right , you did not mention 0vetus vents, it was PaulD however I am unconvinced that UFO vents are unfit for purpose and having had them for the last 14 years with no problems with BSC passes, no problem with leaks in fact no problems at all. I am happy to let you debate till your hearts content while I sleep soundly untroubled by any worries about the suitability of my vents.
Phil
I do not think I said or even implied that UFO vents were unfit for purpose. They do their job very well. The point is that they allow less ventilation than similar sized mushroom vents. My boat is fitted with UFO style vents. The OP was considering changing his mushroom vents for UFO's, and I understand why. However it depends on the fuel burning appliances and number of berths as to what the minimum ventilation requirements are. If the OP's boat is anywhere near the limit he may have to consider extra ventilators if he is to replace all the mushrooms with UFO's. Back around 1996 when ventilation was a mandatory item on the BSS checklist, my BSS examiner asked me to fit three new ventilators. I took his word to be gospel and did so. I now know that if I simply had replaced just one of the UFO's with a mushroom, the requirements would have been met without the need for more holes. I did not discover this until I became a BSS examiner myself, it made me angry, and I resolved then that as an examiner to help boaters find solutions to problems rather than simply present them with problems. (Not always possible but I do try)
I have looked up my notes and found some free air ventilation figures for some UFO types
Tannoy 4" this one I dismantled and measured myself 2700 sq mm
EC Smith 4" (from association of Boat Examiners, guidance sheet) 2740 sq mm
Aqua Marine 4" (from Association of Boat Examiners guidance sheet) 4500 sq mm
Vetus 4" from Vetus (calculated from sales blurb some years ago) 3180 sq mm
On the other hand:-
Brass Mushroom vent with 1" gap from shoulder to dome , (From ABSE Guide) 7740 sq mm
Brass Mushroom vent with 1/2" gap shoulder to dome (from ABSE guide) 3870
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Mine aren't Vetus and require a 100mm hole.
Phil
I thought I had made it clear the size of the hole does not necessarily determine the ventilation.
Hmm reckon Vetus vents sound rubbish with only 2 or 3mm clearence mine have much more and though I don't have the figures to hand they do provide more than ample ventilation as I checked to make sure as I didn't want to die in my bed.
Phil
I did not mention Vetus vents. I am annoyed that you linked my comments to a particular manufacture. I was talking about UFO vents in general, and some of their problems. Tannoy is one one make (I cant at present recall other makes to hand).
I have not had a Vetus vent apart but from information I have seen Vetus vents seem to have a slightly higher free airflow than the others.
I would be interested to know the manufacturer and model your UFO vents are.
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With the IT on the boat there is still a possibility that lead from the shore power point may chafe against part of the boat structure causing the hull to become live. In a properly installed marina this should cause a shore RCD to trip. How good is the shore installation? Some boaters therefore put the IT ashore to avoid this risk. Personally I would prefer an IT but expense and space on my wee boat do not permit it. I have a GI instead.
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Absolutely,,
As I said, they wouldn't take a lot to block them up,
Interestingly enough, I went out earlier and put the hose pipe around the vent drains,, & although not blocked, I did get all sorts of crud out of them. & I'm Hundreds of yards away from any significant foliage !. So it's either been in there a long time, & we are talking years, or as I suspect it's a perfect trap for most airborne stuff. As well as Spiders.
(& yes,,,The last thing you want on a boat are big Leeks !.)
Yes. I forgot to mention dead flies and spiders.
Might I add a warning here: = To boaters who have a nice expanded metal decorative or mesh type grill keeping spiders etc. out. The ones in the vicinity of the galley are particularly prone to blocking up due to airborne grease particles from cooking. Keep 'em clean.
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If there is a fan in the vent, the effective diameter is assumed (for BSS purposes) to be reduced by the blockage caused by the fan blades which are assumed to be stationary even if (as in ours) the fan has battery back-up and runs 24/7
Sorry Keep Up, the BSS must assume the possibility that at some time the fan may not be working. Electric motor failure, battery failure or anything that stops the fan rotating. The fan blades then are simply an obstruction to free air flow. I normally discount such a vent from the calculations unless there is a shortfall where I will then include it with a reduction of 25% along with any gaps around doors etc. in order to avoid a "Yes, but........." on the exam Report.
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System 4-50
I think he means -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2x3isww5a5wdbdj/IMAG0283.jpg
They are around the edges, and allows water that goes in the Big round holes, out through these Drain holes,
I must say, I've not had trouble with mine, but It wouldn't take a lot to block them. & I've certainly had no leeks or dripping internally.
Depends a lot on where you moor, The blocked ones I have seen have been blocked by what I believe to be leaf mould, combined with blossom from trees (elderflower for instance) which is very prolific in many areas. It turns into a gungy mess. All the drain holes do not have to be blocked to let moisture enter. If the ventilator is to one the side of a curved roof, it only needs the lower ones to block.Quite a few of them leaked not into the cabin but to the space between roof and roof liner
Had a chuckle at you never having leeks. I imagine big green Welsh vegetables forcing their way in like Triffids.
Edited 'cause I can't spell (and still can't) Triffids.
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How so? Both vents have a 100mm dia hole into the boat and the calculations on our BSC for our UFO vents bears this out, or were the last 2 inspectors numpties who got it wrong?
Phil
100mm dia. hole alone would provide 7850 sq. mm of free ventilation. It is what is above, that limits the ventilation. In the case of mushrooms it is the gap between the shoulder of the vent-shaft and the mushroom dome that is the controlling factor.
Outside diameter of mushroom shaft say 100mm minus thickness of shaft material say 3mm leaves an internal diameter of 94mm
multiply by Pi gives the circumference 295mm then multiply that by the size of the gap say 1 inch (25.4mm) = 7493 sq mm of free air ventilation. To half the gap reduces this figure to 3746 sq mm. This of course may be further reduced by the inclusion of fly screens.
UFO type vents are basically mushroom vents with a covering protective dome and the ventilation gap is under the edge of the mushroom and a channel (drain) below it. The circumference ot the mushroom is of course much larger but the gap is considerably smaller, 2 or 3 mm. A very fine mesh fly screen can reduce the ventilation further but this ventilation loss may not be proportionate as it is generally fitted in a location much wider than the 2-3 mm gap mentioned.
These vents are prone to blocked drain outlets that may not only reduce the ventilation but let some water into the boat. (The drain fills up and overflows) Regular cleaning out necessary.
Edited to add: -
The free airflow of UFO vents can be increased considerably by dismantling and re-assembling in a fashion to increase the gap by i or 2 mm . Some might need spacers to lift the mushroom top, others might need a couple of mm to be cut off the plastic mushroom skirt. Whatever you do details of your modification, such as a simple diagram with dimensions will help convince the BSS Examiner
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I've seen explosion like this before. Much bigger battery for starting a large emergency generator. Cause was never fully investigated, but it was believed that the electrolyte level in the battery had been maintained at too high a level allowing part of a bus connecting the cells to corrode, eventually thinning enough so it ruptured like a fuse. Resulting spark ignited hydrogen. I always preferred the older batteries that had nice big solid connecting bus between cells on top of, rather than inside the casing.
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Matching prop size and design, to engine speed, for fuel efficiency to me is a 'black art'. A supertanker (VLCC 300000 tonnes) spent most of it's voyages running at the charterers requested speed which was not very efficient. It took months for the boffins to figure out what changes had to be made to the prop to improve this. Ship went into dry dock, the experts arrived with all their laser devices and grinding tools. Took about five days to change the shape of the (very big, size of a small house) prop. Result, vast improvement in engine efficiency. However, the clever boffins had not looked at the bigger picture. Waste heat from the engine exhaust is used to generate steam to heat the fuel oil for the engine, (when cold, a bit like tar), with the newly efficient running engine there was not enough waste heat to do this. We had instead to run a boiler to generate steam! Tremendous loss in efficiency resulting.
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With a name like that it should have been a wide boat
And a Bonny boat
Who has an office on their boat?
in General Boating
Posted · Edited by Radiomariner
My daughter did this recently. Her employer arranged for an inspector to check things like desk height, lighting proper seating at work station. It was all OK she now only attends the office two days a week. It has resulted in my opinion, to a slight reduction in her "standards" we found her working, still in her pyjama's at three in the afternoon.
Edited to add tip. She had a sweater handy to pull on for video conferencing!