problems with finding stuff
I challenge anybody to SEARCH for something specific
[sorry, this repeated itself....]
problems with finding stuff
I challenge anybody to go into the SEARCH function
and come up with an answer to 'outboard well plug' - 'OB motor plug' - 'OB well cover'
The search function reduces your prompt to something shorter that makes no sense.
When you get the threads there are 60 or a 100 of them - with no clue where your goose is.
Like a page number or a post number......
We have a chinese search engine for a boat website. (No tickee, no shirtee)
Example: typed in
>outboard well plug<
into the Search request window.
Search verified with
>outboard, plug< [note the introduction of the puntuation mark - which makes the search phrase meaningless.]
and 36 site threads came up. I randomly select: Ariel 387 - "Arthur".
Scrolled through 40 posts to page 3 where finally saw the meaningless phrase accented in yellow, post 43.
This is a picture supported thread - our 'clues of probability' were in one or two photos along the way....
There happens to be on this thread a good example of the factory well hole flange, post 38
But NO example of the plug or cover or fairing plate or whatever it's called.
No satisfaction.
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If I type into the Search window >OB well<, it'll come back >OB, well< ....as if 'well' is considered an adverb - rather than a noun.
Like: OutBoard, well....... well, are you really sure you want to look up outboard?
Outboard, of what? Do you mean overboard? Onboard?
"The word is too common, or too long, or too short to be included in your search."
THAT is an actual quote telling me, the victim inquirer, why the search wasn't accomplished. Really.
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[VBulletin is a product of Jelsoft Enterprises, a subsudiary of Internet Brands, located in ElSegundo CA......
since they are right down the street, maybe we could ask them to reset their product >soft, ware< with a nautical dictionary?:D]
Alternative to Forum Search
Let Google do it: at a Google (or another) search prompt, type the string below:
site:pearsonariel.org "OB well"
-OR-
site:pearsonariel.org "outboard well plug"
It's very slick and just searches the within web address after "site". Also, the quotes tell it to search for that exact string.
And yes, it's not quite as fun as the "conversation". ;)
NOTE: If you cut/paste the above, make sure you don't also copy the URL tags that the forum automatically puts in there.
Thanks for the Voyage posts
Thank you Bill for the post on those voyages, I'll soak it up when I get home from work tonight. I think there is also a guy local to my area that sailed trans-atlantic or tanspac on a Pearson of smaller size, Triton or Ariel not sure. I already have people trying to talk me out of it. I've been dreaming about it since I was 16, hope I'm not too old at 53. Joshua Slocum left when he was 50+, of course he is(was) twenty times the sailor I am.
P.S. a couple of those came up blank
Rubba Dumpa - not so silly
A338 no longer has an OB well that has an original type lid.
For those of you that have this feature, including those with an inboard,
imco it is very possible that a oneway rubber valve could be worked into the lid/hatch cover.
Not my idea to use a duckbill valve to vacate water from a boat.
CRMarine has a small (1") duckbill (actually more like ducktail valve) for draining boats while underway.
Mixed reviews. Looks to me like the valve is just too small.
DUCKBILL CHECK VALVE
OK, go to www.general-rubber.com and take a look at their Flex-Valve 4200 Flanged.
And the 4100 Slip-on that can be hose clamped to pipe.
Valve comes in sizes from 1/2" to 48".....yes, FOUR FEET ! Might find something that would fit thru
the well hatch. I think we're looking for a not your normal everyday valve.
Can see a useful dump valve around 4" - 5" - 6" larger or smaller.....(haven't done the valve volume math.)
Depends on whether you see the OB well as a primary exit for automatic transfer whole cockpit draining.
Getting rid of tons of water quickly is something a cruiser might be thinking about.
Have not seen or held these particular valves. The color data sheet makes the valve's proportion look right, imco.
They are designed to open with very little pressure - which is what we want.
And to work against seawater backflow they'd probably have to be somewhat pliable and stay closed easily.
Come in many natural & synthetic rubbers, I like EPDM or Hypalon.
If you design any part of a dump system that has the rubber duckbill underwater,
would guess you want to keep marine growth at bay. EPDM can't be painted, but airboat antifouling is available.
Good thing about mounting one or two of these things in a lid, is that you can access them for
inspection and maintenance. EPDM would require almost no maintenance. Maybe Lanocote like they do propellers.
Smaller flex-valves might be good for any exit out the hull. Unsightly, but since
rubber duckbills do an important job simply and maybe cheaply, they might become fashionable!
Sorry, haven't priced them.
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:DKICKER-SLICKER
Seems to me, if we have an OB in the motor well, we might find just the right sized duckbill for the WHOLE OB
lower section and propeller (12"?) to fit thru into the water. And when retrieved - by merely pulling the motor
back up thru the gland - it would close and nicely keep water out of the laz.
And still be available for sudden evacuation events !
Maybe add a modified circular Prop-Gard around the blades to get the OB to ease back up?
[Larger sized sleeve valves get very heavy, so while the idea is interesting at least to me, it's not feasible....yet.]