Search found 398 matches

by Sean B
Aug 13th, '08, 21:09
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Ant problem
Replies: 3
Views: 956

Kevin I know those guys, they show up every summer. This stuff works: http://www.pestproducts.com/maxforce_carpenter_ant_bait.htm It takes a little time for them to eat enough of it to wipe themselves out. I would put it on the docks, not on the boat. I derive a certain enjoyment watching the little...
by Sean B
Aug 10th, '08, 12:11
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Boat related, not Bertram though!
Replies: 22
Views: 6050

Congrats Kevin !! I've got a friend who's been in Customs here in Canaveral for about 8 or 9 years now. He made his way there through regular law enforcement, then did some time with the DEA, and then finally got his dream job as a Fed. You seem to have got there quicker... and he doesn't do his job...
by Sean B
Aug 7th, '08, 16:40
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seatrial Bertram 570 @ Capemay
Replies: 8
Views: 3433

Then give him a slap in the head and tell him to cut down on the commercials and to stop dumbing down the show. I agree whole heartedly with that comment. That show could be so much better if the writing (if there is any) didn't assume that the audience were a bunch of retards. Typical scene : (obv...
by Sean B
Aug 1st, '08, 12:21
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What are you guys on Long Island doing???
Replies: 6
Views: 1589

That thing actually made the non-internet news, making the story slightly more credible: http://www.wnbc.com/news/17047883/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news# http://www.wnbc.com/2008/0731/17047912.jpg If that isn't just a hoax, then it looks like a sea turtle to me. But where the hell did his shell go? .....
by Sean B
Aug 1st, '08, 12:16
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: EPA Discharge Permit
Replies: 4
Views: 3169

EPA Discharge Permit

We discussed this here a while back when it first reared its ugly head... it looks like the discharge permits for recreational boats are permanently off the table. I guess those windsurfers won't need to get a special permit to pee in their wetsuits after all. This came in the email today: Dear Boat...
by Sean B
Jun 6th, '08, 07:45
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: strange B31 in OZ
Replies: 16
Views: 4353

nic wrote:...there is one B33 in Oz.
Do you mean Syd's B33 in Perth? If not, then there are at least two
by Sean B
Jun 5th, '08, 15:00
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Anyone have knowledge of Ski-Safe Insurance
Replies: 8
Views: 4155

The auto insurance guys seem to get you in cheap, and then ratchet up the rates at every renewal... probably gambling that most will be too lazy to go looking for new quotes. Most often in my case they're right, but you should re-shop at least evey 18 mos or so. Every time I have, it was cheaper tha...
by Sean B
Jun 5th, '08, 11:54
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: When to turn
Replies: 7
Views: 2347

That's an old one (but a good one)... dates back to WWII: http://www.snopes.com/military/lighthouse.asp
by Sean B
Jun 4th, '08, 08:40
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Site problem?
Replies: 5
Views: 1511

All the behind the scenes efforts are very much appreciated Skip!

I think it's time for me to send another site donation to show it too
by Sean B
Jun 1st, '08, 21:51
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SAFETY WARNING !!!!!
Replies: 3
Views: 985

CX comes in plastic bottles
by Sean B
Jun 1st, '08, 12:42
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sinking Bertram 28(?) Rescued
Replies: 36
Views: 140821

Reading all these stories makes me wonder if scuppers aren't a huge design mistake in general. My last boat, a 23 proline, had really large diameter drains on each side of the cockpit deck, that were piped to drain overboard to the side of the hull, just above the waterline. One time one of them clo...
by Sean B
May 31st, '08, 00:56
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sinking Bertram 28(?) Rescued
Replies: 36
Views: 140821

okay through insomnia and persistence I think I found the reason they almost sunk this boat. Consider this quote : PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- A pleasure boat outing proves to be anything but for four boaters. Their vessel started taking on water about twenty-five miles off Florid...
by Sean B
May 30th, '08, 23:28
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Hull Repair
Replies: 8
Views: 2180

Hey Kilroy, I think you already left your mark far and wide with this website and that tips page. Besides the sentiment... I have a comment on the last bit on that repair description: the possibility of any stressing between the new patch and the original surrounding hull - that might cause the “s...
by Sean B
May 30th, '08, 21:00
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sinking Bertram 28(?) Rescued
Replies: 36
Views: 140821

damn... posting at the same time again

Well read Capt Pat's (better) desription and look at my pics
by Sean B
May 30th, '08, 20:58
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sinking Bertram 28(?) Rescued
Replies: 36
Views: 140821

Crash valves???? What are they? My understanding is that they use bilge water to cool the engine. But what happens if there isn't enough water to supply the engines. Short term pump out.... but possibly overheating?? Educate me please. Ray Here is what the emergency bilge pumpouts look like on my b...
by Sean B
May 29th, '08, 22:45
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sinking Bertram 28(?) Rescued
Replies: 36
Views: 140821

Sinking Bertram 28(?) Rescued

I'm pretty sure this is a B28. This is actually the second time one of NASA's booster rocket recovery ships out of Port Canaveral have gone out of their way to help a private boater in distress in my area. Hope I never need them... but if I ever have a boat (or a rocket) in trouble on the water, I h...
by Sean B
May 22nd, '08, 04:19
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Best Anchor
Replies: 4
Views: 1622

The best anchor I ever had for sandy or muddy bottoms is the Delta. Damn thing sets fast and never brakes loose. I use a 30 foot length of chain which probably helps a great deal also.
by Sean B
May 14th, '08, 19:16
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

As Elvis would say, thankyouverymuch!
by Sean B
May 14th, '08, 17:12
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

Oh yeah one more Q: can this charger be hooked up to the new AGM batteries?

Feels like you ought to send me a bill
by Sean B
May 14th, '08, 17:07
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

Okay here is what the convertor looks like, inside and out http://www.strongbuilding.com/misc-pics/convertor-1.jpg http://www.strongbuilding.com/misc-pics/convertor-2.jpg There is a circuit board instead of a wire-wound resistor (is this the assembly that they copied off your inventions Bruce?) When...
by Sean B
May 13th, '08, 17:26
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

Bruce I'll have a look inside the magic blue box and see which version I've got there. thanks! BTW your description fits what I have exactly (no surprise there) JP You are right, when it's running full blast the gases coming off those batteries have a smell that makes you want to get out of the bilg...
by Sean B
May 13th, '08, 13:49
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

Ummm... I don't eat acid anymore
by Sean B
May 13th, '08, 11:20
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

Thanks Walter and Bruce. Bruce - Are you sure it isn't one of those FR convertors? I'm not too swift in this area and I don't know really know how to tell. I have the original docs for it, but they don't really say much (that I can decipher anyway) This is what it is : Raritan Crowne II "Automatic M...
by Sean B
May 11th, '08, 21:07
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery woes
Replies: 16
Views: 2995

Battery woes

About two weeks ago one of my batteries went dead. Maybe three years ago I treated both 6D lead/acid batteries with the pink juice from JC Whitney that I read about here. They would need to be topped off with water every 4-6 months, and did not need a terrible amount for their size- maybe a quart of...
by Sean B
Apr 30th, '08, 16:33
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: class action suit
Replies: 19
Views: 9936

This arrived in the inbox today... an article courtesy of a a boattest.com newsletter: ____________________________________________________ Boater Sues For Ethanol Damage - 04/30/2008 http://www.boattest.com/images-gallery/News/ethanol_499.jpg Ron Tamillo of Ron's Marine Service seen here replacing ...
by Sean B
Apr 27th, '08, 02:17
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: class action suit
Replies: 19
Views: 9936

This will come to as no surpise to anybody here, but check this out: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/11/13/8393132/index.htm McCain in 2003 : "Ethanol is a product that would not exist if Congress didn't create an artificial market for it. No one would be willing to buy i...
by Sean B
Apr 23rd, '08, 13:44
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: PSS Dripless water injection not working
Replies: 10
Views: 1870

Uh oh, and bingo too. What engines do you have? Look around your heat exchangers for things that look like plugs. Unscrew the plug and you'll likely find a tapped threaded female hole inside (or one plugged up with a crusty old zinc in it). That's where the pencil zinc goes, and should be swapped ou...
by Sean B
Apr 21st, '08, 10:45
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: ULSD diesel fuel
Replies: 20
Views: 4929

Well I looked into this a little and found out that it is done, although it's recommended that you mix fresh fuel with the oil 10:1 first. That kills the idea for me, not worth the trouble even if it is okay (and I'm not sure of that either)

Rawleigh, cummings make a system that does just that
by Sean B
Apr 21st, '08, 00:03
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 3208 RPMs
Replies: 9
Views: 4234

The boat is a little under propped and will hit 3200 when light and no load. We cruise at 2400 and under load the boat will jst make 3000. We treat 2800 as WOT. It is nice to have that little extra ooomph when running thru an inlet. When I said "under load" I meant in gear - with the boat moving. A...
by Sean B
Apr 20th, '08, 12:27
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 3208 RPMs
Replies: 9
Views: 4234

Based on what I know about 3208's, Charlie is correct right down the line. I've got the same exact engines that you do. Do you have the twin disk MG502-1 gears too? Nothing wrong with propping for 2900 RPMS at WOT full load either... My engines get 3150 WOT no load. If I'm low on fuel and the bottom...
by Sean B
Apr 20th, '08, 11:55
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: ULSD diesel fuel
Replies: 20
Views: 4929

So, am I to assume I am the only one that pumps the crankcase oil directly into the fuel tank at oil change time? I 've often considered doing this myself (but have not yet). As it happens, I'm about to change the oil in my 3208's next week. Is it really okay to run the old oil into the fuel tank? ...
by Sean B
Apr 19th, '08, 20:14
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Bronze bolts and what sealant
Replies: 12
Views: 3800

You don't want to use ANY grade of stainless steel in a location where all or part of the metal will be constantly immersed. It will corrode when used under the waterline, even the A316 alloy. Trust me on this, I thought the same thing about the A316 and learned the hard way, even when all the while...
by Sean B
Apr 18th, '08, 11:24
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: If you liked that bit o' Southern . . . it's the rain . . .
Replies: 9
Views: 2056

Here's another one that happened to get emailed to me today... 40 Things Never Said By Southerners 40. Oh I just couldn't. Hell, she's only sixteen. 39. I'll take Shakespeare for 1000, Alex. 38. Duct tape won't fix that. 37. Lisa Marie was lucky to catch Michael. 36. Come to think of it, I'll have a...
by Sean B
Apr 13th, '08, 10:49
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

Well I don't live directly on the coast (which is certainly a bad place to be during a big storm), and my house is high up on the flood plain and is very hurricane hardened. I also have my beloved boat in the (sheltered) harbor around the corner to beersit during storms now, so that tends to keep me...
by Sean B
Apr 13th, '08, 10:22
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Oil change schedule
Replies: 20
Views: 5941

I use the Shell Rotilla in my Cats, which is what the last owner said that he used. I often hear the warning: "never change your engine's diet" when talking to the dock potatoes about switching to synthetics. Any truth to that? I guess I was right to be wary about putting the teflon in the boat engi...
by Sean B
Apr 13th, '08, 08:51
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Oil change schedule
Replies: 20
Views: 5941

Isn't that Brooke Shields?
by Sean B
Apr 13th, '08, 07:39
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Oil change schedule
Replies: 20
Views: 5941

What do you guys think about those teflon oil treatments: the original Slick 50, and its clones. For years I used to "treat" all my already broken-in engines with that stuff, but was never sure if it was doing any good or not. I've thought about putting it in the Cat 3208's but so far have not, and ...
by Sean B
Apr 12th, '08, 20:23
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

GET OUT! You can always buy more stuff, but not if you're headless. No way. I ran from Floyd in '99... and all I can tell you about that experience - in this medium - is this: I'm through running . Since I quit running, the hurricanes either quit being too important or they don't come at all. So I'...
by Sean B
Apr 12th, '08, 08:17
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

Ouch that tree is a bummer. During '04 one of my next-door neighbors at the time was a rental house. They had one of those big scraggly florida pines nearby where I park my boat, and after Frances it was leaning my way. No renters were home, and I had no way to contact the owners in NY... so in the ...
by Sean B
Apr 11th, '08, 22:02
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

during Jeanne I started getting stir crazy and did my own version of one of those weather channel guys, which if I do this right... will appear below <embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i11.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid11....
by Sean B
Apr 11th, '08, 21:57
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

We got smacked pretty good by both Frances and Jeanne in 2004, within three weeks of each other. Both lasted about 12-16 hours each in our area. Frances was wonderful, because everyone in town left - I mean everybody . Except for some cops it was a complete ghost town. We stocked up on propane befor...
by Sean B
Apr 10th, '08, 21:30
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

Hey here is a thought: maybe the hurricanes themselves help create warm sea temps through some mechanism... maybe like Randall stirring up all the ice with his kayak paddles... so having a bunch of them for a few years warms up the oceans, which causes the wind shear that keeps the storms from devel...
by Sean B
Apr 10th, '08, 21:20
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: bad feeling on upcoming hurricane season.
Replies: 36
Views: 7627

While it certainly is good to be as prepared as possible for these things... I also think that to worry (too much) about something that you can't control is a misuse of imagination. The story below might be an explanation for the nice quiet 2006 and 2007 seasons (unless you were in Mexico)... or rea...
by Sean B
Apr 9th, '08, 13:17
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: Other Alternative Fuels
Replies: 3
Views: 3293

Oh yes, definitely need the beanie. Along with a pencil-thin mustache, and maybe be smoking a cigarette held in one of those old-style metal things, wearing a leisure suit.

Ooo la la, look at me - I'm a cool French guy in an aircar
by Sean B
Apr 9th, '08, 12:11
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: Other Alternative Fuels
Replies: 3
Views: 3293

I couldn't find anything on that particular site about range and performance of air-powered vehicles. I saw that they have a working electric scooter that has a range of 40-50 kilometers, or 25-30 miles. I guess it would be all about how much air can you carry. You would still get the all energy fro...
by Sean B
Apr 9th, '08, 11:31
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: Time Magazine Cover Story
Replies: 15
Views: 6292

The advantage to hydrogen fuel cells is that you don't have to wait overnight to charge the thing. Electric cars are fine about town, but on the road they are handicapped by range and charge time. Something in between that used batteries around town and hydrogen on the road may be more practical (r...
by Sean B
Apr 8th, '08, 08:22
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: Time Magazine Cover Story
Replies: 15
Views: 6292

Sure. I never said it was perfect, just the better of two not so great alternatives. I just think that, given some time and effort, straight electric cars have a much better chance of actually realizing some measure of success. The billions of dollars we would spend to set up a hydrogen distribution...
by Sean B
Apr 7th, '08, 17:43
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: Time Magazine Cover Story
Replies: 15
Views: 6292

The comparison of the two technologies boils down to this: - where do you REALLY get the energy from - how do get it to your car, and - how does your car use it. Hydrogen fuel cars You make the electricity at the power plant. You distribute it to the semi-local hydrogen fuel production stations, whe...
by Sean B
Apr 7th, '08, 12:21
Forum: Ethanol
Topic: Time Magazine Cover Story
Replies: 15
Views: 6292

Here it comes, the Hydrogen Fuel folly......... http://blog.wired.com/cars/images/2008/03/12/sp_hydrogen_09_1_3.jpg Hydrogen Cars Are Here. Now We Just Need A Fueling Infrastructure. 03/12/2008 - Wired Hydrogen cars and their promise of a zero-emission, petroleum-free future are no longer the stuff ...
by Sean B
Apr 6th, '08, 18:36
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: If you liked that bit o' Southern . . . it's the rain . . .
Replies: 9
Views: 2056

What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?

A northern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the animal's cage, incluing their habitat, what they eat, etc.

A southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage too, along with a recipe