Messages

1

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Raising stringers

« on: April 28, 2024, 02:49:03 PM »

No standing water on the deck sounds good.

I will raise my stringers what you recommend, Brian.

Great!

2

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Perko door handle

« on: April 27, 2024, 05:27:52 PM »

I did an extremely brief search at Seattle Marine ... I see a lot of Perko, some Sea Dog (same quality as Perko), but I do see some SS or chromed brass options? 

https://www.seamar.com/products?pSearch=latch%20catch%20door

I took a look at Hamilton Marine and the options were about the same as Seattle Marine.  I would hazard a guess that if seamar.com doesn't have it, then there are likely no other options out there.

3

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Perko door handle

« on: April 26, 2024, 07:54:20 PM »

I looked again yesterday and don?t see any Cadillac options for a locking door set.  I guess I?m stuck with Perko

Well ... I suspect you're right.  I wonder if there are other industries, other than the marine industry, where weather-proof door sets might be available?  KInda like how some people have used windshield wiper systems that were actually for tractor windows.

4

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Raising stringers

« on: April 25, 2024, 04:16:07 PM »

When I rewrite the manual, if I ever actually get the time, I'm going to suggest that the cockpit deck be raised 1-1/2 to 2 inches where it meets the transom and 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 inches where it meets the aft pilot house bulkhead.

5

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Perko door handle

« on: April 25, 2024, 04:14:14 PM »

Pettit's been upgrading their paint selection over the years too, and have some premium formulations available... not just the good ol' EZ-Poxy

6

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Perko door handle

« on: April 24, 2024, 06:50:04 AM »

Perko sells a lot of stuff of 'adequate quality', but they aren't selling Cadillacs.  I'm happy enough with their quality and enjoy their broad spectrum of products.  For lube, there are only so many things out there ... I've had very good luck with CorrosionX products on weather-exposed locks and hinges etc - Use ReelX or GunX.  Silicon lube is nice, but needs to be refreshed more often  I like it because it's clean and dries up, leaving behind the silicon lube.

7

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Cost?

« on: April 16, 2024, 05:55:57 AM »

My hot blonde

Love pix like this ... family making memories!

Q) Did you make that davit for raising the raft to the roof, or did you buy that somewhere?  How happy are you with it?  Rafts can be heavy and bulky to put on the roof ...

8

General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Re: Cost?

« on: April 14, 2024, 07:24:12 AM »

Wow ... what a great thread so far!  Very helpful to those in the planning stages!

9

Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA28 in Bakersfield California

« on: April 07, 2024, 02:04:47 PM »

Yup ... those bulkheads are surprisingly heavy and hard to handle, especially if you end up putting them in and out while fitting.  It's all progress and looking great!

10

Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: 13 Bananas New Jersey Kodiak

« on: April 03, 2024, 04:56:05 PM »

What kind of sprayer are you using? I assume an HVLP, but is it a GP one or a detail gun?

11

Announcements / Re: Previously-Recommended KiloVAULT Batteries now OUT OF BUSINESS!

« on: March 31, 2024, 05:01:32 PM »

Ugh... This is so lame. Thanks for the heads up Brian.

Responses from our resident expert, Dan Boccia, on FB:

Epoch is my current vote for lower cost batteries with built-in BMS, bluetooth, and heating. On the higher end, Victron, Mastervolt, and the ultimate, Lithionics, are the go-to brands. The battery must have bluetooth or some other means of communicating what is going on at a cell level within the battery, and in northern climates we benefit with heating, otherwise it has to be above 32F ambient for the battery to charge, and much better if it's above 40F. Also look at continuous discharge, pulse discharge (10s and 3s), weight, and size for your application. Using a lithium battery for anchor winches/windlasses, bow thrusters, and large inverters requires special consideration as the inrush current at motor start will often cause a FET-based BMS to shut down due to overcurrent. The Kilovault batteries were one of the few that could handle this. Finally, your charging sources must be carefully considered.

Kilovault WAS a major battery producer for several years, with a wide variety of excellent batteries backed by a US company, with especially robust BMS's and excellent documentation. They were loved by marine electricians, solar installers, and many others, with configurations for everyone. Unfortunately, their focus on quality at a mid-level price point is what killed them. Other companies undercut them with lesser quality (but still good) batteries, other companies added expensive features such as locking non-FET switches and Victron communication needed by the higher-end full-time cruising and mission-critical crowd. The race to the bottom (and the top) killed them ultimately.

12

Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA28 in Bakersfield California

« on: March 31, 2024, 04:56:54 PM »

Looks really great!  Will you be putting a big deck plate for access?  I recommend putting a big round plywood doubler on the bottom side of the horizontal surface (not vertical) where it's going to go ... just make it big enough for the deck plate's fasteners to go into and Bob's yer uncle!

13

Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: Bob from Olympia, 28 GA build

« on: March 31, 2024, 06:09:52 AM »

It looks and sounds like maybe leaving the UHMW (or wood) strip off the bow just above the lower bow eye ... easier to fit a bow protector onto the bow.  Maybe would even open up some commercially-made products that are designed for a simple V-shape bow.

I don?t remember this in the plans, but without the piece
You refer to sure made my job easier.  I added a pic in my post above

You're right.  The plans mention leaving the strip off in the area around the bow eyes, but not an area for a bow guard.  Basically, the area that you leave off for the lower bow eye would just be extended upward to make room for the guard.  I'll add it to my notes for the plans update that I'm working on ...

14

Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: Bob from Olympia, 28 GA build

« on: March 30, 2024, 11:16:54 AM »

Shake down run, I need one more run to be sure, just been busy on house remodel so my priorities are messed up right now.  I watched japhands, that is an amazing skill, they make it look easy.

Puget Sound?

15

Announcements / Previously-Recommended KiloVAULT Batteries now OUT OF BUSINESS!

« on: March 30, 2024, 09:13:00 AM »

Sorry, folks ... Previously-Recommended KiloVAULT Batteries now OUT OF BUSINESS!  Of course ... this means your warranty is null and void 

Perhaps consider Epoch batteries instead ... Make sure they (or Amazon or whoever) ships to your location:

https://www.epochbatteries.com/