Modifications, repairs and improvements, 28TE

[Nancy]

Ben, thanks for that great description. I'm saving it and your photo for next summer. We used Weaver davits on our last dinghy and boat (1978 Trojan F32), and they work great, but are not much fun to install on the dinghy. I always like a simple solution . . . like the Cool Whip we're using as a muskrat guard. With every surface of the exhaust outlet curved, fitting a fancy guard would be challenging.

[Tom Cunningham]

For the dingy outboard mount I used a "shoe-type" mount. When not needed the outboard bracket is removed from the shoe so that only the nearly flush shoe remains.....Tom.

[Norseman]

For the dingy outboard mount I used a "shoe-type" mount. When not needed the outboard bracket is removed from the shoe so that only the nearly flush shoe remains.....Tom.

Pics, links...?

[Tom Cunningham]

I think it's most commonly known as "Seagull" removable outboard engine bracket. Others have made a version of it in either aluminum or cast metal.....both work well. Search "removable outboard engine bracket" for assorted pics. Best, Tom.

[Norseman]

. Easy enough to get up & over the bow rail with two people and lay it on the pilothouse roof.

Thx Rob: Yes, I considered the pilothouse roof as well, but got a search light up there: Don’t think the dink will fit over and on the sides of it, otherwise the dink will rest on top of the light and possible damage it. Will take a closer look and measure.

. Search "removable outboard engine bracket" for assorted pics. Best,

Thx Tom, will do.

[Norseman]

Replaced all underwater zincs recently:
These have a bout 13 months on them with the boat docked on a brackish canal in South Florida.
(Except the bow thruster zinc, it has been changed 3 times)

884C141C-E8D4-452A-A6AF-637B83102F3C.jpeg

[Norseman]

With most of the work done on the boat I did a quick Bahamas trip last weekend, and did it solo.
Happy to say no problems and everything worked good.
(Found the shaft zinc missing, probably sloppy installation by hired divers in November. Using a zinc grouper hooked to the engine for now, should protect the running gear until I got a new one installed.)
A few pictures:

5083B3B2-55E3-49C9-B2EA-2E15A35254B8.jpeg

B073D62C-7F84-4DC1-A5A9-C294CC6A9240.jpeg

F530191D-B0F1-4445-8E0C-3CB920E1997F.jpeg

7EA0988F-09C8-48E4-8085-B4AEA809D5CB.jpeg

2376671B-0747-4525-B80E-777BA1154E67.jpeg

[Nancy]

>>I did a quick Bahamas trip last weekend, and did it solo<<

I would love this! Don't know if I'd ever be brave enough, but I can dream!

[Norseman]

>>I did a quick Bahamas trip last weekend, and did it solo<<

I would love this! Don't know if I'd ever be brave enough, but I can dream!

Had no choice, wife was busy babysitting new dog and the weather was perfect for crossing to the Bahamas.
3:20 Eastboad and 2:55 returning 2 days later, easy duty.
Autopilot worked great, so did everything else.
If anything, next time and especially if going solo, will bring my Sony noise canceling headphones, got tired of listening to the drone of the Yanmar for 3 hours. (Most of my boating have been under sail, used to piece and quiet..Yes, I could slow down from 17.5 knots to 8.5 knots for less decibels, but it would be 6 hours instead of 3 each way)

Total fuel used was 78.5 gallons over 13 hours running time, but it also includes the first leg from Fort Lauderdale to South of Miami, to No-Name harbor, then, next day around Cape Florida to Bimini early morning. Next day Bimini to North Turtle Rocks for overnight anchoring, bought 3 lobster tails from local fishermen, great dinner and rinsed it down with vodka/tonic in sunset.
The day after @06:23 weighted anchor and motored back with wind and waves pretty much straight from behind.

Picture from No-Name Harbor:

788824DC-88DC-4988-9A67-8D5585DC8853.jpeg

0AEF85A8-68CC-4B54-87E8-7C6EE94DEF22.jpeg

[Norseman]

Another thing I learned from the Bahamas trip: No weather information if you are in a remote anchorage: Antenna is too low to pick up Florida or Nassau weather.
Had a Navtex on my sailboat and liked it a lot, may have to get one for the Albin: Same Model I purchased 13 years is still for sale, up to 400 NM range, perfect for the Bahamas:

5A2084B7-532B-4909-BDC5-56AA8B562A0E.jpeg

[RobS]

Seems crazy to me your boat is radar-less..

[Norseman]

Seems crazy to me your boat is radar-less..

Huh?
No need for radar in my neighborhood: No fog, no bad viz.
If you are using radar to navigate, no need as WAAS GPS is more accurate..

If I missed something, why should my boat have radar...?

[Norseman]

D70E3BE9-DC09-4A25-8CE1-5A5CA7E675A8.jpeg

Be careful.

Just found out today that my mid-bilge pump float switch shorted out and now melting down.
Fortunately the fuse popped,, but strong burned smell and mayhem under the aft part of the engine, just in front of the fuel tank.

[Norseman]

old switch removed, almost total melt down, the 15 amp fuse did protect the circuit, but it should have been a 10 amp really, my bad.

27422E70-FA10-4E45-A57C-AD01C7C815B8.jpeg

Installed new switch using a remote endoscope type of camera transmitting cordless to the iPad.
Snapshot of attempt to line up screw..

0134D4DD-4DC8-4FFD-9672-846A83CC70B4.jpeg

Had to remove the alternator, the whole operation took about 2 hours with 2 guys.
The new switch is a beefed up version rated at 20 amps, Rule calls it a Super Float Switch

[Norseman]

Correction to the above, looking at the Jabsco Model 36600-Series Electric bilge pumps manual and it says 15 amp fuse and nominal 11.0 amperage.
Sooo, the correct fuse was in there all the time, but the float switch rated at 14 amps melted down.
(This is for the mid pump)
Checked the forward and aft pumps, the forward is a Rule 2000 needing a 15 amp fuse, the aft one has the label rubbed off, it could be a 1500 as they look the same, and if so, it takes a 10 amp fuse.
Did anybody get a Rule 1500 on their 28TEs, or are they all 2000s?(except for the mid pump, which is the Jabsco 8.0 gpm.)
Guess, I will replace the 10 amp glass fuse with another 15 now..
Also looked at the Albin literature for the correct fuse size for all circuits, but found no such diagram..(!)