This and other jobs were interrupted by an annoying problem with fuel starvation which took a long time to track down. It turned out to be a string of silicone or PTFE in the fuel pipe which bunched up under flow pressure. All sorted now!
The other projects were a bit fiddly. I had installed a Wema steering sender gauge so I could tell where my outdrive was pointing. This is particularly useful when docking. It involved fitting a sender unit, but the transom area is nearly inaccessible and the Mercruiser steering yoke is tiny and had nothing to fix it to. I ended up fitting an access hatch in the rear cockpit side, which was needed anyway to access the power steering, and an elaborate bent brass arm fitted to the steering yoke. This links via a stainless rod to the Wema sender, which I have mounted on a little shelf.
The other projects were a bit fiddly. I had installed a Wema steering sender gauge so I could tell where my outdrive was pointing. This is particularly useful when docking. It involved fitting a sender unit, but the transom area is nearly inaccessible and the Mercruiser steering yoke is tiny and had nothing to fix it to. I ended up fitting an access hatch in the rear cockpit side, which was needed anyway to access the power steering, and an elaborate bent brass arm fitted to the steering yoke. This links via a stainless rod to the Wema sender, which I have mounted on a little shelf.
The gauge now works!
Another job that should have been easy was to fit a remote switch with timer delay for the cockpit light. My thinking was that it would be convenient if when I arrived in the dark I could switch the cockpit light on with a button on the key fob, even if the boat power was off. When leaving, wouldn't it be cool to do the same while I lock up, and the light would switch itself off after 40 seconds? I reasoned that this would only need a timer delay like they have for car lights, and a remote switch. Both are cheap and plentiful in eBay and Amazon. Here is what I bought:
The delay module didn't have a box so I used a Maplins project box.
The receiver and delay were wired up with a fused live feed directly from the battery, by-passing the battery master. This switch is in parallel to the normal switch for the cockpit light.
There is a board full of electrickery under the galley, I mounted them there.
The receiver and delay were wired up with a fused live feed directly from the battery, by-passing the battery master. This switch is in parallel to the normal switch for the cockpit light.
There is a board full of electrickery under the galley, I mounted them there.
The switch is on my boat key ring
Press it and the cockpit light comes on for 40 seconds then goes off.
You may notice that the remote unit fitted is not the same as the one in the earlier photo. That one was unreliable, it would work fine then go on strike. I bought another, that one did not work at all. I am very grateful for Dave (of this and the Solent forum) who took both units apart and remade all the solder joints so they worked. The power of the internet! You buy something from China then someone you would never otherwise have met is a wiz at soldering and can make it work for you. I love this technology.
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