Modifications, repairs and improvements, 28TE

[Norseman]

Got a response to the above letter:
The company will refund all my money: The boss man explained what happened: The cylinder wall is very thin but the unit passed their test in the shop, when in use however it would flex and fluid would seep past the seal.
He said no harm, no foul, they will take it back and use it for parts.
All good.

I understand the new and improved version is HC5314?
Will order it and get this over with..

[Nancy]

Got a response to the above letter:
The company will refund all my money: The boss man explained what happened: The cylinder wall is very thin but the unit passed their test in the shop, when in use however it would flex and fluid would seep past the seal.
He said no harm, no foul, they will take it back and use it for parts.
All good.

I understand the new and improved version is HC5314?
Will order it and get this over with..

That's customer service as it should be. Glad it worked out.

[Norseman]

. That's customer service as it should be. Glad it worked out.

Yes, kind of happy ending.
Got a new cylinder yesterday, the updated version of the original, HC5312-3,
$411 @ Lewis Marine Supply, Fort Lauderdale.

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Works good, no leaks, so far.

[Norseman]

Trying to post photos again of the new $6,060.00 sanitary system.

No, can’t do.
Keep getting this error code, can somebody in upper management please fix this, I have been posting pictures for 3+ years and all of a sudden I can’t do no more..

Error

HTTP failure..

Just found out: The new software has restrictions on picture size.
Will try again, here is the new electric head:

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[Norseman]

But the image is 90 degrees off..
Will keep trying to get it right.

New 18 gallon holding tank and new plumbing, valves, etc.

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(Another picture sideways, can we go back to the old software. )

[Nancy]

Nice head & holding tank. Please remind me - what brand of each?

[Norseman]

Nice head & holding tank. Please remind me - what brand of each?

The head, or toilet for the land lubbers, is a Raritan Elegance with the fresh/salt switchable option and the “Smart Panel” option.
Not sure what brand the tank is, special order to fit in the limited space.
I hired a contractor to do it all, he is good and been doing this for 55 years.
(He is 76, still working because he hates his wife and have to get out of the house )

[Nancy]

Gotta say that terlet is quite the upgrade. Bit of a compromise on the fore to aft fit, but I can certainly understand why you went with it.

[Norseman]

Gotta say that terlet is quite the upgrade. Bit of a compromise on the fore to aft fit, but I can certainly understand why you went with it.

Uh, you mean toilet orientation?
Seems to work out good, this new head is taller so it feels more like a “land head” when you sit down on it, no need for it to go sideways like the old one.

[Norseman]

Started a new project today: Need to re-bed, re-caulk the portholes.
Bought 3 new external trim rings, but after the first old ring was off I decided to pull out the entire assembly, easier to clean before new ring goes on.
With the whole thing out, it looks pretty tired, slightly warped, “yellowed” plastic and dirty/nasty and 20 years old.
Might as well replace the whole thing.
Now checking on prices and availability, right around $166, but will check my local wholesale chandlery tomorrow, probably closer to $150.
But, I recall someone on this forum, or the FB one who replaced all 6 ports with SS for not much more,
Will try to find him and get details.
In the meantime I will leave the hole open to dry in case there was moisture in the core.

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.

Lots of old caulk and sealant, most of it was still soft, probably re-sealed 10 years ago by previous owner, will ask him.

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New ring and old ring. If I end up installing all new portholes I will be selling the new and un-used trim rings.

[Norseman]

Now shopping for new Beckson portholes, prices are all over the planet.
Best price for model # PO512–DWS-10 is $155 plus shipping and tax.
The -10 is the flange, or spigot as they call it, 1”. The old ones are 1 3/16” or so, perhaps cut down at the Albin factory, or special order.
I will use the 1” rather than 2”, then cutting down.
D is for Drain, W for white, S for Smoked lens, versus clear.
P is Port and O for Opening. 512 of course is the size, 5X12”.
Waiting for a few more estimates.

[Norseman]

Ordered the Beckson portholes, takes a few days for the factory to assemble them,
Started a new project in the meantime: Replace the 2 Port through hull fittings with stainless steel: Inside the galley counter:

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Hmm, picture is sideways again..
The smaller fitting broke off when I wiggled the galley sink hose to remove it.
Not only did it break, but the outside part of the mushroom fell off and disappeared in the canal. Not only was the plastic brittle, but the caulking had dried up and failed. (Good timing to remove and replace the fittings. )

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Did not find a Groco replacement in that size, but found a Sea Fit 5/8” in 316 SS, but it came with a rubber gasket. Not sure how the rubber holds up to salt and UV rays, unless the gasket is meant to be on the inside with traditional caulk on the outside..

Found a 3/4” fitting for the A/C water hose, made by Croco, this one has a groove behind the mushroom for caulk/sealant, but can’t get the old one out, tried muscle on the inside, no cigar.
Now waiting for high tide so as to grab it from the outside.

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[Norseman]

The A/C through hull fitting did not want to come out, must have been bedded in 5200.
Had to chisel of the head and drill out the rest, like pulling teeth..

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Finally got the 2 new SS fittings in, bedded and torqued down, then hooked up the hoses, and realized the Groco fitting was too big for the Air Conditioning hose, which is 5/8”, NOT 3/4”.
(Been using the same Groco HTH-750-S on the Starboard side, 3 or 4 of them there, I was sure it was standard on the boat..Not,)
No way I was going to tear out the new SS fitting and start a chase for a 1” X 5/8” SS.
Instead ran back to the marine store for an adapter, a piece of 3/4” hose and handful of hose clamps.
Hooked it all up and started the A/C for a leak check.

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No A/C leaks, but when I filled the sink half full of water and put in the plug, slow dripping from the sink drain became visible,. (The smaller through hull fitting was for the sink drain)

Damn, I just changed the drain a year or two ago, used plumbers putty and had no leaks. Torqued the 2 nuts today, but no cigar, drip-drip-drip..
I really, really did not want to race over to a plumber store, stand in line just to be told they don’t have that size, then drive home and hit the internet to get yet another one.
Decided to cheat: Carefully dried all surfaces inside and outside of the drain with paper towels, pointed a fan at the drain for half an hour, then carefully applied clear Life Seal around the drain right on top of the joint where the Plumbers Putty had failed, then did the same underneath the sink, at every joint and around every nut.
Will let all that dry, than do another leak check, having a beer in the meantime.

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I know, not the proper way to seal a joint, but sometimes it is like, the hell with it, this should last 10 years and should not be hard to take apart, no 5200..

[Norseman]

Picked up the 6 new portholes today:
A bit of an upgrade as the smoked lens is now green, like a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, also latches instead of the old knob screws.

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Planning to drill all the way through the cabin side and through bolt the whole thing including trim ring.
Need 10-24 machine screws 1 1/4” but have to order those, found only 1” 10-24 at the local hardware store.
A lock nut will be on the inside.

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Will be using White Life-Seal for caulk, find it easier to work with than straight Marine Silicone, which is what Beckson recommends.

Paid $163,79 for each porthole, including shipping, taxes, etc: Best price I found, “Sailorman” in Fort Lauderdale.
Special order as very few have theses in stock.

[Ben423]

You might want to try SS barrel nuts in place of the locknuts. They would allow you to stay with the 1" screws and make for a clean finish on the inside. I've used them for a wide variety of interior applications on different boats (not my Albin, yet) and they look good. Usually made of 18-8 stainless (very similar to 304). For a 10-24 thread, the barrel diameter is .250 so you will have to drill the inside of the hole to that dimension.