Tech Net D    

Recommended: DAN membership.
Inexpensive with a multitude of benefits for cruisers. Travel-Assist insurance (emergencies) is included with membership. (Valkyrie)
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Recommended replacement fore-deck lights; Perko push and turn for OEM. Bulb was just $30 for a Manta Cat. (Salty Paws)
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Use tire weights on the rim of your wash-down bucket. It adds some weight for easy dunk-filling.
(Dragon Seeker)

Denatured alcohol usually comes in a metal container which rusts. Transfer the alcohol into a squeeze-top plastic container and be sure to label it clearly.  (Salty Paws)

Or put it into an old spray bottle. (Dyad)

Issue: The depth sounder does not work at less than 15'.  It worked last year.
Comments:
The bottom paint may be interfering.
Clean the transducer surface.
Adjust the gain/sensitivity.
For testing, listen for the ping.
Go in for a factory reset.
There is a transducer paint available to reduce growth.

Issue: It hesitates about 20 minutes while hunting, before showing results.
Comments:
It may be a fouled transducer.
Could be moisture intrusion that eventually burns off.
Before turning it on, heat up the display and transducer (in separate experiments) with a hair blower to dry it.

Issue: Works well with gasoline outboard engine off; has interference with engine running.
Comments:
Check the plugs and wires.
Check all wires in the ignition system.
Run unit on a separate battery to test.
It may be radiated noise through ignitions system or the alternator.
Try running engine without alternator to test.
Try ferrite on the spark plug wires; thread the wire multiple times through the ferrite.
Look carefully at the LCD display:
  If whole screen is affected, interference is probably in the power
  supply.
  If only depth display area is affected, interference is probably in the
  transducer.
Disconnect the transducer and check for noise, if there's no noise, the problem may be the transducer.
Test with a cheap AM radio. If it is clicking and popping, it's most likely a spark plug or high-tension wiring problem.
May be sensitive to mechanical noise. Turn on sounder without engine and make banging noises to test.
Morse cable may cause noise interference.
Use Loran C noise filter.

Issue: When using two of them, one interferes with the other.
Comments:
B&G runs at 180 kHz, others use 200 kHz.
One may have a wider beam that interferes with the smaller beam.
Use just one at a time.
Try to focus the wide beam more narrowly.
Use a PVC tube on the transducer to reduce the noise.
Move the transducers further apart and outboard.
If it's an inside mount on a fiberglass hull, place the transducer in a container of mineral oil or water.
Good Old Boat Magazine has information about this problem.

If you have a catamaran, install your second depth sounder in the other hull and use different frequencies.

I installed a second depth sounder that's good enough to see a bottom contour.  It was installed without a thru hull.  Aim the second sounder forward 45 degrees to see depth in front; where you're heading. (Valkyrie)

Issue: Having problems getting glue to adhere to a seam on my inflatable.
Comments:
Use fast-cure 5200. It remains flexible enough to work.
Then use an over-patch to make it more secure.
There's a product akin to Fix-a-Flat, but it's compatible with Hypalon. West Marine carries it.

Query: Is there any way to repair an 8" rip on a PVC dinghy?
Comments:
All purpose PVC cement works. (C_Language)
Strip a non-critical piece from dinghy to use as a patch. (Shamal)
Use an inside patch as well. (Dyad)
Stitch the patch if possible. (Salty Paws)
Use a solvent to prep the surface.

An old foul weather jacket could be cut up for patch material. (Dyad)

Query: What will repair cracks and holes on an aluminum dinghy hull?
Suggestions:
Use a flexible product.
Mobile home roof sealant.
A paintable epoxy barrier coat.
A two part epoxy.
Use 5200 along with some glass reinforcement.

Query: What will repair bleeding, cracking holes on a hard flexible dinghy?
Suggestions:
Prep the surfaces well.
Use 5200 because it stays flexible.
To apply 5200, use a layer of wax paper over it and smooth.  Let cure, then peel the paper off.

FYI: Melting an empty milk jug and dripping the plastic into the crack sealed my Walker Bay dinghy, which West Marine claims is unbreakable. (Le Bella)

Things that work
Use a large sponge to bail the dinghy.  It catches the last drop and picks up sand too. (C_Language)

(also plastics, repairing with)

Projects and ideas for projects.
Some are just for fun.
See Articles: DIY
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Clean blocked or slow sink drains with baking soda and vinegar followed with a rinse of boiling water.
Use a long, flexible brush. (Salty Paws)
Use a toilet plunger. (Island Dreaming)
Use a Scotch Brite pad on a dowel. (New Attitudes)

A clean sink prevents build-up in the drain.
Use Bon Ami cleanser. (Mon Amie)
Use Barkeepers Friend. (Salty Paws)
Use baking soda. (Dyad)

Use fiberglass window screen as a strainer in your sink drain.  It easily catches all the gunk and is disposable.  (Blackfoot)

Painters Drop Cloth Clips [aka plastic spring clips] are high density plastic that works well for holding various things in the cockpit or around the boat. Cost: about $1. Found at Lowes or Home Depot. (Discovery)

(see TV)
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