"Removing the heat ex-changers from a twin Yanmar 6Lya-STP each running 370hp" Week 7

"More water water pumps and installing an auto pilot" Week 6 repost

This last week was pretty busy again I ended up jumping around on a lot of different yachts doing all kinds of things. I kept working on the new 2014 37ft Back Cove that we got in a couple weeks ago and managed to get almost all of the electronics installed and all the wires ran either to the helm or to the batteries.I wasn't able to get any new pictures of this project but we just got a new 2014 41ft Back Cove that I will have to do the exact same thing too. This will include VHF, AM/FM radio & antennas, Radar, Hailing horn/PA system, Back up camera, Satellite radio, Auto Pilot, Along with all the displays. I will also have to reassemble the propeller, ruder and transducer before it even gets put in the water. I can't wait, the company's lead technician is going on vacation and it will all be up to me.




Here are a couple of pictures that I took of a project I was thrown on one afternoon, a customer was looking to buy and still is a 36ft Sabre and had a survey done on the boat and one of the things on the survey was to replace the hard water pump on the generator. It was a small Northern Lights gen. set  and was very easy to access which isn't always the case. I was able to pull the pump and before I even did was able to tell that the seal around the shaft was and had been leaking. I took the pump to tri county and hoped that it was just the seal and not a bent shaft. Well it ended up being a bent shaft and had to be completely replaced which was easy enough just a little more expensive.

This was another project I had this week. We had 37ft Back Cove that was needing a auto pilot installation and I was the guy to do it. It was really pretty easy, It did involve running a couple of hydraulic lines from the stern to the helm which should have been pretty easy but when Back Cove makes their yachts they don't leave room for hardly any other wires or lines to be ran through the boat. So in this case I got lucky half the time and was able to squeeze next to other lines and wires but in a couple spots had to drill new hole's. The thing that surprised me the most was how I was supposed to use a thread sealant on all the pipe thread connections, I have had it stuck in my mind that i should never use any type of thread sealant or locker especially in a hydraulic system.Yet according to Garmin I am supposed too and they wont warranty it if I don't. This turned out to be a very fun project and I did learn a lot but also got to use a little bit of previous knowledge and it definitely made the project go a little smoother.

I would have to say that the thing I can look back on and reflect on over this last week has got to be my understanding and confidence with electrical systems and how they are hooked up. Since almost day one I have enjoyed electrical and the trying to understand it. I have got to install many different electrical systems and some have gone strait to the batteries and some have gone to the helm  or to a common ground buss and an existing breaker. Installing new electrical systems is pretty awesome and fairly easy but tracking down bilges pumps that don't work can be a little more frustrating. I like new boats with new electrical way more than old ones but the system stays nearly the same and because of all the installs it has made it easier to trouble shoot.

 Week 6
 Hours 42.5
Total Hours 248.5

"More electrical installations & More engine services" Week 5

It's been a little over a month now working at Bellingham Yachts Sales and Charters, and things are going great.I have become much more familiar with many of the yachts and their engines and all around water, hydraulic and electrical systems. This has made it much easier over the last week to do certain things a little bit faster. ( PS I got told this week that I do the fastest engine services they have ever had done at Bellingham Yachts, and I'm not trying to be arrogant I'm just proud.) I was given many tasks this last week and below are a few pictures of some of the things I did.


Here are a couple of pictures of a 37ft backcove that we just got in and I have been doing the commissioning check list which involves all electrical installations offered outside the standard package inside and outside the boat, along with checking absolutely everything from drawers to sinks and curtains. It has been a little tedious but at the same time it has helped me learn this particular model of this boat line. The pictures you see below are of me installing the mast, radar, satellite radio, GPS, VHF antenna and AM/FM radio antenna.I also installed the Auto pilot system which I really wish I had pictures foe and the speakers on the back deck and a dingy with a little Honda outboard for fun.

 Below are a few more pictures of another 37ft Backcove that I was asked to install a new Garmin GPS system in. The customer had a wish and I was able to grant it. It was nothing more than running a few wires which I had just done in a yacht that was exactly the same and connecting them to their power source. Everything went fine except the running of the wires I had a few rough moments but was able to over come in a timely fashion.                                                                                                                                                                                                            

In the pictures below is an engine that I have become pretty familiar with as far as engine services go. At Bellingham Yachts, we have several of these CutWater 28ft Yachts. They almost always run a Volvo D4 260 in them. I was asked this week to do an engine service on the Gypsy Pearl one of our charter boats and let me tell you I was ready, I have done around a dozen of these so far and I know it doesn't sound like much but for a simple engine service, oil and oil filters, fuel filters , zinc replacement and in some cases transmission fluid change I'm getting pretty comfortable doing them. I had it done in a little less than 2 hours and my boss was happy as was I.

I would have to say that my reflection for the week has definitely got to be about putting the time to understand and learn what you will be doing. I have spent some where around 8 to 10 hours this last week looking at PDF files and schematics of some of our most popular yachts and it is amazing to me that just after all that I can walk on a yacht that I have never set foot on and just because I know the model and the lay out, I am able to spend much less time looking for things. This is something which can happen real fast on these yachts. So yeah I'm glad I spent a little bit of time preparing my self for what I might find and where I might find it.

Week 5
Hours 43
Total Hours 206

"Every week there is something new" Week 4 re-post

I've spent about a month now doing all kinds of things from engine services and lot's of electrical installations too gel coat repairs and propeller and zinc replacements. It has been really awesome doing some of the things I've done and being a part of other lives and luxury's. I have got the chance to go out on sea trials on boats that other technicians that have done work on from both Tri County and Northwest Diesel Power two of the more respected marine diesel service companies in Bellingham. Along with going out on sea trials I've also got the chance to have many discussions and watch a lot of other technicians do certain things that have been commissioned out to other companies. This alone has been a great opportunity and I have enjoyed every minute I have spent learning from other technicians.


Below are a couple pictures of a 28ft CutWater that I was asked to install a solar panel  on. This was a fairly easy project mostly do to the fact that we had another boat that was exactly the same as the one I was working on. I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures but it took me a little over a half a day to mount and install the solar panel.(PS solar panel's get pretty damn hot when left in the sun...)

Below are some pictures of a 21ft Ranger tug boats engine that I had previously change the batteries, done an engine service only to find out I had a bad starter as you can see. I also have feeling that either me or some one else will be doing some more work on this engine. This little Yanmar has a lot of fight and still runs good but the belts are about to go and if you ask me having this much rust in the starter has got to mean that there's more rust some place and it is bound to cause problems.

 Here are a few pictures of some more down rigger plugs that I had to install on a 30ft Cutwater that unlike all other CutWater boats who already have the wiring installed this one didn't. This on the other hand gave me the chance to do all the wiring for a down rigger plug that I have done before. This required me to run wires from the plug to a breaker and then to one of the main wiring buses on the boat. Every thing went great and I was able to get this done correctly and on time.
My reflection for the week has got to be the learning of how to deal with other technicians on the phone and in person. We had a few problems this week with one of our charter boats and if the information had been conveyed correctly, there would have been a lot of time and money saved. Fortunately I was a part of the problem solving not the problem. It's all about being specific in what your dealing with and also being able to understand and explain certain things in certain systems to someone across the country. You have to know where to start so that you and the other person are on the same page from the start.....


Week 4
Hours 40
Total Hours 163

                                                                         

"Remote controlled bow and stern thrusters, what? Also, complete electronics installations on a 41ft Sabre" Week 3 repost

Over this last week things have gone well for me. I have been given a little bit more responsibility in more elaborate tasks. I have still been doing a lot of electrical which I do enjoy.

 Above are a few pictures of a remote controlled bow and stern thruster that I had to install on a 30ft BackCove, It was fairly easy to install I just had to connect the receiving part of the unit to both a positive and negative buss behind the helm. I think what took the longest was putting in the new zip ties where the old ones I had to cut and putting new ones in for everything I had installed. Every six or less inches according to the BYAC electrical code. I even got to use the remote and pulled the boat away from the dock and back in, if only I would have got a video it was awesome!!!

These next pictures are from a project that took me most of the week to complete. I was to install all the electronics on a brand new 2014 Sabre yacht. This is an absolutely beautiful boat and everything gets scratched or dirty so easy. The goal was to by the end of the week have the Mast with GPS, hailing horn/PA system, Sirius satellite radio, Volvo's DPS system, VHF and AM/FM antennas along with a few speakers and CD player. I was able to get pictures of everything however I was able to get everything done on time, actually 2 hrs early.  

 Above is a picture of the boat before I had installed anything except the Volvo DPS and air horn. Below are some pictures of the mast and radar being installed after I got them ready inside the shop.

This was an awesome project, I learned a lot and got to do several things I have never done before. I didn't even know that Volvo had anything like a DPS (designated positioning system). The running of the wires was definitely the worst part about it and i'm deciding that I don't like fiberglass very much.






My reflection for this last week has got to go to the confidence and knowledge I have gained so far over this summer and gained through out this whole program. I have used so many different tools, the right way. I have been able to problem solve and talk with other technicians, this I wouldn't have been able to do nearly as well 2 years ago. I have been able to even teach some, this is all a product of paying attention and wanting and having the ability to start and complete most projects on time. School is Cool!!!

Week 3
Hours 41.5
Total Hours 123

"Lots of marine electrical" week 2 repost

This last week was my second week at my internship at Bellingham Yacht Sales and Charters and they have had me very busy. I have got the chance to do a couple of engine services but have been doing mostly electrical work. This isn't bad I enjoy it and I feel pretty comfortable doing it. Below are a few picture of some of the things I did this last week. (PS I was busy and didn't get to take a lot of pictures :

This was a pretty simple task I was to install 2 down riggers (the pads and plugs) on a 28ft CutWater (just some yacht). It went very smooth and didn't take long but that was because when they made the boat they pre-wired the boat for down rigger installations. I was assured by my boss that the next one wont be quite as quick.

 Above is another 28ft CutWater that was in the boat yard and the work order was to replace the starbird trim tab cylinder along with the propeller on the stern thruster. The replacing of both the trim tab cylinder and the propeller were easy, however as it turned out the actual reason for the stern thruster not working was a broken shear pin on the inside of the shaft near the motor not on the outside attached to the propeller. Below is a picture of the motor and it wasn't easy to to get to or remove. I got it done though.

 Above and to the left are a couple of pictures of a bad fresh water pump that I replaced on a 21ft Ranger Tug. This too was not easy to get too and yet I made it happen in a good amount of time. (you can only fit your head and one arm in that hole)








This last week has really been kind of crazy everyday has been something new and if it isn't new it's on a totally different boat configured in a totally different way. However Like I always say going back to the basics is a key part of understanding any system. they may all be in a different spot of routed a different way but they all have virtually the same basic key components and getting too understand them is becoming a key to me gaining the confidence that I feel is necessary to become successful and respected in this field of work. That and loving what you do. I am HAPPY!

Week 2
Hours 43.5
Total Hours 81.5

"The First week in the Field"

Over this last week I began a summer internship at Bellingham Yacht Sales and Charters as an assistant service technician. The company buys, sells and trades 20 to 50 foot yachts. They are dealers for Back Cove Yachts, Sabre Yachts and CutWater another company that makes yachts. Since the day I began I thrown right into having to use the skills I have learned since I began the diesel program at BTC. I already have had to deal with several electronic issues; hydraulic issues; preform engine services and lots of other general maintenance and installations. Here are several of things I have done over the last week.

This was one of my first tasks, I was asked to figure out why the fresh water pump aboard this 21' Ranger Tug boat wasn't working and fix or replace it. I was also asked to service the engine and detail it since this boat was just brought to us the day before and had been sitting in the owners back yard for the last year.

Below are a few pictures of me replacing the old fresh water pump which turned out to be nonfunctional with a new.  Believe me it wasn't easy squeezing back in their.

 Here are some pictures of the engine service and detail which included a oil change, oil filter change, sea water filter change, fuel filter change, battery replacement, zinc replacement and the detailing of the whole engine and compartment. The engine I was servicing was a Yanmar 6 L. 24 valve diesel engine. This was my first time ever performing this to this engine and their was no service manual, however I was able to find a PDF file with the service manual on Google which made it much easier.

Another work order I was given that very same day was to find out why the CD player, forward bilge pump weren't working and service another engine on a 26' foot Albin yacht. I was able to perform all these tasks in a decent amount of time. The CD player was easy, as you will see below I hooked the leads of my multi meter up to the battery tested it, it was fine. I then went from the battery and post 1 and post 2 at the CD player and found that every thing was in order, there was no open circuit and plenty of voltage. I got a new CD player and used it when I did my oil change.

 Below are some pictures of the zinc replacement I did while servicing the engine on the same yacht.

One thing I really learned and had no clue about was how easily the zincs could fall off if you waited to long to change them. I ended up getting lucky on this one because I was able to fish out the rest of the zincs that had fallen off one of the plugs. If not I would have been taking off the end cap on the heat ex-changer, not that much fun.

 Here are some pictures of another job I had later in the week that had to do with the hydraulic ram used to open the hatch to the engine room wouldn't retract. I ended up filling up the pump reservoir to the proper level cause it was not their. It still didn't work so I had to take off the line that went from the pump to the cylinder, push out the remaining fluid and hook it back up. The system worked great after that.


It was absolutely awesome to be able to perform the tasks sent my way. On my second day the service manager went on vacation and I was left to my own skills. I successfully completed many things in several types of systems. At the end of the week both owners shook my hand and let me know they were very happy to have as a part of there team. It is a great feeling to be able to provide this type of service and to learn everyday that I do it. The thing that I can definitely reflect on over this last week is what I was taught and learned in several courses during my time at BTC. Also like always going back to the basics, I had to do this along with use the internet to complete some of the tasks, but it all started there at the understanding of the system. So yeah if you don't understand the system it is a whole lot harder to even figure out where to begin and you will save a lot of money and time if you do.

Week 1
Hours 38

Happy Late 4th of July!!!!!!!