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Mods: TV, Solar Pole

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/14/2009 : 07:40:49

Not much sailing the past few months (not due to weather, but to time issues) so managed to squeeze in a few mods.

TV:
We used to have a portable 7.5" dvd / tv player on board, but the switch over to digital means no TV on board.

We purchased a Skyworth 12v 15" LCD TV/DVD player.... soooooooo nice!

Also spent $35 on a TV mount, moved the magazine rack down and put the new TV on it's mount.
<center>

TV Stowed, covered (denim & cusioned) held in place by double sided velcro.

The cover is velcro'd in the corners.

Cover removed TV off

And it works!

Swings out nicely.

Watch it from the Galley too!

Load is only 1.8amps with just the TV on! Sweet!

The new TV antenna is on an extending mount, have to drop it when towing!

I made matching mounts for the Antenna and the Solar Pole

</center>
Solar Pole:

My Solar panel was previously mounted on the stern mast crutch, there were problems with that setup.
<ul><li>The panel would be almost useless when the mast was stowed (panel in shadow of mast)</li>
<li>Rotation of panel was uncontolled</li><li>Elevation control of the panel was always an issue (various methods tried and failed)
</li></ul>
So my new panel pole.... (Randy, it's all SS!

)
<center>

The panel in the up position.

</center>

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2009 : 09:33:26

Nicely done! How many channels do you get with your antenna?

I like the way you have coiled up the backstay. Is that a wind gauge on the mast top? How do you like it? Does it help your sailing?

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2009 : 10:13:13

Thanks Randy.

we have had as many as 21 channels, but it's very dependant upon position and then some of them are in spanish.

The backstay is coiled and held in place with my new favorite thing from harbor freight - double sided hook and loop tape.

Yes, the wind guage is great, I check for security of all bits on the masthead before raising (we found the wind transponder tube loose to the point of ready to fall off previously).

Dose it help sailing? I'll say yes but especially for Peggy. Most of the time I can't see the telltales from the helm so I use the wind gauge (it's a Ray marine ST40) and note my best speed for the current trim and then sail to the wind angle on the gauge.
The pain of the wind gauge is the electrical connection at the foot of the mast, it's a two pin (big and small) on the end of a very weak electrical cable which I have beefed up with heat-shrink, I repair the cable connection on the cabin top almost every trip. That might be as simple as cleaning the connectors, to opening the free end of the connector and reworking the cable attachment to the contacts.

The outer support tubes for the antenna and solar poles are 1" SS the inner pole is 7/8" SS, the outer support tubes are held to the catbird seats with SS 1" Bimini type tube mounts with SS screws and capnuts.

The antenna wire is fed through the pole and then into a cable cam(?) thru hull just to the inside of the catbird seat rear support. The solar power electrical wire runs in through the same 'hole' as the outboard power.

When trailering, the wires are just long enough to not be under strain, so when in the raised position, there's slack, I take that up with the double sided hook and loop tape.

The solar panel can rotate 360º around the vertical axis, and 200º around the horizontal axis. The pin through the solar pole rests in serrations of the support tube to manage rotation, the panel rotates under spring (SS) tension in serrations too. So it's simply a matter of turning the pole to point the panel at the sun, then tilting the panel for optimum power.

Paul

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2009 : 10:38:54

britinusa

Very nice set of modifications.
It's not how many channels you can receive on the TV but do you get your favorite shows.
My grand-kids have introduced me to Sponge Bob which is my favorite now.
How about making a video....some time.

paulj

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2009 : 10:44:30

I like the solar controller. I might replace mine (also a Morningstar) with what you have here. Where did you buy it and at what price? $159?

I believe mine has gone faulty. Won't charge the batteries at all. I started bypassing it the end of last summer just to keep the charge up. It has a 5 year warranty, but I like the features yours has. I suppose I will try to see what is wrong with it. Boat will come out of storage pretty soon now!

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2009 : 12:38:05

My grand-kids have introduced me to Sponge Bob which is my favorite now.

Now I'm worried about you Paul.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2009 : 07:04:23

Turk, I got the panel and the solar controller from http://www.energystore-usa.com/

I know the owner 'Paul Farren', he's the center of the wheel for solar power in south florida.

My son (the Green Guy!) introduced me, they do some amazing solar installations together.

Paul Farren helped select the panel
[url="http://www.energystore-usa.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,140/category_id,8/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,26/"]

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2009 : 17:39:38

Very nicely done Paul. I really like your solar controller with the ability to show load. Your solar panel looks conveniently small, how many amps or watts does it produce? I agree with PaulJ I think a video of interesting JD mods are due. I'd like to see your ST40 while underway. Was your reason to go with an ST40 because it is difficult to look at the mast top with the bimini in the way?

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 03/15/2009 17:45:16

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2009 : 21:42:47

Good one Steve!

We got the ST40 from ignorance! The sales guy suggested it. We pretty much bought all his suggestions, so the ST40 (Wind, Depth, Speed, Water Temp) came with the new boat.

And you are right, the bimini is always up, so looking at the masthead, even through the clear bimini panel is not practicle (besides, most of the summer it's way to bright up there!)

We're getting a new video recorder next month, before our next trip, so we'll plan a few Cap'n Morgan's Mod videos.

Before we sail next I have to install the new fiddles at the back of the cabin seat backs, replace the cabin lights with new LEDs (really like the look of the new ones in the WM catalog that arrived today)

Even the admiral is complaining at not enough time afloat! (you have to love her for that!)

Paul

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 00:44:43

Hey Paul, when first looking at your pictures I didn't check who the poster was. Going through the pictures I said to myself, look at how much more room the WK has, then I realized that it's my favorite Brit, so it's the same boat as mine! Funny that we just discused in a thread this week how we always want what we don't have.

Are there many different kinds of ST40's? I thought I had an ST40 on my boat, but no indication for wind. Do I just have to install the transducer?

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 16:27:10

There are different ST40s. Ours does depth and speed but not wind.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 22:54:48

Paul, although having a TV on board for me is a no, no, that is a very nice install job. Not only are you quite the handyman but you do an A one job-nice and neat. It looks very professional.
And unfortunately or fortunately(I would be spending a lot more money), I have very little down time due to nice weather here, so my projects are usually quickies.
Steve A

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 09:06:51

Randy is correct. We have 2 ST40 units.
a) at the helm is the Speed, Depth, water temperature display(Tri-Data) (their are two transducers, Speed and Depth/Temp, in the bow sump).
b) on the stbd exterior cabin bulkhead is th Wind Display.(Bi-Data) it shows speed and relative direction. (I think it can be set to show more wind info, but the relative direction is best for us.

The cabin does look big.. till you have lived in it for a couple of days!
We don't always leave the athwartships seat back in place, but it is in place if we are expecting guests for a dinner and dance party.

Paul

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 19:55:54

The ST40 wind displays apparent wind speed/direction and, with a seatalk connection to a depth/speed log, true wind speed. It also incorporates various wind direction and force alarms. I've always thought that what I really want when I'm getting slammed over in gusty wind is a high wind speed alarm going off.

edit: and no, they don't affect my compass

Edited by - Dave5041 on 03/18/2009 19:58:23

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 05:30:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My grand-kids have introduced me to Sponge Bob which is my favorite now.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

ooooo-who lives in a pineapple under the sea

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