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Re: New pedestal guard for F38 is trickier than anticipated

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 10:57 am
by RadioZephyr
John,

While that all sounds fun, I'm not really worried about catching a finger on the Z. It was indeed quite sharp when it arrived from the waterjet place, but given where it will be located—behind the wheel and throttle, a few inches below the level of the compass—I don't think I'll ever be resting my hand near there. Also, the machinist is going to chamfer all the edges and file down the sharp corners, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Re: New pedestal guard for F38 is trickier than anticipated

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:11 pm
by katorpus
My conscience is clear, having pointed that out.
I just know that, in my personal experience, in a sudden heel, roundup, or a "quick spin" (like obliquely hitting the occasional sandbar), everyone in the cockpit tends to grab whatever they can instinctually and without much planning.
The guy on the wheel has an advantage there, but "other fingers"...maybe much smaller [kid} fingers...not so much.

Re: New pedestal guard for F38 is trickier than anticipated

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:16 pm
by RadioZephyr
A very good point, and I will definitely consider your suggestion about the epoxy if the Z is still sharp after it comes back from the machinist.

Re: New pedestal guard for F38 is trickier than anticipated

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 9:03 am
by RadioZephyr
The new bracket has been welded, polished, and passivated/electropolished.
Sooo shiny
Sooo shiny
IMG_0834 (1).jpg (173.5 KiB) Viewed 5036 times
The re-assembled pedestal during dry fit:
IMG_0881.jpg
IMG_0881.jpg (239.93 KiB) Viewed 5036 times
The machinist put the two bushings on the top rather than the bottom, which wouldn't have been an issue if it wasn't for the letters. I was a bit disappointed at first, but after seeing it all put together it's not such a big deal. It helps that the welds are absolutely perfect and totally invisible.

Feet bolted to deck:
Running wires
Running wires
IMG_0906 (1).jpg (249.53 KiB) Viewed 5036 times

Re: New pedestal guard for F38 is trickier than anticipated

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 9:30 am
by RadioZephyr
Here's the final installation with the instrument pod installed:
IMG_0908.jpg
IMG_0908.jpg (154.5 KiB) Viewed 5035 times
It's nearly half the width of the original instrument setup, which will make it much easier to get through the cockpit. On the left is a p70s autopilot controller, and on the right is an i70s instrument display. I use an iPad for navigation, and that's going to be mounted to the guard above the pod.

In addition to the slimmer profile and modern functionality of the new instruments, another reason I undertook this project was that it would simplify my wiring significantly. When I got the boat, there were at least 13 crusty old wires coming from the old instruments, ALL running through the pedestal:
Pulling out these wires was one of the most satisfying things I've ever done.
Pulling out these wires was one of the most satisfying things I've ever done.
P7110048.jpg (212.08 KiB) Viewed 5035 times
With the current setup I only needed to run a single seatalk backbone cable to a junction in the pod for both units, but I decided to add a USB charger and a kill switch for the autopilot, which I mounted on the back. I used duplex for both of those, so the total number of wires run through the pedestal guard was 3. Minimalism FTW!

Here's the back:
Kill switch and Blue Sea Fast Charge
Kill switch and Blue Sea Fast Charge
IMG_0909.jpg (226.67 KiB) Viewed 5035 times

Re: New pedestal guard for F38 is trickier than anticipated

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 5:57 pm
by GeoffSchultz
Very nice end result!

-- Geoff