Topics

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Perko door handle

« on: February 06, 2024, 10:07:16 PM »

I installed a Perko door handle with locking deadbolt on my PH door.  The lock tumbler has pulled out with the key.  Anyone have any suggestions on how to repair it?   I tried to peen the outer edge of the casting, but it didn?t work.  I cannot even tell what held it together to start with?

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Issue with fuel tank/s

« on: January 22, 2024, 12:04:46 PM »

I didn?t consider every possibility outcome of my fuel tank design.   Who really can, our conditions vary so much.  I have been fighting fuel expansion in my 120 gallon tank.  The vents are doing their job, but that is puking fuel on my sheer deck.  Even with a short fill and the cool temps.  I now, keep the boat outside in the driveway.  I have the fill and vent at the aft end of the tank, near the vent and fill of my 50 gallon auxiliary tank.  I keep the bow up a bunch to aid in deck drainage.  I have decided that this pushes the air forward in the tank.  I?m guessing as the fuel in the tank expands this cushion of air is pushing the fuel up and out of the tank.  Not only does this make an expensive mess it has begun to compromise the paint around the vent thru hull.  today I lowered the tongue jack about 8?.  Another gush of fuel from the vent and a wash job and the drive is clean again.  I?m hoping with the jack low the length of the tank will now have an air space on top of the tank?s length. 
   Just some food for thought.  Do consider your vent location where and how you plan to store your boat.

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Board Help / Unusual symbols in posts

« on: November 17, 2023, 03:09:12 PM »

Wondering why I see unusual symbols in my posts that I do not use.  Some characters are being substituted without my knowing how. Any thoughts?  Am I the only one experiencing this?  Check out the title of my build thread center of the pic.  BTW I feel like this thread should be in the other forum.  I should?ve started it In The build forum.  Please use your discretion and move if you prefer. 

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Spray rails

« on: October 21, 2023, 04:11:53 PM »

Food for thought.  I used CVG fir in 2 layers as laid out in plans.  I covered them with 3 layers of 6 oz. Cloth.  I made wide tape by cutting the cloth on a 45 and laying it over the spray rails at a 45. Anyway, I have twice now hit/bumped different docks where only the spray rail made contact.  The point load on such a small profile was enough to damage the paint and force me to consider repairs in the near future.
   I understand that poor boat handling is really at fault here.  I if I could go back in time with what I know now would really think about using UHMW for the second- outer lamination of the rail or use a much harder wood.  My boat is a beautiful machine and I intend to use her, but it hurts.  Every ding hurts!

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Concerns for those using Venture trailers

« on: August 17, 2023, 10:55:02 AM »

My venture commander 8800, has strange, at least to me, two piece lug nuts.  Or a stamped shiny cover over them.  All are split and look ready to come apart.  Mild concern as I  approach a near 1600 mile tow. 
  I noticed I have rubbed through the bottom paint, epoxy, and into the outer most layer of tape right at the bottom of the knee.  I added a roller to the forward most cross member before first launch, so it must be rubbing on the rearward most cross member.  I launch and retrieve with the trailer quite deep. 

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Steering issue

« on: May 10, 2023, 01:16:12 PM »

I have sea star steering with a second station and garmin autopilot on the main.  The boat steers super hard when turning to port at cruise speed. My rigging shop tested on the water with me and agreed it didn’t seem right.  It takes both arms and 5x the effort to turn to port. 

Any ideas what could be the cause?   Any one else experience this?   I’m not ready and willing to except prop torque as the culprit.  I’m a little concerned that this could lead to something more serious or expensive. 

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Electric boat winch

« on: April 09, 2023, 09:30:46 PM »

Momma wants me to install an electric winch with remote on my trailer.  Does any body currently use one they would recommend?

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Anybody love loading their boat onto the trailer?

« on: March 19, 2023, 08:04:58 PM »

I have only launched 3 times.  I have a Venture trailer.  There seems to be no depth at which I can hit the guide bunks and give the winch a couple cranks and get out of the way.  It’s been a back up, crank….. and repeat.   At which point it looks until it reaches the flat ground then requires further cranking. 
  Driving onto the trailer didn’t really work well for me.  Same kinda of troubles as above.  I’m wondering if it has a lot to do with the steepness of the ramp or what.  I should watch some other big boats I guess.  Do any of you builders out there kinda dread putting the boat back on the trailer?

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Blood on the Deck! (And Other Grand Adventures!) / Finally got some fishing weather

« on: March 18, 2023, 10:55:51 PM »

24#.  First fish of the day.  Needless to say, the rest didn’t quite measure up.

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / what epoxies are you all using these days?

« on: January 09, 2023, 04:17:57 PM »

I'm getting ready to start a project and need more epoxy.  I have been using Ebond and I amuse to it and the price is fine by me.  I can't seem to reach anyone there to see if it's even available.  They no longer answer the phone, annoying at the least.  I have looked over the total boat epoxies, and system three stuff as well.  I'm building a lobster live well, so i don't care if it only last ten years.  it will only be used a month or so every year, but i certainly don't want to fight the stuff.
  What are you all using now??   Brands and model specifics please.

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Blood on the Deck! (And Other Grand Adventures!) / Maiden voyage for Fishin Impossible!

« on: December 18, 2022, 07:45:13 PM »

Got our limits of lingcod and black rockfish today.  I’m at Charleston for most of the week while the ocean behaves. 
  Sorry for the bigness

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Boat Systems - Electrical, Electronics, Motors, Plumbing & Tankage etc / Mismatched chart plotter on same network

« on: October 27, 2022, 03:59:55 PM »

I have a new Garmin 1243xsv and a lowrance hds7.  If I understand things correctly I can hook them up to the same network.  The lowrance in this instance would be a slave to the garmin.  I think the lowrance would still be usable as a back up gps/chart plotter as well as show all my engine data as a digital dash.  It would not show any radar or fish finder info.  It would also not be able to talk to the auto pilot. 
 I cannot find any feedback on the web where someone has done this specifically.   Have any of you done this?

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Boat Systems - Electrical, Electronics, Motors, Plumbing & Tankage etc / Shielding network cables

« on: October 12, 2022, 04:00:04 PM »

I am installing my new radar and garmin network.  The instructions for the radar say not to run the network and power cables parallel with other cables specifically antenna and power cables.
  This seems strange to me that it doesn’t caution running the radar’s power cable and network cables together? 

Anyway have any of you actually taken steps to avoid interference?   I’m temped to run them in the same bundle as the other stuff that goes to the helm from the radar tower. I guess I’m a little pissed that when you buy the flagship model latest and greatest for $1000s of dollars they can’t include a shielded cable.

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Gel magic

« on: September 14, 2022, 12:48:57 PM »

Way back when I saw Rbob reference a product called gel magic.  I bought some, and it is awesome.  I have been using it primarily for filling holes that need a screw.  It seems to not be too hard, and cause screws to break.  It works upside down without running or dripping and is thin enough it’s easy to squirt using a syringe.   I wish I discovered it long ago. 
   Try it you’ll like it!

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Insurance for my GA

« on: September 13, 2022, 07:37:53 PM »

I’ve been trying to get a policy for two months now.  I got solid NO from Farmers, Foremost, Progressive, Markel, Anchor Marine, and Ron Brockmann Agency. Including their underwriters.   
  Pretty much hard to insure something that doesn’t exist in a book for quick lookup.  Insurance companies don’t like home built boats, boats that are not made from a kit, and boats that have fiberglass over wood, boats that are trailered, and boats over 26’.  These are the reasons I remember off the top of my head. 
  I had no idea this would be such a PITA.  It probably wouldn’t have stopped me from building, but I may have thought twice about beforehand.  I have no regrets, but I was getting pretty queezy there for awhile.
  I don’t know what everyone else’s experience has been, but I know I’m not the only one who has had difficulty finding a policy.   
   With Brian’s permission maybe we could make a sticky to include the YES agents/brokers.  With that I would like to give a plug to

Michael Coulbourne of State Farm
Eugene, OR 541-689-1799
Molly Renne was who put everything together for me. She was great!   And they answer the phone with a real people.  Hope this helps