How do I remove the tach?

[Jimmyt]

Geez dude - you are awesome! Being new to the community, I was fooled by your posts. Now I not only have 'pedastal envy', but I'm awed by your design and fab prowess. You Da Man!

[BOAT]

I was fooled by your posts.!

Everyone thinks I'm a fool except mastreb - he is the only one who has actually met me. mastreb is the smartest person in the world by far. He is really smart. If I were smart like mastrb and also was not so foolish I could be rich too. Oh well.

Do you guys want to see how the disconnect works?

To make the drive unit disconnect all you do is pull this black ball on a string up near the cockpit:




I can go on if you want. . . .




.

[Jimmyt]

I'm from South Alabama. I wouldn't dare call anyone a fool. Most people can't believe I can put together a complete sentence. Let's just say that your posting demeanor belies your mad genius and skills...

And yes, I would really enjoy seeing what you've worked out! I'm soaking up ideas for my 'new to me' boat, and it looks like you've worked out some real jewels.

[BOAT]

Okay, I will make a new post later with all the details. Maybe some of the stuff will be helpful to others too.

[Russ]

Yup, as weird as you act on this forum, your mods are exceptional. EVERY single one is fantastic! My guess is the troll in you just wants to start trouble. You are obviously both a great craftsman and a great engineer.

--Russ

[beene]

Nice work

I love my AP

Single best mod I ever made to the Mac

Put that together with wind info, and a good plotter.... life is good



G

[BOAT]

Nice work

I love my AP

Single best mod I ever made to the Mac

Put that together with wind info, and a good plotter.... life is good



G

I have not quite figured out how to get the wind information yet because of the rotating mast. I know what to DO with the information: when I finally figure out how to GET wind info I will call mastreb ASAP and ask him how to get the info onto my backbone. I'm still noodling on the what's the best way to actually GET the wind info in the first place.

[Jimmyt]

Non-rotating mounting plate on a bearing, held stationary by an aux back stay? You've probably already had ten better ideas, but thought I'd take a shot.

[BOAT]

Non-rotating mounting plate on a bearing, held stationary by an aux back stay? You've probably already had ten better ideas, but thought I'd take a shot.

Remember, it's a "trailerable" boat, so whatever I do must not add any time to the set up (extra stays, etc) . . . what I do like is the electronic wind instrument that Highlander and mastreb use. mastreb used to mount his off the bow and highlander mounted his off the stern.

I'm sort of leaning in those directions, but I have not given up on a mast top mount yet . . . but there is a mast unit available already - I just have not decided yet. Still noodling on that one.

[Jimmyt]

I'm with you on the "no extra setup" rule - just thought you might want to be in 'clean air'. Stern or bow might be as good with a lot less trouble. Can't wait to see what you come up with...

[BOAT]

I'm with you on the "no extra setup" rule - just thought you might want to be in 'clean air'. Stern or bow might be as good with a lot less trouble. Can't wait to see what you come up with...

Yes, mastreb has been very adamant that I need "clean air" as you say. That's why I have not adopted the stern mount yet. I admit I am torn on this one. (Not sure what to do yet).

[beene]

Well, as far as clean air goes..

I see nothing wrong with a stern mount

Use a vhf antenna mount as high as you can on one side of your mast arch.

Mount a long pole to that instead of an antenna

Have the pole pointed down when on the trailer, up when sailing

Mount a Raymarine Rotavecta Wind Transducer on top of the pole and leave it there all the time

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... &id=763618

When sailing, you are always 35 to 180 app, so the wind is either off to one side or behind you

At those points of sail, how would your Rotavecta not have clean air?

The only time I can see the air getting affected by anything would be going upwind, your mast and other rigging would possibly affect it a wee bit

But that's not sailing, you would be powering

G

[BOAT]

Aye Laddie, it would be only a wee bit . . . Still, Ma heid’s mince.
And here in the southern isles after doosk it's black as the Earl of hull’s waistcoat off sight of land. That's when I need my AP to steer the true course; when I'm sleeping, lest I'll be on deck in my goonie.

You know how highlander likes to gie me a skelpit lug every time I do something so I better be braw on this one or else!

[mastreb]

I lack the fab & engineering skills to really do this correctly, but here's the simple way to get wind correct on a MacGregor. BOAT--let's get together over a few beers at Union to noodle this out completely.

The MacGregor mast center of rotation is at the _leading_edge of the mast. You'll notice that the spreader arms are hinged at the front of the mast, and that the mast rotation bolt is very close to the forward edge of the mast.

We need to de-rotate the mount base of the wind instrument so that it always points forward even when the mast rotates.

The right solution is to mount a hinge--like a door hinge, at the forward top of the mast. The hinge plate (normally mounted to the wall) would be mounted to the mast. The hinge strap (normally mounted to the door) would then mount a small segment of threaded rod to hold the wind instrument above it. The forward-most part of the hinge strap-base assembly is tied to a thin dyneema/spectra rope that goes down to the bow pulpit where it's secured to a cleat or cam and acts as a 2nd/emergency forestay. The rope keeps the hinge strap (and therefore the wind instrument) pointed to the bow as the mast rotates. The NMEA-2K data cable is wound lazily around the dyneema stay and follows it to the pulpit, where it goes into the anchor locker to an installed thru-hull disconnect. The disconnect is then wired into the rest of the NMEA-2K data system.

To remove the system, disconnect the N2K data cable in the anchor locker and the dyneema stay. Lower the mast. Remove the hinge pin from the hinge, and now the instrument, hinge strap, data cable, and dyneema stay have all been removed from the boat entirely and can be put in a bag or box for storage. The only modifications to the boat are the hinge plate on the mast, the cleat for the hinge stay, and the data cable thru-hull connector in the anchor locker.

The only trick is to find or fab the right hinge.

Matt

[BOAT]

Yeah, the hinge is an issue and I'm adding up the weight aloft that was already exceeding my comfort zone on the stock rig before I even added the spinnaker hound. There are a lot of things that bug me on the wind indicator I have not figured out. (We might need Brian's help to create a plastic device).

You mentioned a carbon fiber mast that Mike was selling on another site? You know, that just might lower my weight aloft enough to make me more comfortable with hoisting all that equipment up the pole. I have been talking with Mike on the phone for the past three weeks on a different issue and I have been meaning to get with you to tell you the latest.

I will PM you before the end of the week.