elnav@uniserve.com writes: >So much for the >invinciblity of diesel engines in a wet hostile environment. >These new >engines sound as if they will be almost as suceptible to >electrical >problems as a gasoline engine. On a water not so far away and not so long ago I owned a 34ft motor-sailer with a Norwegian SABB Diesel for a power-source. It had no generator/alternator, no starter, no belt/pulley, and not a single piece of electrical wire, none nix, nada. (An electrical starter and a generator could be ordered as optional equipment for lazy sailors.) It had a mechanical tachometer and to start it one used a handcrank through a clever set of gears and chains. To preheat it on very cold days, one opened a plug and inserted a cigarette butt into the first cylinder. Lloyds of London approved it as a lifeboat engine because of its ruggedness and its ability to run under water, provided one could get air into it. Now that was a marine engine; and in spite of my opening line, this is not a fairy tale!!! Cheers - George

rbryett@mail.com writes: >The boat I'm cruising on at the moment has a hand started Sabb >installed. In >other words we do regularly what the post I quoted above claims is >impossible. As I have stated elsewhere, I used to own a motorsailor yawl with a SABB and now have a sloop with a Farymann. Both engines are hand-startable and can run without any electricity whatsoever. I make it a point of practising this handstarting several times a season - especially when I have novices on board.... :-)

becker@presse.de writes: >"bar" seems to provoke some confusion (sorry): You were supposed to smile, not be sorry. Most of us can use and have a "Schieblehre" in our desk-drawer somewhere.... Ciao - George

capnrich@cnw.com writes: >> There is not one of you out there that >can start their diesel without a good power source, electronic or >not. > >True. Not true. Unless you classify human power as a "good power source". (Well, if you get between Mohammed Ali and his gloves, you might be right). Ciao - George

cculotta@iamerica.net writes: >There was a choice of >milling the interior of the pump or the seal, naturally we did the >seal. Why the seal? Similar thing happened to me a few years back with the wheel bearing on a custom British built boat-trailer for a Hurley. I honed out the backing plate to fit the next size bearing and seal. Now I can just go to any bearing shop anywhere in the world and buy standard parts. George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada

Mike, I have been shown a picture of a communication device, made by Motorola, that combines net access, e-mail, voice communication and GPS (?) all in one decent size unit with keyboard and active colour matrix. It uses geostationary satellites rather than cell-phone towers. Price and availability are not yet known (here in Canada), but with your background, perhaps you can find out more about it and include in your presentation. It would apparently fill all a traveller's needs perfectly and work world-wide on land or oceans. The picture I have seen was in a Radio Shack catalogue. George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada

e16@telus.net writes: >Put a 110 vac plug on the lamp and plug >it into the standard 3 prong female outlet that is installed in the >inverter. They retail for about US$30. I suggest you try that out before you hardwire and install. Just had a problem with one of those screw-in fluorescents: Was trying to use it with a photo-diode switch and regular 110 V AC (shorepower). When it came on (after dark) the bulb flickered very noticeable and I had to undo the whole setup. Note: I had used the same photo-diode switch for a whole tree full of incandescent lights all through Christmas season - without any problem. FWIW - George of Scaramouche.

LRZeitlin@aol.com writes: >It is a matter of a moment to mount the 20 lb. fishing motor >and plug it in. A #27 Diehard deep discharge battery will run the >MinnKota >for about 4 hours at top output. It will suffice to move my W30 at >about 2 >kts. in very calm water. Larry I have a similar setup but am curious what you used to "plug it in". I mean the type of connector? I use the battery cable clamps that came with the trolling motor. A real "pug in" would be nicer. George G. P.s: My daughter, who is a bit of a naturalist, uses the motor on our rubber dinghy to sneak up on the local blue herons and other swamp creatures. Has hours of fun and her feathered friends don't seem to mind. I could never do that with my 'British Seagull'.

JWilkins@idahopower.com writes: >Today stumbled upon a used Motorola Bag Phone (3 watt transmit >power) for >sale cheap. Being the cautious type I called Verizon to see if it >could be >reactivated. Quick answer was NO. Question: Does anybody know of any >service >provider who will reactivate these? I take it from your name that you are in the US. So my experience may or may not help. I also bought a cheap analogue bag pone for use on my boat and checked with Bell-Mobility. They told me: "No Problem. Just add it to you existing digital service." There is a cost involved but not exorbitant. Next question: My 'bag phone' was previously used in a car and it's antennae used the car body as a ground plane. Has anyone used such a phone on a glass boat and what did they use for ground? George of Scaramouche1, Lake Ontario, Canada

rlchenry@mindspring.com writes: >The ANTENNA used the car as a ground plane, the phone did not - it >was just >expecting the same ol' 50ohm cable. If you get an ANTENNA designed >for use >NOT on a car roof, then the phone will work fine. My phone is actually not a bag-phone, but an ex "built-in" car phone. I beleve they were jokingly referred to as "brick-phones". Its antennae is one of those through the glass (rear-window) type. Will try to get a clamp-on-the-rail type for cellulars. Trying to get maximum transmission power. With my current digital cellphone I lose contact about three miles from shore (but I can still see the CN Tower, where one of the transmitters is located). Portability is not an issue for me, power/range is. > > Thanks for your advise - George G.