Stern Navigation /Running Light Converted to LED

I thought that my stern light could be a little brighter and a little more power efficient...enter the LED bulb.

Went to a local automotive store and found that they sell LED replacement bulbs that would fit the existing bayonet of my stern light.

I found that the old #90 2 pin bulb was wired with the positive and negative wire running to each respective pin. However, with the new LED bulb, I found that the two bottom pins were BOTH positive and the negative had to be connected to the bayonet of the LED bulb. DOH!

Not to be defeated (and to take advantage of my $7.99 investment!), I decided to remove my stern fitting and re-wire the bayonet base to the configuration of the new LED bulb.




The bayonet base was easily removed from the rear portion of the stern light housing. I then proceeded to take the bayonet base red and black wire and wire them together (reason: as mentioned before the LED pins are BOTH positive so I will need positive contact across both pins), solder, and shrink wrap. Positive side taken care of.

For the negative, I would have to ground it to the bayonet base of the stern light. To do this, I soldered the cut negative wire to the spring inside the bayonet base (so when the LED bulb is fitted into the bayonet base, the spring is compressed, and thereby pressed against the basonet base, grounding the bulb).

The final product

Ok, now does it work? Yes it does. Here we have the LED sitting next to the old incadescent #90 bulb. There is a noticeable difference in light output as noted by the below two pictures.

The LED bulb draws 0.05 AMPS and the old incadescent #90 bulb draws 0.75 AMPS.

Lights On!

Lights Off!

Adjustable Genoa Cars system

Back in the cockpit there is a unique genoa sheeting and sail angling system. One of the things we noticed this year while racing is that its impossible to adjust the genoa cars when the cars are partially or fully loaded (10+ knots true or more) when pointing close hauled. To make our lives a little more adjustable next year, I have added an bracket to the aft end of the genoa car track. This bracket is mounted to the track using 1/8" stainless steel backing plates (3$ for 1/8" stainless base plates at the local metal salvage yard). I reused existing hardware that I removed from Santeria, an old cheek block and cam cleat mounted to the stainless plate. This system will have a 3:1 purchase, and most importantly, we will be able to make genoa car adjustments from the cockpit.

Total cost 3$ + stainless bolts and nuts (5$) + a little elbow grease :-)

The experiment......

The product....need to file down the edges a little

Tiller / Rudder Slop

Just completed a little project to get rid of the sloppiness between my tiller and rudder. The tiller has been modified by a previous owner to allow it to ride up and down vertically. With this modification, the tiller handle had about 5 degrees of play. Taking the play out will make the boat more responsive to tiller movement and make it better suited for an auto pilot. Using a 7.99 cutting board and a 1.79 bolt, this modification was made rather simply. This solution should last a long time. Its not all that flashy, but it works.

Poitin / Evelyn 24 Newspaper Articles

Found these using Googles newspaper search

1976 Brochure Material

Fall 2011......MOB Pole

Considering making a MOB Pole. Found a part list for such a project on the web.

Parts List for Crew overboard marking pole:

1 x 10' ¾" PVC Pipe
2 x ¾" PVC caps
1 x ½" Wooden dowel apx 2' in length
2 x ¼" bolts w/thumb screws
10 x 2oz lead egg sinkers
1 x section of reflective tape apx 2' in length
2 x Shrimp net floats

Can't figure out where to find equivalent parts for the shrimp net floats. The shrimp industry isn't that strong here in freshwater Canada....

Fall 2011...Gimbaled Stove

Will need a source for heating water during long distance races. Didn't want to pay the piper and buy a new Forspar gimbaled stove and instead made my own. Spent 45$ in total, 30$ for the burner and 15 for the galvanized strapping and rivets and bolts and nuts. DIY special!