The Official 450 Express Bridge Owners Club

Jack O'Brien said:
So, I wanted to try and calculate the affect of the inboard side of the fuel tanks being slanted on my fuel gauge readings. Not being close to the boat at the moment, I just drew an estimated tank which is geometrically a "right trapezoid" shape. Volume of my experimental paper tank is very close at 26.667 cuft while 200 gallons takes up 26.7361 cuft. I was surprised that the tank slanted side didn't render even more error. For example 1/4 tank on the gauge would actually be 57.5 gallons. I'm pretty sure that topping off my tank from 1/4 gauge level would only take 100 gallons or so (not 150). Thus, the Maletron adapter was recommended. I just don't like the procedure required to program it (empty tank, fill incrementally while programming the adapter). Also assumes my resistance fuel senders are actually in good condition. Headspace above them is tiny. Not sure they could be removed, inspected or replaced.View attachment 114977
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Have you considered doing the calibration with the sender out of the tank? The Maretron TLA adapter not only calibrates the tank level but also the level sender. On my last boat for the ease of doing the calibration I purchased two new senders and set them up in a jig simulating the tank profile. Then doing the level vs gallons calculations like you did I simply positioned the float in the jig and used that as the calibration point. It was easy and fast and eliminated the need to drain the boat's fuel tank... Just a thought.
 
ttmott said:
Have you considered doing the calibration with the sender out of the tank? The Maretron TLA adapter not only calibrates the tank level but also the level sender. On my last boat for the ease of doing the calibration I purchased two new senders and set them up in a jig simulating the tank profile. Then doing the level vs gallons calculations like you did I simply positioned the float in the jig and used that as the calibration point. It was easy and fast and eliminated the need to drain the boat's fuel tank... Just a thought.
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BTW - the Jig was just a piece of cardboard with the tank vertical profile drawn using a Sharpie. The sender held in place with a piece of wood hot glued on the cardboard and the sender flange clamped to the wood. All done laying flat and a ruler laying on the cardboard. I purchased WEMA reed style senders but importantly if you have the resistive type with a float and arm the cardboard jig allows you to get the wire arm bent and float positioned correctly so the sender aligns with the tank both full and empty.
 
ttmott said:
BTW - the Jig was just a piece of cardboard with the tank vertical profile drawn using a Sharpie. The sender held in place with a piece of wood hot glued on the cardboard and the sender flange clamped to the wood. All done laying flat and a ruler laying on the cardboard. I purchased WEMA reed style senders but importantly if you have the resistive type with a float and arm the cardboard jig allows you to get the wire arm bent and float positioned correctly so the sender aligns with the tank both full and empty.
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That sounds great. I had posed a question to Maretron, got an answer right away. I'll see if I can get it posted here for ya. It was if the adapter could be programmed to the tank shape. Response sounded like the adapter merely takes in the resistance value of the sender and uses gallons value manually entered during filling the tank. Didn't sound like there's feedback loop to the sender from the adapter. I like your suggestion, more of a home remedy, if I can get the sender removed. I do like DIY. If sender comes out, I would prefer an ultrasonic unit in it's place. My biggest problem in owning this boat is living 625 miles away. Going back next week for 17th trip since procuring her. When we go, we go out! Hired an absent owner yacht guy back in May which greatly helped getting things monitored & fixed (water pumps, batteries, gray water sump pump, waste system sealing,...) so I'm not spending two days fixing stuff. I've come a long way with improvements and upgrades from neglect and lack of use of prior owner. Low initial price gave me room to spend, which I did right away on acquisition; new coolers & complete hose kits both engines & oil & coolant. Electronics is where my focus is now such as radar & Tridata replace.
 
Jack O'Brien said:
That sounds great. I had posed a question to Maretron, got an answer right away. I'll see if I can get it posted here for ya. It was if the adapter could be programmed to the tank shape. Response sounded like the adapter merely takes in the resistance value of the sender and uses gallons value manually entered during filling the tank. Didn't sound like there's feedback loop to the sender from the adapter. I like your suggestion, more of a home remedy, if I can get the sender removed. I do like DIY. If sender comes out, I would prefer an ultrasonic unit in it's place. My biggest problem in owning this boat is living 625 miles away. Going back next week for 17th trip since procuring her. When we go, we go out! Hired an absent owner yacht guy back in May which greatly helped getting things monitored & fixed (water pumps, batteries, gray water sump pump, waste system sealing,...) so I'm not spending two days fixing stuff. I've come a long way with improvements and upgrades from neglect and lack of use of prior owner. Low initial price gave me room to spend, which I did right away on acquisition; new coolers & complete hose kits both engines & oil & coolant. Electronics is where my focus is now such as radar & Tridata replace.
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Here is Maretron response to my query, after a brief preamble of fuel inaccuracy and vender recommendation of the adapter, which was:
Question: Can the adapter be calibrated by mathematical volumetric calculations of the tank at various fill levels (cu-ft to gallons)? (instead of an empty/refill process).
I think the adapter output after calibration would be to my new Garmin 8612xsv and/or new Tridata to be installed in place of a older Raytheon ST60. Radar replace too. Btw, reading some of your posts, I am far behind on understanding my electronics and connectivity. Some stuff is original, some may not be. Maretron looks to have some great stuff. I could use a rudder indicator gauge for instance. Their answer re. the TLA100 adapter pieced together one page here.
Email from Maretron.jpg
 
Forrestkk said:
Cockpit floor repair day 3

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Cockpit floor repair complete day 4 (also 17 gel coat repairs, 3.5 boat bucks). The surround is dirty from being covered by carpet. Can't acetone for a week. Based on the great match on all the gel coat it should match up pretty good once I deep clean everything.

20211105_174610.jpg
 
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Will get her out this weekend. Have to mount my Garmin Wi-fi, and re-secure the ice-maker. Fiber glass guys had me blocked all week...was going to take it to my son's regatta tomorrow, but think will push to Sunday and take it out to dinner in Destin Harbor, and stop for fuel and pump

20211105_175941.jpg
 
Jack O'Brien said:
Lookin good! Headed to our Grand Desire tomorrow and cruise to Captiva Island. Here's us, dwarfed by a 73' Maritimo last trip. View attachment 115299
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Thx! Funny enough, I took the pic below and decided to take another...lol. The tower makes it look bigger than it is, but still a 65' or 70' sport fish.

These guys at Boshamps are all VERY successful charter captains and most live on their boats. Ole boy in this pic was watching football on what must have been a 75" TV in the salon.

Bet you are pumped up to get on the boat!

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Light bulb change.

Anyone have a trick to get these out to change bulbs?

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Forrestkk said:
Light bulb change.

Anyone have a trick to get these out to chamge bulbs?

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Haven't had to replace one of these yet but salon fixtures simply pull down, held in by a spring-loaded wire. Even one there just won't budge at all. But, had to replace at least 4 others. Bulbs were on Amazon. Searchlight bulbs also replaced. Halogen and apparently LED's are longer, won't fit. Darn things are $60 each!
 
Jack O'Brien said:
Haven't had to replace one of these yet but salon fixtures simply pull down, held in by a spring-loaded wire. Even one there just won't budge at all. But, had to replace at least 4 others. Bulbs were on Amazon. Searchlight bulbs also replaced. Halogen and apparently LED's are longer, won't fit. Darn things are $60 each!
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These feel like they are on springs, but come down a bit and stop.

My spotlight is good, for now (yikes $60 each!). Use it a lot coming home at night to find/confirm markers and light up our dock. Really wish I had a spot light facing aft too...maybe something to put in place of the analog glomex TV antenna.
 
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Forrestkk said:
These feel like they are on springs, but come down a bit and stop.

My spotlight is good, for now (yikes $60 each!). Use it a lot coming home at night to find/confirm markers and light up our dock. Really wish I had a spot light facing aft too...maybe something to put in place of the analog glomex TV antenna.
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I don’t have tricks. Those lights in the fiberglass are a beeeotch to pull down.
 
Fresh water flushing for mains, generator, and A/C

Drilled, tapped, and installed valves in all of the seawater strainers today. Will be able to fresh water flush everything and easily descale everything. Going to get an image of the coolers through the zinc ports (coolant and aftercooler) before barnacle buster, after barnacle buster, and then again next year after using the fresh water flush.

Cost under $100.

Also, found that the bonding wire on the starboard main strainer only had about one strand of wire holding it which explains the corrosion, a project for tomorrow.

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20211111_160523.jpg
 
Forrestkk said:
Fresh water flushing for mains, generator, and A/C

Drilled, tapped, and installed valves in all of the seawater strainers today. Will be able to fresh water flush everything and easily descale everything. Going to get an image of the coolers through the zinc ports (coolant and aftercooler) before barnacle buster, after barnacle buster, and then again next year after using the fresh water flush.

Cost under $100.

Also, found that the bonding wire on the starboard main strainer only had about one strand of wire holding it which explains the corrosion, a project for tomorrow.

View attachment 115462

View attachment 115461
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Nicely done, I ordered replacement caps and did the same thing only I used them for blowing out the through hulls and winterizing.
 
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