zmk1962
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Posts posted by zmk1962
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When you talk about the effect of turns on your prop you are probably thinking about ventilation- sucking in air into the prop. That is different to cavitation. Prop cavitation occurs when very low pressure is created at the front of the prop blades - where water enters the blades. This low pressure makes gas bubbles “boil” out of the water reducing grip and thrust. Some reasons cavitation can occur are if the prop blade angle is to sharp for the revs (overpitched) or if the motor is mounted too high and not getting enough water flow to the front of the prop.
Ventilation and cavitation are often confused but they are two different phenomena- both damaging.
https://uk.boats.com/how-to/propeller-cavitation-propeller-ventilation/
Cheers Zoran
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Awesome..glad you braved the weather Rick. I wanted to but ended up being stuck lopping the neighbours tree overhang. Jealous.
Cheers Z
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5 hours ago, rozza_b said:
my all round white light drives me nuts has to be the worst positioned light i have ever dealt with, its mounted directly on top of my windshield literally cannot see when driving the boat and its on so i turn it off while traveling most of the time (i vary rarely see anyone down my way at that time) still have my nav lights on... im going to put mine on the end of one of those adjustable sticks, will just put it up as needed and lay it back down when not in use
I had the same problem on my 16ft savage and on my Haines 635L. On the Haines it was particularly bad as the cabin superstructure (the foredeck) is white so the reflecting glare from the light on the white fibreglass was absolutely blinding at night.
In both cases, until I permanently relocated the light up high on a rocket launcher, I found the following to be an adequate solution. I cut and fitted a flat sheet of plastic under the light so that it cast a shadow across my windscreen / and cabin foredeck. The light was still visible 360deg, but it could not shine directly below as the flat plastic bib cast a shadow over the screen and foredeck.
Give it a go,
Cheers Z
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Hey @MerryFisher hope you postback with the outcome of your conversations with the dealer and solas. I for one am really interested in how this is resolved. Your hull looks like an awesome layout and it would be a shame not to have it performing optimally.
BTW maybe this topic should be renamed to “Improving Hole Shot”. A Solas prop is just one approach.
Best of Luck.
Zoran
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Yup. The extra bolts are locknut permanent mounts. I’ve seen a few boats with a wood or plastic spacer above the stern to accommodate a higher mount. Hope that extra height gives you the clearance you need.
Cheers Z
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Hi @Fab1,
Personally I have not seen anyone pulled over between dusk and dawn - infact I see very few MSB boats around during night shift.
BUT that does not mean the rulers and rule books would not come out if there was an accident, insurance claim etc. where all these types of things would be investigated as they come under the skippers duty of care or lack of.
I have also seen on occasion boats with NO lights - which scares the living crap out of me.
I remembered the Boating Handbook specified the rules and they were different depending on boat length. So I looked it up over my coffee this morning -- page 60 of the NSW Handbook:
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/maritime/licence/boating-handbook.pdf
Here it is for vessels under 12m:
You need to achieve this light configuration:
For vessels under 12m, you can use an all round white light 360deg if you can mount it 1m above the side lights and its unobstructed. OR .... You can achieve the 360deg un-interrupted white light arc by having a 225 arc and a 135deg stern light. this allows a break in the white light arc where your body or other obstructions will not interfere with it.
Cheers
Zoran
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Hey Mattyau,
I was just thinking about this over dinner - it looks like your motor may be mounted a bit low - if you could raise it a bit then it would allow the handle to hang more vertically - maybe enough to get the tilt you're after.
You can google your specific motor, but generally the anti-ventilation plate (cavitation plate) should ideally be about 1in (2.54cm) below the hull. From the pictures it looks like yours is much lower - can you lift it an inch or two? Do you have sufficient stern height left at the motor well?
Also, rather then remove the entire hatch, can you just cut out the corner that is impinging on the handle?
Cheers Z
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53 minutes ago, Mattyau said:
A update for anyone who was following, i have called a few dealers one told me i would lose warranty the others have told me i shouldn't loose it.
Hi Mattyau, I know you are talking to dealers, but ultimately it is a factory warranty. I suggest you send an email to Honda (usually the technical department) explaining your specific problem and that in your case the handle is really not required for a fixed mount situation. Specifically ask them to confirm in writing that the warranty will not be impacted if the handle is removed as you are getting conflicting replies from dealers. They should help you here.
I'll leave ally boat owners to help out with your other installation questions as I'm more experienced with glass boats.
Cheers Z
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Yeah but was the NO to the topic or to being a mod??? ?
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Great write up and great result ! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to many more reports with results like that.
Cheers
Zoran
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46 minutes ago, GoingFishing said:
Just for fun ill add.....
Should have went 2 stroke.... ?
BAHAHA.... Sam Sam Sam.... I reckon that would be a great topic for YOU to kick off as a separate thread... and I'm sure Donna would let you start it only if you volunteered be a moderator to handle the extra posts and vigorous discussion !!! ?
Cheers Z
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I can see lots of family fun there - well done and congrats. Look forward to the reports (when the weather clears!).
Cheers
Zoran
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Yup... as @jeffb5.8 said I'd be giving the dealer a call. They should be able to tell you at what speed the hull should start to plane, so If you are within your max crew capacity rating, and you are comfortable the balance is correct, then its pretty well thrust related.
You are limited to the 115hp, so experimenting with higher thrust (lower pitch) props is a path forward. With lower pitch you will lose top end speed, but you will hit planing speed sooner.
One other thing occurred to me - have the dealer check your outboard height mount. If the outboard is mounted too high, you may be getting cavitation (ventilation) around the prop, which will affect your hole shot - this will be more noticeable with increased load. This could be why you are describing the prop as "slipping" - its actually cavitating so has reduced contact with water.
Cheers
Zoran
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Suggest you talk to the dealer - I can't see how it would effect warranty. It's there to help carry the motor if its frequently moved - sounds like you will have it permanently mounted.
I did a quick google... not sure if BF20-D3 is your specific model... but here is the exploded parts view. If it was me, I'd remove part 16 (handle), and replace it with a stainless tube same width as the handle to act as a spacer. I'd use that as a an attachment for the safety lanyard!
Cheers
Zoran
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Ok that makes it much clearer. If the carry handle is the only thing stopping the motor reaching full tilt, and if the motor will basically be permanently mounted, it may be quite simple to dismantle and remove the carry handle. Have you had a google for the service or assembly manual. Or google spare parts for your yr/model motor and there should be an exploded view of the handle assembly.
(The carry handle is there for convenience when the motor is moved around frequently - such as with tenders - but if its a permanent mount you will not need it).
Cheers
Z
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Hi Mattyau... everyone has a first post - welcome. No question is stupid in my books.
I don't have a bf20, but many Radiers on the forum are handy with mechanical stuff.
I can only see one picture which is front on, so its hard to tell if the carry handle is resting on the carpeted seat or on the aluminium stern brace.
Can you take a side shot please and post that?
Also, another shot with the motor tilted so that we can see where its being impinged by the handle and by how much?
Cheers
Zoran
PS - with motors that are mounted to teh stern with only paddle clamps I would recommend you have a safety lanyard that is attached to your motor and hull. Vibration can work the paddle clamps loose.
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AWESOME ..... You're a champion @Scratchie !!
I bet you the kids had a blast as you (the parents) would have.
Download that American Boys Handybook PDF ... it will inspire!
Cheers and Thanks for sharing.
Z
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22 hours ago, Fishop said:
Ethanols fine, what are you worried about?
No need to apologise.....just re read -- and got the sarcasm --- yeah - what's there to worry about - we're always happy to sell you a new motor or parts ... ethanol away ! hahaha
Cheers Z
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Since I was not familiar with a Merryfisher 605 I had a quick look at the hull and specs ... this is what I found:
So hull is 1080kg and laden with 4 crew plus gear you're in the 1400-1600kg payload weight - pretty much what @GoingFishingposted.
Looking at your hull configuration with the full half cab design, it suggests to me that when you have 4+ on board they all tend to stand/sit behind you - so you are very stern heavy - which would throw out your hull dynamics and hence contribute to a longer time to get on a plane. I had similar issues with my Haines 635L half cabin after installing the following at the stern: Auxiliary (50kg), live bait tank (35kg), 3 x batteries (60kg), 10L oil tank (10kg) etc. Then adding all the crew who undoubtedly prefer to sit out in fresh air on the seat across the stern - it is the softest ride in a chop after all !!! No one likes to ride in the cabin (it can also be dangerous in a chop).
Given you are restricted to a max115hp motor, consider the following options:
1) weight distribution to improve the balance : Get the 4 crew to move forward and stand next to or directly behind you. This will be a quick, no cost way to confirm if its balance related and to see if you are back to your previous hole shot performance. Also, get some mates and experiment with them sitting forward in the cabin as well - note where they are sitting and how the hull behaves for hole shot.
2) If your test shows its balance related: and you want a cheap solution - make sure all your gear is stowed as far forward in the cabin as possible. Consider putting a counter weight as close as possible to the bow (I installed a 100L fresh water bladder under one of the bunks) - depending on where the center of gravity is on your boat - 100kg at the front may counter balance 150kg+ at the stern - noting where you mates were sitting will also be a good guide. A bit of extra weight at the bow helps the ride cutting through chop (but the trade off is you are pushing around more weight all the time). I also installed an anchor drum winch (50kg) which is mounted right at the bow for other reasons, but its proven a great permanent counterweight.
3) Install trim tabs or similar on the stern - to help lift the boat stern at lower speed.
4) Install foil on motor - similar effect as trim tabs (but like @PaddyT said - they have problems).
By all means experiment with the prop to get more thrust - but I would suggest having a go at weight distribution with the current motor/prop set up first.
PS - given what you have described, it does not sound like you have blown a prop bush that's giving you prop slip (especially if you have not hit anything with the prop).
Cheers
Zoran
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On 10/9/2018 at 3:14 PM, Fab1 said:
I'd work nightshift from 10:30pm-6:30am and get straight into it until about 3pm then sleep for work again.That went on for about 2 months straight.
That is so much like me !!! A friend once told me life is short and you're a long time dead ! I guess there'll be plenty of time to catch up on sleep ?.
Cheers Z
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37 minutes ago, Fishop said:
Ethanols fine, what are you worried about?
From the mercury website
QUESTION:Will the use of fuels containing ethanol void my engine warranty?
ANSWER:Fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol are considered acceptable for use in Mercury engines. Fuels containing higher levels of ethanol are not considered acceptable for use, and the use of fuels containing ethanol higher than 10 percent can void the warranty.
Hey @Fishop... as many newbies look at this site for advice its probably best if you add the Mercury website link and more motor specific information rather than such a generic statement.
That statement may well be true for current 2018(?) Mercury models but Ethanol mixed fuel is absolutely NOT approved by Mercury for use in my 1999 Mercury 200HP EFI Bluewater series (oil injected post mix). It will cause damage - as I have posted previously. 95 or 98 is the go for my EFI two stroke motor.
One other thing that I think Raiders should consider, regardless if your motor is E10 rated or not, and that is how long does your fuel sit in the tank - Mercury may well be assuming that you use all the fuel in your tank and fill with fresh Ethanol mix every trip - that is ideal.
In my experience, that is hardly ever the case with fishos - our fuel or residual fuel may sit in the tank for months, and in those cases ethanol and fuel do separate - they are immiscible liquids and separate over time - again I've posted on this previously. Ethanol with oxygen breaks down to acetic acid (vinegar) and water ... so go figure what that will do sitting in your tank and being sucked through your engine. (This is not so much an issue with cars as we go through a tank of fuel much more frequently - or with professional boating applications - but in my opinion it's overlooked in the recreational applications).
BTW, heres an interesting read on ethanol fuels in general -- --
A long time ago I read E10 was the creation of CSR (after projecting a glut in sugar production) lobbying the green movement... seems the facts are starting to line up that way.
Cheers
Zoran
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7 hours ago, wazatherfisherman said:
Hi Zoran that was both fascinating and tragic! Thanks for putting it on I really enjoyed it. Cheers Waza
Thanks @wazatherfisherman. Over time I think we may all have felt and commented about one or two points raised in that video - but the way that video captures and presents all the aspects and considerations is well -- almost artistic! After watching that video it also occurred to me that so many moviesand TV shows are also "manufactured". ..you can almost set a clock by when the characters are introduced, the plot set up, the tension - leading to a climatic escalation arrrgh...
2 hours ago, big Neil said:I really enjoyed your post and everything that you say is absolutely correct. But let's not write off the current generation. Sure they are very different, but it's a very different world today.
Thanks @big Neil could not agree more. That's why I said in my post "at the risk of sounding really really old" ... just like my parents commenting about the music I was listening to - the very stuff that video promoted as being the epitome of creativity hahaha !
Each new generation develops new skills - usually based on the technology that has become pervasive at that time and that creates an opportunity for that generation to succeed and solve things the previous generation could not. Pervasive connectivity is todays technology (FB being an implementation). I can already see that my kids are connected to others around the globe in a way that past generations could never be. Also the very nature of "collaboration" on an issue, has changed from using connectivity to simply exchange of facts or ideas formed in isolation (they way I collaborated) - to real time collaboration at every level of the problem solving - it's like a hive brain at work. This provides huge opportunity....but in my view ONLY if individuality and creativity is preserved. If they all think the same, it doesn't matter how many heads collaborate - you'll get the same answer.
So bringing it back to topic - when @Fab1 wrote "role of a man" - I didn't see it as a gender statement as much as a statement of "the role of an adult (vs child)". Given the challenge that our society is becoming programmed and based around instant gratification - the best thing an adult can do is help promote our kids individuality and creativity balanced with a respect for nature and each other.
Be a role model that teaches kids to question and assesses and form their INDIVIDUAL opinion. Its ok to have an opinion as long as you can back it up ! Spur on our kids to be creative and not just a consumer - help them be confident to give it a go even if their creation is different. Failure is a path to success.
I think kids/young adults need that positive counter against the brute force of our entertainment industry coupled with social media connectivity - that are driving them to see themselves as a failure unless they become a homogenised consumer - and be just like everyone else!
Cheers
Zoran (now back to fishing and boating -- hahaha)
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Awesome topic and responses guys and gals ! I tried so long not to respond as I knew I'd ramble, but here it goes....
I honestly believe a lot of humanity's problems are the result of living in an "instant" packaged society and losing connection with nature. Very rarely do you see kids today amusing themselves through their own creativeness and inventions - making do with what they have. It's all too easy to switch on the tele, netflix, or other steaming channel while browsing FB or other social media - and fall into a cycle of amuse me now or I will flick to something else.... too much focus on instant gratification and self importance vs how to make yourself important and useful to others...
Anyway, I grew up in a very modest household but my dad (a sparkie) and mum were the salt of the earth - they gave us the best they could. Wasn't much left to spend on fancy holidays - but during school holidays I had the BEST toys - my dads tool's and his workshop - just go for it!!! ... drill and grind at your own risk.... sling shots, bows, fishing rods, billy carts... and eventually more advanced things like spear guns were all carefully constructed, tested and used. I could have anything I wanted - as long as I could make it!!! hahaha. Lots of trial and error, cuts, burns etc. but it spurned my passion to think it through and give it a go. Are any of us open minded enough to let an 8yo kid loose on power tools??? My dad grew up on a farm and lived through the war - he saw nothing wrong with it - just be careful - sure dad!
Personally I was always drawn to the outdoors, camping, fishing, trapping and had a passion for learning how frontier/pioneer folk lived of the land. I came across this book when I was about 9 and it changed my life - (finally found an eCopy about 3 years ago and now have the PDF downloaded for posterity)
https://diyhomeschooler.com/2011/06/13/american-boys-handybook-free-ebook/
Contrast the experiences gained from those pages vs those gained on an iPAD game ! Which prepares you better for life?
When our daughters came along my wife and I were keen to give them both practical and intellectual stimulus - I recall their favourite toys were buckets and buckets of LEGGOs - we could not by enough ... Hours of time being creative and inventive - some of their creations were massive and decorated our lounge for weeks at a time as they kept coming back to rebuild or extend or remodel as a new idea came up. Still have those stored somewhere in the attic waiting for the next gen. There was a lot of common sense and practicality that was learnt from those little plastic pieces. They caught up on computers and other tech stuff pretty quick, but they were grounded.
Anyway, to bring this back to topic... I still feel that the root cause is that our society is becoming programmed and based around instant gratification. The entertainment industry KNOWs this and has made it BIG BUSINESS. No better example than music and at the risk of sounding really really old ... I'd like to share the following with you...bear in mind I make that statement being a classically trained guitarist that has since ventured into blues, country, rock, pop etc etc etc so I am hardly a troglodyte.....
But have you ever though that music is getting simpler, more programmed, more and more similar .... listen on!
ITS MANUFACTURED AND OUR KIDS A PROGRAMMED!
How do we break the cycle??
Cheers
Zoran
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Great stuff guys ... congrats.
These reports of Port Stephens snaps keep reminding me: I just have to get up there one day ... (I actually have it as an entry in my bucket list !)
Cheers
Zoran
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Navigation lights
in Boating
Posted
Yup... I took a conduit flange and glued a stub of conduit into it (so it protruded about 20mm out of the flange). Then using a bandsaw I split the flange and stub of conduit down the middle. Placed the two halves around my light pole, slid it up into place and used a s/s hose clamp to tighten it into place.
Imagine this upside down with a 20mm tail of conduit out of the bottom for the hose clamp. The flat top gave me plenty of surface area to bolt a plastic sheet (which I cut from stiff waterproof plastic flashing). Experimented with different sizes / shapes until the shadow was where I wanted it.
Cheers Zoran