legacycentral bbs

So I'm almost done with a book about Hugh Hill, a Beverly privateer who was vital to the American Revolution, and I found out the cannon they fired when Geroge Washington visited the town to meet Hugh (among others) where likely on the spot where I'm sitting my ass on the couch right now, give or take a few feet. Hugh lived two blocks over on Fish Flake Hill while I live on Goat Hill (called Ellingwoods Hill back then).

So what the hell has this to do with a jobby job for Snoop Stevie Steve? All this pirate stuff, my brother-in-law's boat, and my twin-engine car idea has got me thinking about boats. So at the end of my street (well, practically) a marina is hiring boat mechanics and looking for trainees with the right experience. I'm thinking that's me. I know four-cycle engines well, but don't know much of anything about how the drives work. I know they use gear box fluid, but that's about it. I'm going for an intervue tomorrow morning. Does anyone know anything about boat drives/transmissions or sources (preferably free ones) on such? I just hope they pay a liveable wage if they're hiring.

Steve

I think you've pretty much got the basics.

All the boat's I've been on and that we have owned (we've owned a few outboards, and I've been on several bay-boats for crabbing and such), are all fairly straight forward. A single gear reduction and that's about it. I have never seen or known of a boat to use a transmission. The acceleration and speed attributes are usually adjusted by prop size/angle. At least that's how I have understood it, I'm not sure how larger boats handle this, I'm speaking on a strictly small-boat stand.

I think you'll be fine if you know the workings of a 4-cycle gasoline engine, as well as an understanding of how diesel's work. You also might want to read up (on www.howstuffworks.com ) on 2-cycle engines, as lots of outboard boats are 2-cycle.

I think you'll do fine. But check out that site, www.howstuffworks.com and read up on everything you can.

I know of the site, but it's mostly the drives I'm ignorant on. My brother-in-law's boat, for instance, a 2004 Larsen with a Volvo Penta is I/O and seems to have some type of gear shifting capability as the engine seems to change rpm at times for a given speed. I'm not sure if water pressure, linkage with the throttle, or even pitch would shift it or what.

I know the basics of diesels and 2-strokes, but not much of the intracacies of them or common faults. I think 2-strokes won't be that prevalent as this place seems to deal with 'real' boats. No offence to anyone who loves jetskis (I'm sure they're a lot of fun), but I hate noisy, polluting 2-strokes. They've also banned waverunners for 2 miles within shore here due to the morons who run them and have nearly hit swimmers throuh reckless conduct or use them at night and disturb the rich assholes who live on the water (maybe they're not so bad after all). The harbormasters have cracked down on them pretty well so I doubt they'll be a common repair order.

Steve

You already understand how an engine works, so a diesel or 2-stroke engine you could literally learn in minutes.

I say go for it, learn the stuff that you need to, and I'll bet it is a better income.

Hmm, I don't have any knowledge of I/O boats Just our old boat, and our newer one.

I've never been a 2-stroke fan. I like the smoothness of a 4-stroke. Roll-on power is like running an E55 AMG up to top speed. Just smooth until your going as fast as possible . Don't have to be WOT to start moving.

Well, I'd have to say that getting twice the power out of the same size engine (or the same power out of an engine half the size) is kinda neat.

Too bad you have to mix your lube and your fuel... some types of lube burn much more cleanly though -- Amsoil's in particular is supposed to be very good that way.

Steve, this sounds like it could be a really cool opportunity. If the interview hasn't happened yet, I wish you the best of luck.

I start October 12. Bang. Done. I love small companies where the owners run the place.

Starting money's what I need to survive and a couple extra bucks. I think I'll try to do PT at Pep Boys to make about what I made with my old job. I'm sure they won't mind as I've now taken over road tests due to my diagnosis of things nobody else seems to pick up.

The owner of the marina has a Series I E-Type in the garage there. They said they have the techs work on their apartment buildings when there's no work at the marina so there's a year-round pay check. Best thing - no 2-strokes!

Steve

Awesome! This is really exciting. Congrats.

Wow Steve! That's awesome! Congratulations!

Now there's no excuse not to make it to the next meet

way to go, steve! So you're doing ok then? last time we had the chat about life, you were talking eviction and shit.. things work out ok?

does this have anything to do with the cold beer and hot shower review?

-=tris

Steve, I can't express how happy I am for you.

Stick with both jobs as long as you possibly can, no matter how much you end up hating either one. Save your money, and get yourself in good health, #1. You already know what's it's like to live like shit, keep that in your mind as a reminder/motivator.

I may not have bounced off the bottom, but I've hit it and I'm crawling my way back up. I'm still waiting on another job, but now I won't have to shoot myself if I don't get it. Thanks everyone! Especially Vikash and Art.

And the next meet? How about that one at Lime Rock in November? I'm buying my rims and tires and I'll be there. I'll have to see about brakes. Going to the Museum of Transportation Sunday maybe too for the Japanese car show (hopefully classics, not rice), but I think Brookline MA is a little far for most of you.

Friday I go to the JY (barring extreme weather - not that I'm crying as you Floridians have been through some serious shit lately) and pick up headlights. That's right, Vikash, head lights. My winter project will (at least) be a quad headlamp conversion and a grille. Bad lights no more!

Steve

Nice! Are you gonna try to bust apart the OEM headlight housings and fit in some Hella 90mm lights or OEM lights from an Audi or something?

The Hellas. I'm going to try to clear up the inside of the lens with a Mouse sander and lots of patience (as if I have that much, but at least I have a whole cold winter). After that, I'll modify the housing with fiberglass and metal reinforcements as needed (like for the mouinting/adjusting screws) unless I can get a plastic welder and try that. It depends on if the plastic is, indeed, a thermoplastic (I'm sure it is); I can identify what kind it is; and the shapes I need aren't too complicated where fiberglass would be easier.

Steve

Hmm... I don't know if you'll really be able to eliminate the flutes from the stock lens and end up with something structurally sound... it might be better to figure out something else so you can have a crystal-clear lens that stays clear and won't yellow. Like maybe set things up so a flat properly-cut piece of Lexan would fit.

I think it might even be more interesting to be able to use a flat peice of regular glass, and just epoxy it in place. If it cracks or something, just replace it.

Lexan tends to scratch easily and yellow when exposed to UV.

My alternative is to try to plastic weld in a flat panel in place of the fluted section to the pre-existing sides as molding a new piece is too difficult (though I could mold one if I could get the flutes smooth), though smoothing the welds and getting the new piece to the exact curve of the old would be difficult at best.

Steve

I hate to say it (because they are ugly) but why not try something like a Morette style headlamp, and just make a fiberglass surround for the Hella 90mm lights?

Don't even bother with having the lights in a housing, just build a housing out of fiberglass and encapsulate the Hella's in the housing with a fiberglass surround?

You mentioned the main reason I want to pursue this project in the manner I'm attempting - aesthetics. I also want it to look more OEM. If it doesn't work it doesn't work, but if it does, I could possibly make additional units.

Steve

steve- congrats first off, secondly, I was trying to figure out how to do this aswell, and got a good idea from here:
http://www.midtennmiata.com/round_headlights.htm

Just make the mounting out of metal or something, and have the edges of the metal extend to old the plastic/lexan/glass/whatever you decide to do. I was just too lazy to do it unfortunately.

Steve, first of all, CONGRATS on landing the job! A man needs to work and sometimes a job that's a bit different expands horizons. Besides, your knowlege of mechanics will serve you well for the new job!

Secondly, I was wondering what some of the guys were talking about so I traced down the thread. Wow, life can be really tough. And you've got guys that really care about you! There a lot of people that don't have anyone that care about them.

Thirdly, keep us posted on your headlight project. I thought of doing what you're planning on doing but I know I don't have the time. I've got too many other tings going on.

Anyway, congrats again!

Jeez, searching down the threads for this one I noticed how many threads my name is the last entry in. Terrible, but at least I get the last word.

Anyway, I think I just negotiated for an extra $4 an hour at the marina. He he he.

Steve

Cool! What exactly do you do there?

Winterizing engines and water systems and removing outdrives for winter work. It's not hard, just wet and cold, but apparently it's hard to get someone who can do this shit. I suppose I should understand with all the retard temps we had to deal with at Sylvania.

Steve

Nice Steve, good for you. Hopefully that will give some breathing room huh?