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Diminishing confidence is not usual and I find, at age 73, it's creeping in. So I too, am looking to simplify systems. The Genset, which I built and installed 20 years ago, seems now to require quite a bit of maintenance. I've just replaced the starter motor as a solenoid alone wasn't...

I have used Navionics on my iPhone on several cruise ships without a problem.

We've had a Jabsco running into a Lectrasan unit for the last 20 years. I put a new seal kit in the Jabsco every two years or so, and it has never let us down. It is fed by the saltwater wash-down pump via a solenoid valve. Simple and cheap. We have a spare macerator pump but have never needed it.

I am seriously considering a Riviera 36 - not a trawler, I know. I had one of these 20 years ago, before Pioneer and it was a great boat. The main reason is the cost of berthing 53' versus 40'. Also, the maintenance on Pioneer is becoming a bit much for me now...

Have used white vinegar for cleaning the HE for 20 years. Turn the raw water sea-cock off. Fill the HE and leave it for a week. Turn the water back on and off you go. No need to drain the vinegar.

Probably won't make much difference. I just changed out a 10 fin impeller on my Kubota genset engine for a 5 fin - all I could get at the time - and the water volume appears to be pretty much the same. Unscientific I know!

Always used Donaldson on my Cat 3406

The “mechanism” is simply a permanent magnet glued into a hole drilled in the chain wheel. As this passes a sensor mounted on the windlass base plate, or on the deck, each turn is counted. The sensor has a couple of wires which you run to the counter. It’s quite simple - must be cos I’ve...

Yep, I’ve had a Cruz Pro for 19 years. It has never failed. Would never go back to counting thingies you can’t see in the dark. I know that the chain deploys at 1 meter per second - or near as dammit - so a wrist watch is my back up chain counter - if ever needed.

We’ve had a single for the last 19 years. Had one failure - starter motor solenoid. We were safely at anchor so wasn’t a dire situation but had to get towed home. Pioneer is an ex commercial vessel with a commercially rated Cat 3406, full length keel and fully protected prop and rudder...

Yep. Diesel is now around $2.60 a liter here in NZ. So we’ve slowed down from 9.2kn @ 1300 rpm to 8kn @ 1050 rpm. Fuel burn has gone from 18 lph to 10 lph [emoji846]

Flemings are magnificent but I really hanker after an Offshore 54($) or a 62 ($$$)

I have a Cat 3406 (15 liter). 2 group 31s in series (24V) crank it over plenty fast enough. Group 31s in parallel for a 12V system would be fine for a 12 liter engine.

In a tight spot it’s hard to beat the Mk 1 eyeball.

Does sound reasonable, but unless the plotter has been adjusted for night viewing, turning it on can cause instant night blindness. I know someone who had a collision in a crowded anchorage when a wind change had everyone moving to another bay. He blamed night blindness due to the plotter. I...

Your fridge/freezer will be the biggest user of Ah. Consumption will depend on the on/off cycle which will largely be driven by the ambient temperature. Your consumption is similar to my experience - about 40Ah over night at 24v. 80Ah equivalent at 12v.

I’ve been quite happy with a 300 nit display, so I imagine a 400 nit would be fine.

It is possible that the leak is from a weld in the tank. Often tanks have welds where the end panels are fitted. I have stopped a small leak by peening over the weld with a ball-peen hammer. For a bigger leak, I've used epoxy putty. These were in a 40 year old aluminum fuel tank, which doesn't...

I applied Kiwigrip 2 years ago and am very happy with it. For me, the white was too light and the Grey too dark, so I mixed the two 50:50 for a perfect light grey.

We had CQRs on our first three boats. The fourth came with a Delta. I could not believe how much better it was in every respect. I have used Deltas ever since. Some of the new designs are probably better than the Delta but they also tend to bring up a lot of seabed which can make a mess of the...

I had pre-installed belts, held in place with cable ties, for both the main alternator and the power steering pump. Unfortunately, when I came to use them, they had perished (delaminated) due to engine heat i assume. So their life wasn't much different to those in use.

The bellows should be replaced every 6 years according to the manufacturer. I did mine at 14 yrs and it all looked OK. There is a maintenance kit available for every size.

We've had an Isotherm CR130 for 16 years and it has been the best of the three fridges on the boat. Only issue was the light switch failed, so that the light was on continuously. Since the incandescent bulb (hot) was adjacent to the thermostat, the fridge operated continuously and froze...

I have one so I hope you’re right. 16 years so far...

I’ve had HP (old ones were great), Canon and Epson inkjet. All junk IMO. Now have Brother in the office, at home and on the boat. No issues and couldn’t be happier.