rudy sechez writes: >Other >than searching the True Values and Cheapo-Depts, any one have a >source? I would check Rockler Hardware (www.rockler.com) and Taco Metals (http://www.tacometals.com) Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

Gil Johnson writes: >When I posted a message to the list I received the following email response: >------------------------- >Sorry. Your message could not be delivered to: >scott_welch@coolstuff.firstclass.com,Internet (You do not have send access) >------------------------- >Make any sense to anyone out there? Oops! Mea culpa! I subscribe to T&T (obviously) and in my real life I'm product manger for an advanced email system. Two days ago I needed a source for a bunch of relatively innocuous but real messages to test some "naughty word filtering" we're putting in place for our educational customers. "Ah ha", I though, "I'll use T&T messages" (the naughty word I searched for was Volvo... I worked for several years as a Volvo mechanic and let me tell you I used some real naughty words then!). And it worked pretty well, too, except I made a small mistake in the setup and so a bunch of you have received error messages. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. I've removed the setup and all is back to normal. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

"Bob Clinkenbeard" writes: >Now if only I could find a single split gauge for both tanks....since I >don't have a lot of helm space. One simple solution is a single gauge with a toggle switch. Since you'll only be burning fuel from a single tank, you don't really need two active gauges. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

My two cents worth here: There are a bunch of solutions which are both costly & expensive. However, if your onboard power requirements are modest (e.g. no air conditioning, no dryer, no water heater) and can be handled entirely by your existing inverter, there is also a very simple, inexpensive solution: get a "universal input" battery charger such as the Xantrex XC5012 or XC2524. This puppy will take pretty well any power in the world with no user setup required. You can then use this to keep the house bank topped up, while supplying all of the onboard loads through the inverter. Not perfect if you want to run really heavy loads, but can't be beat from a price/performance perspective. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

"Al Thomason" writes: >This is the approach I am taking, but I actually use a 2nd inverter/charger. >In this way I have a backup inverter, and when used like you pointed out >below can deal with the 50/60hz issue. You need to be very careful about this. Many inverter/chargers are also automatic 110V switches as well. When they see good AC power, they switch the load over to the incoming power instead of running the inverter. You don't want that to happen, or else you'll be supplying 50Hz to the boat. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

"Robin" writes: >...Now I'm getting e-mails criticizing my post saying in effect batteries >should be protected from extreme cold Well, let me first say that I am neither a chemist nor a battery engineer. But I worked for 5 years on a boat in the arctic, and I also maintained 4 generators and an industrial-size Bombardier snowmobile powered by a Chrysler 318. I can state state unequivocal that you can leave a fully charged wet lead-acid battery out in the cold (like -60F cold) for six months at a time with no noticeable ill effects. Usually we didn't even have to charge them in the spring. The boat had a pair of 8-D Surettes for each engine (Volvo TMP-40 diesels). Your mileage may vary, etc. etc. etc., but the long and short of it is that winter in Michigan is not going to hurt your batteries. Think of it this way: it's a darn sight warmer than North Dakota, and last I checked the folks in ND still get their cars to start. Just as an aside, you you do have to watch out for is anything filled with water. The plumbing, of course. But there are less obvious things. For example, closed seacocks often have water trapped in the barrel. Drain lines for your fridge. Buckets in the lazarette. Cans of pop. Bottles of Evian. The pump in your toilet. The black water tank pump. All of these things will burst, and of course you won't notice until it's waaayyyy too late. Of course, if you do elect to use heated storage, you still need to winterize. If you read the fine print, I'll bet dollars to donuts there is an "act of god" clause that absolves the marina from damages should the heat go off. All it will take is a good ice storm with the power off for a few days and the temperature could easily drop below freezing. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

"Robin" writes: >High end racers are still being cold molded in the US: I saw a 175 foot >sailboat, hull inverted, in East Boothbay Maine two or three years ago.... at >Hodgkin Bros boat builders, I believe. What a sight!!!! If anyone is seriously interested in building trawler of any type, I would hi ghly recommend that you have a chat with Tad Roberts, who worked at Bruce Kin g Yacht Design and designed Antonisa, a 124 foot cold-molded vessel built by Hodgdon's. He was also the designer of the Hinckley picnic boats and a slew o f other spectacular vessels. His web site is www.tadroberts.ca , it's worth h aving a peek around. He's designed extensively in traditional wood, cold mold ed, and metal. No connection other than as a satisfied client, he did most of the design wor k for Island Eagle. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will g o blind." - Gandhi

"Keith" writes: >Nobeltec has their own line of USB to serial converters: >http://www.nobeltec.com/products/prod_accessories_serial.asp They do, and at $700 for the 8-port version they are way overpriced. I got a Qatec 8 port unit, $369 and it works flawlessly with my Nobeltec. One great advantage of so many ports is that you don't have to futz around hardwiring various devices. You can just run them all into the Qatec and then use the NMEA repeater software in Nobeltec to send the desired data out the desired port (e.g. route the compass and GPS data to the autopilot, route the GSP data to the external radar, etc.) Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

Bob McLeran writes: >The question: should the fitting at the stove side be put together "dry" >or would it be more prudent to use tape or a compound such as Lock-Tite >or a joint compound made specifically for gas lines? Bob, A couple of points. First, propane fittings are compression-style fittings which depend on a tight compression between two beveled faces. The threads do not perform any sealing at all, but merely compress the two angled faces. This style of fitting has many, many advantages, especially the fact that it may be reassembled over and over. However, in order for it to work it is imperative that there is nothing between the two faces. This includes tape and compound. By the way, you may wish to investigate this type of fitting for all of your pressure applications. On Island Eagle I used JIC hydraulic fittings exclusively for the fuel system, and Swage-Lok fittings for the hydraulic steering and air pressure systems. Both of these styles of fittings are (a) inexpensive (b) readily available from industrial suppliers (c) easy to disassemble and reassemble and (d) capable of withstanding up to about 2500 PSI. Scott Welch Product Manager, FirstClass Group "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi

"Kerry Nelson" writes: >Would I need a passport to do this? Only if you want to get back into the USA. Scott Welch "If we continue to take an eye for an eye, then surely the whole world will go blind." - Gandhi