HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rrusk@ssd.csd.harris.com (Bob Rusk)
Subject: Re: MerCruiser Outdrive Universal Joint Lubrication
Reply-To: rrusk@ssd.csd.harris.com
Organization: Harris Computer Systems Division
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 13:59:10 GMT

On Wed, 11 Nov 1992 17:04:12 GMT, mgp@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (michael.g.petersen) wrote:

>I have a question about lubricating MerCruiser outdrive universal
>joints.  Is this a do-it-yourself job on a 1990 4.3L MerCruiser?

Yes.

>Can the outdrive be removed/reassembled by one person without a hoist?

Yes.  Although MerCruiser used to say no.

>How much does it weigh?  

It's heavy, but as a skinny 150 pounder I used to remove and install them alone.
I'd guess it's between 50 and 100 pounds.

>Does replacing it require special skills or
>tools.  I have all the basic tools (including a torque wrench) but
>I don't have any marine specialty tools.  The boat's coowner (read wife)
>could provide another pair of hands.  

The drive is easy to remove and install.  As I recall, there are six nuts
near the top of the drive which must be removed.  Also, the drive-ends of
the hydraulic trim cylinders must be removed from the drive.  The gearshift
must be placed in forward when you remove and install the drive.  After
all this, you grab the drive and pull it back off the boat.

To reinstall the drive, put it in forward (swiveling shift arm at front
edge of drive pointing straight ahead).  You may need to rotate the
propeller so that the drive shaft rotates and the splines line up.  If
you spin the prop the wrong way, it pops out of gear.

When you replace the drive, you should replace the seals and O-rings
where it mates to the gimbal housing.  Use the MerCruiser-recommended
sealants.  Put some grease on the drive shaft splines, too.

>How ofter (seasonal or engine
>hours) should the universal joints be lubricated.

Every few months or at least once per season, I believe.  Look at your 
MerCruiser owner's manual.  I haven't seen one in 5+ years now.

>Mike Petersen.

--
--
 Bob Rusk
 rrusk@ssd.csd.harris.com
 My thoughts, probably not Harris'.
From: will@ogre.cica.indiana.edu (William Sadler)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Olympic Classes for 1996
Date: 6 Nov 92 22:48:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: usenet.BxBGp8.JBH
Organization: Center for Innovative Computer Applications, Indiana University, Bloomington

Well, it's official.  The Laser will replace the Flying Dutchman
in the 1996 Olympics.  The only other change is that the
Mistral will replace the Men's Lechner.

Changes voted down were from Europe Dinghy to Laser Radial
and from Finn to Laser.  The Hobie 16 and Hobie 18 were also
beaten out by the Tornado. 

The Laser beat out the FD by a vote of 16 to 13.

 
Thanks to Nigel Vick for attending the sessions!


Will
--
***************************************************************************
*   _______________\|/_      Will Sadler     will@cica.indiana.edu        * 
*   Laser 44888    /|\                       sadler@iubacs.bitnet         *     
***************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: egan@vms.macc.wisc.edu (MICHAEL EGAN, MACC)
Subject: re: charts
Organization:  University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center
Distribution:  usa
Date:  5 NOV 92 12:21:53    

Well, it seems that a few of the folks who read rec.boats
are making up stories.  Yes, I am looking for cheap
charts, full sized copies of current DMA and NOAA charts.
I've spent enough time in near zero visability to
appreciate up to date charts.  The prices are not
regulated, the charts are in the public domain so they
can be copied without legal problems.  No, I don't want
electronic charts, electric stuff on a boat is a bad
idea, especially if you may really need it sometime.
So, if any one knows a source for cheap copies of
current DMA and NOAA charts please let me know.
Thanks,
Mike Egan

From: bsmith@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Brian Smith)
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 20:06:03 GMT
Subject: Re: Re: Impressions/wrinkles/sailing skills
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO
Newsgroups: rec.boats

In rec.boats, gerald.belton@ozonehole.new-orleans.la.us (Gerald Belton) writes:

    Brian, would you please share with us your insights on cruising in small
    boats?  I have recently purchased an old South Coast 23 which I plan to
    spend many weekends cruising with my wife AND children.  So far we have
    only used it as a glorified day-sailer, but we are looking forward to
    this spring when we can get out for longer periods.  It DOES seem a bit
    cramped, though.

Not quite sure what kind of information I can give you as this kind of
thing tends to depend on the personalities of the people involved and
what they think of as fun.  For instance, the previous owner of my
boat bought it under the mistaken impression that his wife and two
teenage kids were going to love it.  The whole family was going to
learn to sail together and it would be great fun.

The teenagers hated it after the first few exciting moments were over,
and his wife couldn't imagine why anyone would actually want to sleep
in such a confined space--never mind trying to prepare meals.
Daysailing was OK for her because she could prepare a picnic lunch and
go home afterwards.

Since you already have your boat, the die is cast, as it were, and now
you must pursue a strategy that makes you and your family comfortable.
Reading between the lines, I am assuming that you are not necessarily
an experienced sailor.  Anyhow, here are a few suggestions to get you
thinking.

At first, spend only one night on board; then try a few long weekends
before you try an extended stay.

Take food that is easy to prepare.  A stew that just needs heating and
throw in some cans of vegetables.  Break yourselves in slowly to
cooking on board.

Involve your children as much as you can and give each of them
something that they are responsible for.  If they are young, things
like bringing the sails up from below, clearing the windward
sheet before tacking--use your imagination, and try to make a game out
of it.  Also remember that young kids are not going to like sailing
for its own sake--so use the boat as a vehicle to do fun things, like
going to the beach for a swim, riding in the dinghy.  Let them helm
and encourage them to move the tiller around--just to see what
happens.

If your children are older, make them responsible for sail changing,
trim, reefing, etc.  And don't hog the tiller.

If your wife likes to sail, well and good.  If she wants to relax, let
her.  Don't make her do all the *chores* and let her see the boat as a
place to get away from all that stuff.

I suspect there have been books written on the subject, and there is
plenty more to say but that will do for now.

Have fun,

Brian
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: bloxham@geophysics.harvard.edu (Jeremy Bloxham)
Subject: Re: Compass on a chip
Reply-To: bloxham@geophysics.harvard.edu
Organization: Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 19:48:47 GMT

In article 29746@cs.brown.edu, jfh@cs.brown.edu (John F. Hughes) writes:
>I posted too soon, claiming that there existed chips with fluxgate compasses
>on them. A couple of folks have asked about them, and so I tracked down
>the source of my (failed) recollection. He told me this:
>
>    I didn't have a source, just a reference.  The June issue of R&D
>    had a blurb about a research lab in Plymouth, England (Polytechnic
>    South West), who were working on a solid-state compass-on-a-chip.  
>    I think this is what I must have mentioned to you a few months ago.
>    Seems unlikely that there's a product yet, but I'll be keeping my eyes
>    open.  
>
>So there you have it---perhaps there *is* no such thing. On the other hand,
>another guy I know said he thought he could find one, so perhaps...
>
>-John

KVH Industries (in Rhode Island; 401 847-3327) produce a fluxgate compass
on a very small printed circuit board.

Jeremy



Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: meyer@dbsun.uucp (Don Meyer)
Subject: Re: miscellaneous items f
Organization: BioMerieux-Vitek, St. Louis Mo.
Distribution: rec
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 12:27:42 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.1438.6931@execnet> "nate lipsen" <nate.lipsen@execnet.com> writes:
>  DM> Why clutter up rec.boats with this junk?????
>
>  Why clutter it up with a quote of the entire message.  The
>  original post didn't belong here - but why repeat the whole thing? 

Aaarrgggghhh!!!  For the zillionth time, my "mondo quote" followup
was a MISTAKE.  Please see the other messages I've posted with detailed
explanations, apologies, etc.

Don (who really hates it when people quote entire messages to add inane
     comment, and is mortified that he did this, even if it was by mistake,
     not like the clueless twits that ALWAYS quote the WHOLE message EVERY
     time they reply to something.)


-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
meyer%dbsun.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu        |||     I am at two with nature.
Opinions expressed are personal.         |||       -- Woody Allen
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: ecf_stbo@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (Two copper pyramids glued base to base with sap)
Subject: Re: Tuff Luff and other headstay foils
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: The Johns Hopkins University - HCF
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 21:11:00 GMT

In article <1dovs6INNduv@bnsgd245.bnr.co.uk>, bocmunro@bnr.co.uk (Bruce Munro) writes...
>In article <1992Nov10.163427.112971@watson.ibm.com> dwl@watson.ibm.com  writes:
>Of course there's several reasons why J-24 sailors don't use headfoils.
> [reasons...]

Another nice thing about hanks is you can make fine adjustments to halyard
tension and they are immediately transmitted to all parts of the sail. I have
nothing against hanks really, except that you can't do those sail changes so
important on a bigger boat.


Tom O'Toole - ecf_stbo@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu - JHUVMS system programmer 
Homewood Computing Facilities, Johns Hopkins University, Balto. Md. 21218 
>Here comes a jet ski.
>weuh weeuhh weeuhh weeuhh WEEUHH WEEUHH WEEUHH WEEUHH weeuhh weeuhh weeuhh weuh
From: kstuart@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Kenneth Stuart)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: VHF radio recommendations
Date: 12 Nov 92 12:01:39 GMT
Reply-To: kstuart@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Kenneth Stuart)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.boats, jefftb@hpmwtd.sr.hp.com (Jeff Brown) writes:
>      Does anyone have any good or bad expirences with VHF radios and
>      antennas? My father inlaw needs one for his fishing boat.(off shore)
>      I might be interested in a hand held, is there much use for a
>      vhf in northern Calif. inland waters other than the delta?
>
>      Thanks
>      Jeff Brown


Jeff, forget the handheld.  These are great for line-of-sight use, such
as ship's bridge to deck, or anything up to a couple of miles, but really
lose it when used for anything more than that.  The problems are pretty
much as follows:

    The "rubber duckie" antenna is an equally poor radiator in all
       directions.

    The output power is only in the 3 to 5 watt range, maximum.

    It's no fun to be in the middle of emergency communications and
       have the HT's battery die.

For offshore use, the only real option is the standard 25 watt, 12 volt
rig, feeding an 8-foot whip antenna or one of the 16 foot colinear
antennas.  If an 8 foot whip is used, add one of the extension rods
to get the antenna as high in the air as possible and away from
anything metallic which could act as a reflector or shield.

If you are really interested in a handheld, tho, it makes a good
emergency backup to the main rig - but don't rely on it as the prime
VHF radio for the boat!

Calm seas and happy voyages!

Ken Stuart
kstuart@oasys.dt.navy.mil
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: gybeho@engin.umich.edu (John Senger)
Subject: Re: Running Backstay Question
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 92 20:16:12 EST
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

I've found that many boats sail very well without having the running
backstays attached where they should be.  I race on a Tartan 42 out
of a yacht club in Detroit, and we have our runners hooked to a bail
at the base of the mast.  During a typical race (ie not the Mac races)
the shape of the main is controlled mostly by the adjustable center
backstay.  The runners are used very rarely because on this boat, at
least, they don't have much effect - the mast is rather trunk-like!!
I don't know what the rig on the boat you are considering is like,
but I'd guess that if it's not a toothpick/purely racing section, then
you'd probably be ok without the runners.


                           
-- 
John Senger                     

"If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane" - JB
Sail hard, sail fast, sail naked!!!
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: will@ogre.cica.indiana.edu (William Sadler)
Subject: Re: Waxing Laser hull and mast?
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 18:47:36 GMT

In <3060051@otter.hpl.hp.com> ber@otter.hpl.hp.com (Brenda Romans) writes:


>I've been reading a book on Laser sailing.  It says to wax the hull, not to go
>fast but to protect it.  It also says to wax the mast sections so that the sail
>slides over it easily when adjusting the cunningham.

>Is this a good idea?   and if so, what kind of wax would you use?

>Cheers

>Brenda

Brenda,

Waxing the hull is good if you want to protect it.   Waxing is bad if
you want to go faster.  The wax creates friction with the surrounding
water.  A 600 or finer wet/dry finish is best.   I have also heard that
you should use a product called Sta-brite on the hull, but I don't
knwo if you have that in England.

Definitely wax the spars.  Especially if you sail in salt water.
Good old floor wax works great.

BTW, there are probably more people interested in this sort of
discussion on the laser mailing list.  The address of the
list is laser@cica.cica.indiana.edu.  You can send a note there
and ask for people to respond directly to you if you don't want
to sign up on the list itself.

If you do want to sign up for the mailing list send myself or
laser-request@cica.cica.indiana.edu a message.

Will
--
***************************************************************************
*   _______________\|/_      Will Sadler     will@cica.indiana.edu        * 
*   Laser 44888    /|\                       sadler@iubacs.bitnet         *     
***************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: tomb@atp.serum.kodak.com (Tom "USA" Bullinger (x37419))
Subject: Re: Mounting transducers without a thru-hull
Keywords: depth sounders, transducers, mounting
Organization: Clinical Products Division, Eastman Kodak Company
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:06:25 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.081931.4109@nas.nasa.gov> fallavol@fred.nas.nasa.gov (Michael A. Fallavollita) writes:
>Now that I think I've determined that my transducer is bad, I have to
>find some way to go about mounting a new one.  The best solution would
 [..]

I pulled an old thru-hull off my 24' Bristol and replaced it with a 
shoot-thru-the-hull transducer. I didn't like the idea of the liquid in
the pipe, and the fairly loosely mounted transducer. So I took a
slighty different approach. Using a cardboard tube taped to the
inside of the hull, I created a transducer 'pedestal' out of solid
epoxy (West System, gotta love it!). Since the boat was sitting in 
the water at the time, I was sure the top surface would be exactly
parallel to the water surface. After the epoxy hardened I sanded off
the edges of the miniscus for a flat surface and mounted the transducer
with the enclosed epoxy. The results after one season have been excellent.
I lost about 70' of max depth (from 200' to about 130'), but like you,
I'm mostly interested in the shallow stuff anyway. I used a transducer
specifically design to shoot thru-the-hull. Please remember that this
will NOT work if you have a cored hull. Mine is solid. 

BTW, I took this approach based on advice from the net last year. Thanks 
again everyone for your help and advice! 

	tomb..

Laser #15878
Bristol Corsair #270
????  (still lookin'!)

         ------------------------------------------------------
        | tomb@serum.kodak.com                                 |
        |                                                      |
        | "How can he remember well his ignorance -- which his |
        |  growth requires -- who has so often to use his      |
        |  knowledge?"     Henry David Thoreau                 |
         ------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: kell@taec.enet.dec.com ()
Subject: Re: computers
Reply-To: kell@taec.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 12:02:51 GMT



>> Can you use a laptop with LCD screen and a non-heat/fusion
>> printer like a DeskJet instead?

>Power. Jeez, now there's a thought. It is a generator and I think it
>produces about 30 amps. This is a 60 ft sportfisher, but as for how
>clean it is? We have a loran, sat nav.... but this stuff was built for
>marine enviroment.
>
>I like the idea of a lap top. But maybe computers that are not built to
>marine specs should not be on a boat.
>
>Lots of good things to think about. Thanks.

	II have had a NOTEBOOK PC and a CANNON BJ10EX printer on my boat for 
several months  without problems. Both of these run off the normal 12 volts. The
boat is a sailing boat so for most of the time I am not running a generator, but 
I have had no problems at all. In England several companies sell the TOSHIBA 
Notebook for use with a SSB receiver for receiving satellite weather pictures on 
boats. 

	Stephen Kell
From: mgp@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (michael.g.petersen)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: MerCruiser Outdrive Universal Joint Lubrication
Keywords: MerCruiser, Lubrication.
Date: 11 Nov 92 17:04:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbfsb.1992Nov11.170412.23077
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

I have a question about lubricating MerCruiser outdrive universal
joints.  Is this a do-it-yourself job on a 1990 4.3L MerCruiser?
Can the outdrive be removed/reassembled by one person without a hoist?
How much does it weigh?  Does replacing it require special skills or
tools.  I have all the basic tools (including a torque wrench) but
I don't have any marine specialty tools.  The boat's coowner (read wife)
could provide another pair of hands.  How ofter (seasonal or engine
hours) should the universal joints be lubricated.

Mike Petersen.
From: hanneman@acsu.buffalo.edu (Billy the Kid)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: ftp sites for sailing gifs
Date: 5 Nov 92 18:07:50 GMT
Followup-To: hanneman@acsu.buffalo.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: UB



   Could someone please send me a list of ftp sites with sailing gifs
on them.  I am especially interested in gifs of the America's Cup
races.  Thanks in advance...

Albert Hanneman
hanneman@acsu.buffalo.edu
From: bloxham@geophysics.harvard.edu (Jeremy Bloxham)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Running Backstay Question
Date: 11 Nov 92 14:21:20 GMT
Article-I.D.: das.1992Nov11.142120.20972
Reply-To: bloxham@geophysics.harvard.edu
Organization: Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

In article 16302@alcatel.no, vatne@alcatel.no (Lars Vatne) writes:
>
>Of course, this is a bit beside the point as the discussion is about cruiser/
>racers here, but I've crewed (delivery) on a racing boat that didn't have 
>any fixed backstay, only runners. Talk about scary gybing!
>
>The boat?  One-tonner "Fram XI", Bruce Farr design, built by Cookson. 6th
>in this years World Championship (although I wasn't on board at the time).
>The owner? King Harald of Norway
>
>-- 
>Lars Vatne                     Phone  : +47 2 63 76 51    

About ten years ago, I crewed on a 1/4 tonner in the Tomatin Trophy
race week on the west coast of Scotland. This particular boat had
running shrouds. The shrouds on each side attached to tracks which ran
aft from slightly aft of the mast about three or four feet. To let the
main out much beyond a close reach it was necessary to let the leeward
shroud run forward. If the windward shroud was accidentally released or
not brought aft rapidly enough during a gybe the mast would have gone
straight over the side. At the end of the week the mast was still
standing, a small miracle in my opinion.

I'm sorry I don't remember the boat's name - I think I may have a
photograph somewhere at home. In better weather I'm sure that this
could be a great race week, but that year it was probably one of the
most uncomfortable week's sailing I've ever had. Loch Fyne in May can
be very, very cold.

Jeremy
From: bocmunro@bnr.co.uk (Bruce Munro)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Tuff Luff and other headstay foils
Date: 10 Nov 92 18:43:18 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe, New Southgate, London.
NNTP-Posting-Host: bnsgs179.bnr.co.uk

In article <1992Nov10.163427.112971@watson.ibm.com> dwl@watson.ibm.com  writes:
>Just to reinforce John's point that if headstay foils don't provide an
>edge, they will go away, that is exactly what happened in the J/24 class.
>Several years agao (hopefully one of the net's J/24 folks can supply a
>timeframe) one of the major racers showed up and won a regatta without a
>headfoil. Sure enough over the next season, the started to vanish. I haven't
>seen a single good keelboat manage that in the big boat fleet. In fact, if
>anything, the tendancy leads the other way, with  most of the big boat fleet
>having at least three headsails for the 0-30 range, with quite a few adding
>in a very light #1 for ultra-light conditions. 

Of course there's several reasons why J-24 sailors don't use headfoils.

1) J-24 courses are generally fairly short legs, so it can often be better
   to hang on with current sail until going onto a spinnaker leg, instead
   of having someone messing around on the foredeck changing headsails,
   which on a small boat like a J-24 has a more serious impact than on a
   larger boat.

2) J-24 sailors are, on the whole, crazed nutters who never use anything
   other than a number one genoa anyway! :-) This is from personal
   experience with the J-24 mob in the UK, I suspect the American
   contingent are just as bad!


-- 
Bruce Munro.  <B.Munro@bnr.co.uk> || ...!mcsun!uknet!bnruk!B.Munro
BNR Europe Ltd, Oakleigh Rd South, London N11 1HB. | Note the change
Phone : +44 81 945 2174 or +44 81 945 4000 x2174   | of e-mail address.
"There are no strangers, only friends we don't recognise" - Hank Wangford
From: hanners@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Robert Hanners)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Help!  Diastole diesel disaster
Date: 9 Nov 92 19:11:29 GMT
Reply-To: hanners@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Robert Hanners)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Annapolis, MD

Wish to thank those who have responded thus far.  Have learned several
things that I might pass along at this time.  Consensus is (no surprise)
to get the water out as quickly as possible.  Ted Edmunds said that,
besides the head gasket and a broken head or block, water in the sump is
often caused by a failure at the oil cooler-- hadn't thought of this.
He suggested fix the leak and run it-- don't rebuild it without trying
the quick fix first-- rebuilds just cost too much!  He's done this with
several oil cooler failures-- never had to strip the engine down.  First
check system with water pressurization system to determine if leak is
at the cooler.  Jeff Goldring confirms that ethylene glycol is bad news
on bearings and rings. :-(  Kevin Crouchley says don't use dry-gas...
alcohol may ruin the seals.  David Zielke and Andy Lubinov warned not
to crank engine to flush oil system with kerosene in crankcase... that
reverse blow-by may "diesel" ignite and cause engine to run away!
Recommend at least plugging the air intake.  Good point!  And John
Hughes tells me it's a piece of cake to pull out a 4.108-- well, he
did say it wasn't as formidible as may first appear. :-)

Thanks to you all.  Now if I could only get a couple volunteers... :-)

-- Bob

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Hanners         "My comments; only mine."          *DIASTOLE* 676673
CD, NSWC, Annapolis, MD                              hanners@oasys.dt.navy.mil