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DIY boat owner 2006-1 www.diy-boat.com 1-888-658-2628 contents 2006-1 columns 20 16 The perfect(ion) 8 SCUTTLeBUTT Solution Meter, meter on the hull, who’s the dri- Interlux claims that any do-it-yourselfer can est of them all? By Patricia Kearns match a professional spray paint finish with its newest two-part paint. This amateur 20 DIESEL puts Perfection to the test and discovers Cleaning and Filtering Fuel: Proper that it’s worth the marketing hype. cleaning and filtration of diesel fuel By Jean Paul Vellotti improves engine performance and repays you with trouble-free service. Electronic By Lee Mairs 24 38 SAILBoAt RIGGInG propulsion control 24 Today’s digital electronic control systems Replacing a Tanzer 22 Centerboard. offer unparalleled smooth shifting, fast 42 SEWInG WItH sAILRITE throttle response, effortless control and reli- Make your Own Boat Cushions, Part able performance and can be retrofitted to 1: Selecting, Patterning and Cutting older gasoline and diesel engines. By Chuck Husick Foam. By Jim Grant 58 BoAt HAnDLInG Tow Sense: Learn from towboat cap- 28 Making the Trailer tains what you need to know to avert a Road Ready tow and what to do if you do need one. Many trailers that are fine for yard storage By Scott Croft are a long way from being roadworthy. After you repair, replace and upgrade the running 61 PLUMBInG gear, brakes and hitch, your yard bird sail- Shower Project: Common problems boat can head for the launching ramp as a plaguing shower sump systems are roadrunner. By Nick Bailey easily resolved with an alternative keep-it-simple custom installation for 35 Tips to Stretch trouble-free performance. By John Payne 48 your Gas Dollar 65 DIY PRoJECTS Are you getting the best fuel economy that Build a Cockpit Table; Rebuild your your boat and engine package can provide? Alternator With fuel prices soaring, it pays to do a 72 VIeW FRoM tHe STERn little tweaking and dieting to get the most miles for your money. By Steve Auger Balancing Forces: Steering a sailboat by wheel or tiller shouldn’t be a fitness workout. By Roger Marshall 48 Troubleshooting Tachometers Departments Here’s how to verify your tachometer’s accuracy and troubleshoot a non- 2 CURRENTS 65 functioning tachometer. By Steve Auger Straight Oil Facts; BWI Writing Contest; Top 10 List of Stolen Boats; River 52 DIy Readers’ boats Queens Wanted and more! The third article in a new column that focuses on boats renovated by readers of 10 AsK tHe eXPeRTS DIY boat owner Magazine looks at the res- toration of a 1978 Trojan F-26 owned by Head Connections; Optimal Diesel Paul and Margaret Drouillard. Running Temp; Pollution Fighters; Longevity Linked to Engine Hours; Cure for Low Speed Stalling; Diesel Rebuild 3M MARINE MILDEW STAIN REMOVER Time; Blister Fabrication; Odorless WIN Plumbing; Patching Aluminum; Prop Hub Service; Tips to Weld Stainless. 10 FREE TECHnIcAL HeLPLINE Log onto www.diy-boat.com for: • DIY Back Issues & CD-ROMs • DIY EZINE 15 TECH tIPs • 1995-2005 Editorial Index AsK tHe eXPeRTS – FREE TEchnical Help with yOuR SubScription To subscribe call 1-888-658-BOAT (2628) or log onto DIY ONLINE at www.diy-boat.com DIY boat owner 2006-1 (www.diy-boat.com) 1-888-658-2628 1 oil, such as 25W40, consists of equal Easter egg hunt — finding the hidden Currents amounts of SAE 25 weight and SAE 40 flaw is exactly like finding the $50 egg! Edited by Jan Mundy weight blended together. Furthermore, Dr. Dan McDougal, “Dry Doc,” Baltimore, all marine oils should meet or exceed Maryland Straight Oil Facts the American Petroleum Institute (API) Just read the Q&A titled “Straight Oil ratings of SJ for gasoline engines, CF-2 More Diesel Alternates Facts” in DIY 2005-#4 issue and it’s for two-stroke diesel engines and CH-4 Further to your article on sailboat repow- not quite clear that multigrade automo- for four-stroke diesels. Be certain that ering in DIY 2005-#4 issue, I’d like to tive oil is not an option. You do make the oil you put in your marine engine point out that, for most C&Cs stringer reference to “marine grade oil”. I have meets these specifications. modification is irrelevant. These boats twin 4.3L Mercruisers and was wonder- have the standard medium-sized diesel ing if a straight weight quality 30W oil, Winter Dynamics engine stringer spacing of 16" (40cm), such as Pennzoil or Quaker State is The answer to off-season cabin fever is to even in boats fitted with Atomic 4 acceptable? go on the boat during the winter months, engines. To drop in a new diesel with Brian Hicks, Thunder Bay, Ontario inspecting everything inch by inch, the standard mount spacing in a C&C, grooming and tending to every detail just raise the stringers 3/4" (19mm) Steve Auger replies: Mercury Marine has and dealing with marine technicians for with a wood strip and redrill the angle issued a service bulletin that speci- needed repairs when they are happy to iron brackets, about a two-hour job. fies the recommended engine oil for see me. Come April 1, the boat’s ready Even on boats that need modifying or Mercruiser engines as listed here in order to launch. I subsequently observe owners moving the stringers, it’s simply a mat- of preference: Mercury Synthetic Blend arriving at their boats for the first time ter of cutting out the old stringers with 25W40, Mercruiser 25W40 Marine since November to find the cover torn or a grinder, making two pieces of wood engine oil or SAE 30 HD automotive loaded with an immoveable pool of water the right size (i.e. for a Catalina 27 add engine oil. This means that a Quaker or various and sundry other manifesta- 4"/10cm) and installing them with some State or Pennzoil straight 30 weight is tions of the laws of the unintended con- epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth and not the best oil but does sequences of thermodynamics. Instead of then painting them. meet the manufacturer’s begging service managers for parts and Robert Hess, Atomic Four Engine Service specifications. waiting weeks for delivery, I’m on the (www.atomicfourengineservice.ca). Bay (Chesapeake), enjoying spring. Not a Certified Anchor Light My winter boating Further to your comments on the Davis activity has every Mega-Light in DIY 2005-#4 issue, page joyous and energiz- 2, I installed one on my Ericson 32 in ing psychic feature 2002 thinking the less than 1-amp of a successful draw would be worthwhile. During a Use only API-rated marine grade oils in your rigging survey last year, I was informed engine. that it was not a legal anchor light so I had it replaced. So much for savings. All oils are rated according to their Davis confirmed that it’s not an anchor flow capability and viscosity. The first light and offered to send me a higher number identifies the oil’s flow capabil- voltage bulb. ity at 0F (-18C). The lower the num- Chip Lohman, Whispering Swan, ber, the lighter the oil. For example, a Quantico VA 5 weight 30, written as 5W30, flows faster than a 20W30. The second num- Jan Mundy replies: You’re absolutely ber rates the oil’s protection or viscosity Scott Fortier, Grand Haven, Michigancorrect. We checked with Davis and at engine operating temperature. The Prep your boat during the off-season and you the Mega-Light is not certified for use lower the number, the lighter the oil so won’t be caught high and dry come spring. as an anchor light though it does make 5W30 oil gives the protection of 30W oil when the engine is at operating tem- Rising Costs perature. As most of us use our boats The DIY team is committed to providing you with the very best reference manual, in warm rather than sub-zero tempera- the only magazine for boaters that is totally dedicated to helping you maintain and tures, marine engines require an oil with upgrade your boat. Every new issue of DIY is packed with technically accurate a slower flow rate and higher viscosity “how to” that is supported by extensive research and reliable facts and figures for better engine protection, such as from proven boating experts. In order to maintain this DIY standard for excellence 25W40 oil. Despite the double-digit in editorial and print quality and to keep pace with rising production, printing and oil ratings of the first and second oil mailing costs, single issue and subscription prices have increased effective March choices listed above, they are all straight 15, 2006. We value all our readers and hope you’ll continue to enjoy DIY. We weight not multigrade oils. Marine grade also invite your input. Please email comments to [email protected]. DIY boat owner 2006-1 (www.diy-boat.com) 1-888-658-2628 Technical CD-ROM Library 1995 – 2007 52 Issues of DIY: for Boat Owners A technical reference library for $$ powerboat- MRT Series 19.19.9595 ers and EACHEACH sailboaters. CDs contain articles from past The editorial archives of issues of DIY Boat Owner Magazine DIY from 1995 to Building With Starboard Marine Equipment Installations 2007, 22 Projects and Here’s how to choose, organized by Fabrication Techniques: install and operate equip- year and issue from cover to cover. The ideal choice for ment for your boat includ- $99.95 replacing wood compo- ing: air conditioning and nents onboard – won’t heating systems, audio MRT BOX SET delaminate, rot or splinter systems, bow thrusters, UPDATED and requires no paint.