bertram31.com

pschauss

Last summer after I replaced the fuel pump on my starboard engine (454) in an attempt to address a stalling problem the engine would not start. Investigation showed that fuel was not getting to the carburetor. We replaced the fuel pump with another one, but the problem remained. The mechanic at my m...

pschauss

Why wouldn’t a short in the float switch blow the fuse?

I just finished replacing my aft bilge pump because it kept blowing the in-line fuse. Both of my bilge pumps have an in-line fuse at the battery connection.

pschauss

It’s not a bonding issue. I have continuity between the brass plug and the block.

The odd thing is that the zinc is eroding next to the plug and not at the far end.

pschauss

Six weeks after launching I pulled anodes from my heat exchangers (454s) to check. They look like this. Upper one is the port engine. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/307687/50764104 These were new just before my boat hit the water at the end of March. I have run the boat about an hour total since launch...

pschauss

Mine came with a plug screwed into the hole where the sight glass was supposed to connect. I took out the plug and installed the sight glass from the old pump. Since the manuals that I have show the sight glass and explain its purpose I assumed that was what I was supposed to do.

pschauss

That’s the one I’m talking about.

pschauss

A mechanic told me that the sight glasses on my mechanical fuel pumps (Mercruiser 454 engines) are now illegal and should be replaced my a vent tube running to the carburetor. A google search turned up an ABYC document from 2011 which lists a requirement for either a vent tube or a sight glass. ( ht...

pschauss

Rawleigh wrote: ↑Apr 29th, '21, 13:35 Can you bypass the switch and wire it to another switch?

Good idea. I’ll try that the next time I’m down at my boat. The pump has three wires going up to the terminal block: black - ground, solid brown- to the float switch, and brown and white which probably bypasses the switch.

pschauss

Mine has the built-in water level sensor and there is a short in the unit somewhere.

pschauss

I need to replace my aft bilge pump. What I have in there now is a Rule-Mate 1100 gph with a built-in float switch. The reviews for this model on the Jamestown Distributing website are universally terrible. What do you guys suggest?

pschauss

i believe i am a absolute expert on those controls after 20 years of ownership. there is really nothing you can explain to a person having the OEM. controls .you turn around when docking facing the stern and your natural standing with hands on your side falls on the levers.you will be able to back ...

pschauss

My bilge pumps are connected to their feed wire with butt connecters. Ordinarily I would prefer to have a terminal block. That would make it easier to check if the pump is getting power and easier to replace the pump.

Is it a problem putting a terminal block that close to the water in the bilge?

pschauss

Luckily I was able to get the water pumps out without removing the hose from the circulation pump to the heat exchanger.

pschauss

Are the bilge blower hoses supposed to be placed on the inboard side of the outer stringers (i.e. drawing air from the area directly beneath the motors)?

pschauss

The pump on the starboard engine is a Jabsco and fits a bit more loosely in the bracket so it slid back easily when I undid the pinch bolt. I replaced both impellers although they showed no obvious wear or damage after three seasons. When the yard put me into the water on Tuesday, I could see a good...

pschauss

Tony,

It doesn't have the removable holding tank. A pre-purchase survey done for the previous owner in 1984 describes it as "Manual self-holding w/pump-out".

https://imgur.com/SJCeu7p

pschauss

I have my house and cars insured with USAA. I used to have my sailboat covered by them as well, but several years ago the county marina where I dock increased their liability insurance requirement and USAA sent me to Progressive. When I bought my Bertram they covered her as well. They accepted the a...

pschauss

Peter Are you sure that is not a Porte potti and does not pump overboard. Almost looks like the bottom us a holding tank type. Tony, It does look like I have some sort of hybrid arrangement made from a porta-potti. There is a small diameter hose coming out of the top leading to a vent near the star...

pschauss

Where is the seawater intake for head on the sport fisherman model?

The only through-hull in the vicinity of the head on my boat is under the floor board between the v-berth and that one is connected to a pump which looks like it is meant to pump out the holding tank.

pschauss

I have the drawing that Bobby Soles sent me if that would help.

pschauss

A couple of years ago, at a friend's funeral in Vermont, I ran into a guy who was driving a Tesla with Maine plates on it. I have forgotten exactly where he said he was coming from, but I think it might have been a four or five hour trip. He said that a recharge station could give him a partial rech...

pschauss

I had another go at it and wedged a screw driver into the slot in the bracket. Then I used a hammer handle against the pulley flange to push the pump aft and remove it. Starboard side is actually pretty easy to access after removing the outboard strip of shrouding. Thanks for all of the encouragement.

pschauss

Stephan,

I do have drains on my exhaust manifolds. I will try those before I resort the siphon.

pschauss

Thanks for all of the responses. I am leaning toward removing the pumps with the bracket which brings up another question: One of the two bolts which secure the bracket to the block is DIRECTLY behind the hose which runs from the water circulation pump (fresh water coolant side) to the heat exchange...

pschauss

Rudders from Bobby Soles were about $2k.

pschauss

Tony, The manuals do not show the details of how the pump is mounted. This link (if I did it correctly) shows the setup that I have. Part # 26 is the bracket with the pinch bolt. https://www.perfprotech.com/mercury-marine-parts-catalog/sea-water-pump-assembly/assembly/1059/17?search=47489A2&sortpart...

pschauss

I am getting ready to replace the impellers on these pumps. It looks like the best way to remove the pump is to take off the pump and the pump bracket as a unit. The other option would be to remove the pulley from the front of the pump, release the pinch bolt which holds it to the bracket and slide ...

pschauss

I bought a pair for my 31 from Bobby Soles Propeller (Riviera Beach, FL). He had the Captain Pat's design so all I had to tell him was whether my tillers where above or below the shelf. They made a world of difference last summer when I was shaking out a problem with my starboard engine.

pschauss

I still have cable steering, upper and lower stations. After three seasons I have not had any major issues. Steering effort is not a problem even with the oversized rudders that I installed last year.

pschauss

Oh shoot me now, that's just downright stupid. Hell I think I just insulted stupid people. Maybe myself included. So your saying they have wrenches for common size hardware based on the hardware size. So I come up to a bolt head I need to remove..it looks to be 1/2"...now I have to guess the size o...

pschauss

The Whitworth threads are not so bad, its just a different thread form. Luckily, I rarely do much repair work anymore so I don't get to see them as its an old antiquated system, same with British Pipe Threads. Actually, I was referring to the wrench sizes. A 3/8" Whitworth wrench has a span of 0.70...

pschauss

And then there's the Whitworth system.

pschauss

My shafts are 1 1/4" and I used 1/4" regular waxed flax packing. It's a basic product so you should be able to get it from anyplace which has it in stock.

pschauss

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year. Most of all, I want to thank everyone on this forum who has answered my questions, given me advice, and assistance over the past three years.

pschauss

I have hatches which give me sufficient access to the rudder ports, aft bilge pump, shaft logs, and fuel pickup tubes and gauge sender. Last winter, when I upgraded my rudders and replaced my stuffing boxes and their hoses I had no problems with access. If I need to replace the fuel tank (I only hav...

pschauss

Peter, The deck is then one piece and does not screw down. Hope you do not have to ever cut it out. I have a receipt showing that it was done 11 years ago (fiberglass matting, polyester resin, and gelcoat over 3/4" marine plywood). I have not had any problems with it so far. When the time comes I’l...

pschauss

After taking both end fittings off of my tie bar I was able to get it out through one of the hatches.

As near as I can tell from the stack of receipts which came with my boat, my cockpit deck was fabricated in place. Hatch locations and sizes appear to have been copied from the original.

pschauss

Tony, Carl, Bruce, Thanks for the advice. I was able to get the port end off by setting a screw driver in the slot from the side and hitting it with a hammer. Surprisingly, the starboard end was loose enough that I could unscrew it with a regular screw driver. Now I have to find a way to split the b...

pschauss

I managed to get the plug out of one end using an assortment of improvised tools before the rain drove me off this morning. Is there a tool specifically designed to unscrew these plugs?

pschauss

Trying to post the picture again:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75758245@ ... ed-public/

pschauss

Getting ready to replace my rudder tie bar. This is what the ends look like. How do they come apart?

pschauss

Has anyone replaced a head recently? If so, what brand/model did you buy?

The Galley Maid web page does not seem to have much information.

pschauss

The boat has a pale green hull and green canvas. Does she belong to anyone on this forum?

pschauss

Well stated,Bob. When I was shopping for my first chart plotter I did a simulation of the screen on my laptop. It was easy to see that the 9” diagonal was worth the extra $.

pschauss

I had to charge my batteries last week because the one which runs my forward bilge pump was going dead. This is my third season with the boat and the first time that I have tried the charger. The good news is that actually worked. When I tested the shore power circuit, I discovered that the shore po...

pschauss

I agree with Sato. You can count on two things with a classic Bertram 31: 1) When you leave the boat you will always turn around and look back to admire your boat 2) Whenever you idle through a new marina there will always be someone to shout out "Hey, is that a Bertram 31?"! My favorite was: "Now ...

pschauss

3M # 60923?

pschauss

Bob,

Did you use a respirator with an external air supply or just the self-contained activated charcoal filter cartridges?

pschauss

Midastouch73 wrote: ↑Oct 29th, '20, 18:45 What about did the pair hit you for?

The Bobby Soles rudders were $2,053 for the pair including shipping.

pschauss

I got the oversized rudders for my 31 from

http://www.bobbysolespropeller.com/

They had Capt Pat's design with all of the measurements for my boat. All I had to do was tell them whether my tillers were above or below the rudder shelf.

Running on one engine with these rudders is no problem.

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