HYDRONAUTICS
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION C H A P T E R 1 ESTABLISHING A BALANCED BATTERY-POWERED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INTRODUCTION BATTERIES GETTING DOWN TO SPECI?CS PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER SUMMARY: A BALANCED SYSTEM C H A P T E R 2 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FOR ENERGY-INTENSIVE BOATS ADDITIONAL ENERGY SOURCES DUAL-VOLTAGE DC SYSTEMS FUEL CELLS, HIGHER-VOLTAGE DC BOATS, AND ELECTRIC PROPULSION C H A P T E R 3 MAINTAINING AND TROUBLESHOOTING A BATTERY-POWERED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALTERNATORS VOLTAGE REGULATORS DIODES C H A P T E R 4 UNDERSTANDING AND TROUBLESHOOTING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS BASIC CONCEPTS AND MEASUREMENTS DC CIRCUITS AC CIRCUITS PROPER ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS C H A P T E R 5 CORROSION, BONDING, LIGHTNING PROTECTION, AND GROUNDING CORROSION BONDING AND CATHODIC PROTECTION LIGHTNING PROTECTION GROUNDING C H A P T E R 6 BATTERY CHARGERS, INVERTERS, WIND AND WATER GENERATORS, AND SOLAR PANELS BATTERY CHARGERS INVERTERS WIND AND WATER GENERATORS SOLAR PANELS C H A P T E R 7 AC GENERATORS, DC GENERATORS, ELECTRIC MOTORS (DC AND AC), AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS AC GENERATORS DC GENERATORS ELECTRIC MOTORS ELECTRIC LIGHTS C H A P T E R 8 MARINE ELECTRONICS: ANTENNAS AND RADIO GROUNDS, ELECTROMAGNETIC AND RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE, AND SAVING SOAKED EQUIPMENT MARINE ELECTRONICS ANTENNAS AND RADIO GROUNDS ELECTROMAGNETIC AND RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE SAVING SOAKED EQUIPMENT C H A P T E R 9 DIESEL ENGINES: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND WINTER LAYUP OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOTING PART 1: FAILURE TO START TROUBLESHOOTING PART 2: OPERATING PROBLEMS WINTER LAYUP AND RECOMMISSIONING C H A P T E R 1 0 FROM TRANSMISSION TO PROPELLER TRANSMISSIONS AND SHAFT BRAKES CONNECTING A TRANSMISSION TO A PROPELLER SHAFT SHAFT SEALS STRUTS, BEARINGS, AND PROPELLERS C H A P T E R 1 1 REFRIGERATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING CFCS AND THE OZONE HOLE BALANCING REFRIGERATION NEEDS WITH BOAT USE AIR-CONDITIONING REFRIGERATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING: MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND REPAIR CHARGING AND TOPPING-OFF PROCEDURES C H A P T E R 1 2 TANKS, PLUMBING, TOILETS, AND THROUGH-HULL FITTINGS TANKS AND FITTINGS PLUMBING MARINE TOILETS (HEADS) THROUGH-HULLS AND SEACOCKS C H A P T E R 1 3 PUMPS AND WATERMAKERS PUMPS PUMP SWITCHES WATERMAKERS C H A P T E R 1 4 STEERING SYSTEMS, AUTOPILOTS, AND WIND VANES STEERING SYSTEMS AUTOPILOTS WIND VANE SELF-STEERING C H A P T E R 1 5 STOVES, CABIN HEATERS, GAS-POWERED WATER HEATERS, AND LANTERNS GAS ALCOHOL, KEROSENE, AND DIESEL APPLIANCES CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING C H A P T E R 1 6 BLOCKS, WINCHES, WINDLASSES, AND BOW THRUSTERS BLOCKS WINCHES WINDLASSES BOW THRUSTERS C H A P T E R 1 7 SPARS, STANDING RIGGING, AND ROLLER REE?NG SPARS STANDING RIGGING ROLLER REE?NG AND FURLING IN THE PAST TWO OR THREE DECADES, BOAT EQUIPMENT HAS TAKEN A QUANTUM LEAP IN COMPLEXITY IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO KEEP THINGS OPERATING WITH A MONKEY WRENCH, HAMMER, AND GREASE GUN MORE AND MORE EQUIPMENT NEEDS SPECIALIZED SERVICING, AND THE COST OF PROFESSIONAL HELP IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF WHILE THE PUBLIC MAY THINK THAT BOATOWNERS ARE RICH, IN REALITY MOST ARE MIDDLE-INCOME SALARY EARNERS WHO STRAIN THEIR BUDGETS TO SUPPORT THEIR BOATING HABIT THE BOAT- OWNER OF TODAY WITH LIMITED FUNDS NEEDS A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ALL SYSTEMS ABOARD, THE ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE, AND THE MEANS TO TROUBLESHOOT AND REPAIR A BROAD RANGE OF BREAKDOWNS THIS BOOK IS INTENDED TO MAKE THESE THREE OBJECTIVES A REALISTIC POSSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE BASIC EQUIPMENT FOUND ON MOST MODERN, MIDSIZED BOATS, BOTH POWER AND SAIL IN DEVELOP- ING ITS CONTENTS, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD IS IN DECIDING WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT A TALENTED AMATEUR IN A JAM CAN REASONABLY BE ENCOURAGED TO UNDERTAKE, AND LEADING PEOPLE INTO TROUBLE SINCE I HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR MOST PEOPLE’S CAPABILITIES, I HAVE GONE WELL BEYOND THE INFORMATION TYPICALLY AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL BOATING PUBLIC I HAVE TAKEN GREAT PAINS TO ENSURE THE ACCU- RACY OF THIS BOOK ALL INFORMATION IS GIVEN IN GOOD FAITH NEVERTHELESS, I MUST CAUTION THE READER: IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, LEAVE THINGS ALONE! I CANNOT ACCEPT LIA- BILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURIES ARISING FROM THE READER’S ATTEMPTS TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THIS BOOK IF YOU WRECK A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, SINK THE BOAT, OR HURT YOURSELF, THE RESPONSIBILITY HAS TO BE YOURS NOW THAT I’VE GOTTEN THAT OFF MY CHEST, A WORD ON HOW TO USE THIS BOOK THERE ARE FOUR DISTINCT LEVELS AT WHICH IT CAN BE USEFUL: MANY MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS AND EQUIPMENT FAILURES ARE THE RESULT OF INADEQUATE OR IM- PROPER INSTALLATIONS A QUICK SKIMMING OF THE BOOK, SKIPPING OVER THE DETAILED SECTIONS ON EQUIPMENT REPAIR, MAY WELL HIGHLIGHT A NUM- BER OF POTENTIAL DIF?CULTIES ON YOUR BOAT AND ENABLE YOU TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION BEFORE SOMETHING GOES WRONG THIS IS ESPECIALLY RELE- VANT FOR ANYONE BUYING A NEW BOAT PROPER LIAISON WITH THE BOATBUILDER CAN ELIMINATE MOST BUILT-IN PROBLEMS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF A LATER CURE WHEN BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT, A REVIEW OF THE PERTINENT SECTION(S) WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT CAN GO WRONG ALTHOUGH I DON’T RECOM- MEND ONE BRAND NAME OVER ANOTHER, I CAN ARM YOU WITH APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT ANY BRAND THIS MAY SAVE A LOT OF GRIEF LATER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS COVERED IN SOME DETAIL IN EACH CHAPTER WITH AN ANNUAL HAULOUT (WINTERIZING) SUMMARY IN APPENDIX A WHEN EQUIPMENT DOES MALFUNCTION OR BREAK DOWN, THE LIST OF TROUBLESHOOTING CHARTS ON PAGE VIII AND THE INDEX WILL POINT YOU TO THE REL- EVANT SECTIONS ON TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR AFTER READING THIS BOOK, BOATOWNERS MAY THINK THAT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR IS A FULL-TIME JOB IN ITSELF SOMETIMES IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT BUT IN REALITY, MOST ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TAKE LITTLE TIME THE KEY IS TO BE METHODICAL AND ORGANIZED AND KEEP IN MIND THAT BOAT EQUIP- MENT LIKES TO BE USED FREQUENTLY IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, MORE THINGS SEIZE UP FROM LACK OF USE THAN FROM BEING USED YOUR BOAT WILL BE LEAST TROUBLESOME IF YOU GET THE MAINTENANCE DONE, AND THEN GO OUT ON THE WATER AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE HAPPY BOATING! INTRODUCTION C H A P T E R