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CY & BIC Bonus Read!
If you are a regular reader of CY Onboard then you probably also know about the popular Ask Andrew column. I am a big fan of Andrew McDonald and his writing. He is a regular contributor to CY Onboard and has plenty of hands-on experience as a technician in the recreational boating industry. So, once in awhile I think it is a good idea to share a summary of his recent articles in an issue of Boating Equipment News (BEN). BEN is all about equipment and Andrew writes about how to maintain and fix it, so it is all relevant as far as I'm concerned. Plus, Andrew's writing is popular so we know you love it also.
On another note, did you know about the Canadian Electric Outboard Market Survey that CY Media is conducting? We would love your input and for filling out the survey you will get a chance to win a $100 Gift Card from The Binnacle to shop for Boat Stuff online. You can access the survey here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCFL7LL. Thank you for your participation and Good Luck!
Enjoy Boating Equipment News & Ask Andrew this July 14, 2022
Jill Snider, Publisher
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Ask Andrew: Head games: Troubleshooting marine toilets
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A marine toilet is a relatively simple apparatus, straightforward to diagnose and repair. There are a handful of major manufacturers; most have replacement parts and maintenance items available for purchase via marine chandleries. Repair is generally a matter of understanding the system and getting your hands dirty. Marine toilets come in two major types: Manual and electric – but both systems work essentially the same way. In the case of an electric system, water...
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Ask Andrew: Bogging? What’s that?
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Mechanics use a lot of strange terms when describing problems aboard. An engine may be skipping or stuttering. It could cough or belch. It may ‘rev up’ to fast, or may run lean or rich. A person unfamiliar with these terms will quickly be lost in the conversation. A few days ago, when speaking with a client, I forgot to speak English. I listened to the boat owner’s concerns and asked, ‘Did the engine sound like it was bogging?’. His dumbfounded expression reminded me...
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Ask Andrew: The three-year tune-up
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Our boats are now on the water after a couple of really unusual years – if we did get out it was checkered with restrictions, lockdowns etc etc and etc. So this year, there was lots to do before launch - antifouling, polishing, cleaning, engine check-overs and the installation of a three years’ worth of birthday and Christmas electronic doo-dads. By now, most of us have had a chance to enjoy some time on the water. With time on the water, some of us get to...
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Ask Andrew: The great bilge oil discharge conundrum
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I’ve always thought that where safety is concerned aboard, it should be the same whether the boat is a commercial, passenger-carrying vessel or a privately owned sail or power boat. In most cases, safety requirements in terms of construction and safety-gear is comparable, based on vessel size and use – but one of the main differences that has always annoyed me is the requirements for separate water-tight bilge compartments in commercial craft, while...
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Ask Andrew: What is the right battery type?
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Most of us are familiar with the tried-and-true 12V lead-acid batteries that have been found in marine and auto applications for decades. There have been advances over time in the current output, the amp-hours and sizes available; no one can doubt that they do the job well. The main answers lie in the type of applications we’re putting to use on our boats today: trolling motors, electric engines, deep cycle house batteries, networked systems and navigation...
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Ask Andrew - Straight talk: Engine and shaft alignment
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As I write this, boat yards are checking over systems, and re-familiarizing themselves with the boat they haven’t seen since the fall. Some of these checks can be itemized on a list; others are more intuitive: did the engine make this sound last year? Has the stuffing box drip-rate changed? Where is that darn vibration coming from? Some of these questions can be addressed by checking the alignment of the engine and it’s associated moving parts. Sometimes big...
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Ask Andrew: A guided tour of your marine toilet
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Nothing spoils a weekend aboard faster than a broken toilet. Its uncomfortable, inconvenient, worrisome and can lead to unpleasant odours, which affect overall enjoyment. Marine toilets are simple and well designed. They suit their purpose quite well and allow quite a bit of comfort on the water. The problem’s that accompany them are really twofold - 1) A lack of understanding of how they work and their limitations 2) We’re spoiled by modern plumbing...
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Ask Andrew: Fuel Economy aboard
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I filled up last week at $1.90. Pundits are suggesting that prices will stay high throughout the summer. Radio and TV news have been flooded with ‘man on the street’ interviews that show the impact on the average driver. How will these prices affect the average boater this year? Will we see more hours spent on the docks and fewer on the water? Will fuel efficiency become a top-of –mind selling point? Will we see a shift toward electric marine engines?
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Ask Andrew: What Story is your gelcoat telling you?
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As kids we’re told ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, when teaching children about prejudice and jumping to conclusions. But what if the book’s cover told us a lot about what we’ll find inside? What if it inspires up to dig a bit deeper? I like to think that a person can learn a lot about a boat by the condition of the gelcoat. On older boats especially you can tell man things. Which side of the boat people board from – by seeing where weight has been put on stanchions, and...
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Ask Andrew: Radar Reflectors – When and how to use them
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I first learned about radar reflectors when I read the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (a part of the Canada Shipping Act) some 20 years ago. At the time, I was new to the boating world and the text was daunting: Radar Reflectors · (a) Subject to paragraph (b), a vessel that is less than 20 metres in length or is constructed primarily of non-metallic materials shall, if practicable, be equipped with a radar reflector or other means to enable the vessel’s...
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Ask Andrew: Diagnosing battery drain – Part 2 The fix
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Last week we explored how to diagnose battery drain – the unexplained dead battery that ruins all boating plans. The problem rarely ends with diagnosis, however. Most of us can agree, the only thing worse than discovering a flat battery at the turn of the key, is the worry that keeps you awake during the week wondering if it will happen again! Once identified, problems can be addressed – lets look at some of the most common faults, and how to implement some...
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Ask Andrew: Diagnosing Battery Drain
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Nothing ruins a warm summer afternoon faster than turning the key and hearing the clicking noises that surely indicate a drained battery. At this point – all that can be done is to charge the battery enough to start the battery and still enjoy the day. But how was the battery drained in the first place? Without being able to identify the source of the battery drain, it’s tempting to assume that the battery is deficient, and that it’s unable to hold a charge. But before investing...
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