A Florida based 1987 390 Express Restoration

WOW! That is terrible news. I suspect the new engines have pistons that are plated with a high tech material to reduce friction. The cylinders in the engine of my Jaguar XJR are plated with Nikasil (a nickel / silicon carbide matrix) to reduce friction. There are high tech plasma spray techniques to apply these types of coatings just a few atoms thick. I wonder if it might be worthwhile to have the new pump "upgraded". I get a periodical from the ASME (American Society of Metallurgical Engineers) that has a lot of sources and a special section each month on specialized metal coatings. I would be happy to pass the info on.

Al
 
Al,

Thanks for posting - she's looking good!

As someone who also tries to photo document and post descriptions for work I have done, I know how time consuming it is, and how much of a commitment it becomes. Of course, there are inevitably those who act as critics, but I keep going, knowing that there are people out there who need the information, and benefit from the posts. And, I see, you do too...

Dale
 
douglee25 said:
Looks great!

I bet you're getting excited!

When do you think you'll have it ready?

Doug
Click to expand...

It is terribly exciting. Finally I can finish all the deck mounted hardware and it will start looking like a boat again instead of an old hulk. There is a lot of detail work. I am a perfectionist so I take my time and do it right. It is soooooo easy to do things here at the shop and soooooo hard to do them once in the marina.

I am shooting for late this year. After HURRICANE season!!
 
MasterFab said:
Al,

Thanks for posting - she's looking good!

As someone who also tries to photo document and post descriptions for work I have done, I know how time consuming it is, and how much of a commitment it becomes. Of course, there are inevitably those who act as critics, but I keep going, knowing that there are people out there who need the information, and benefit from the posts. And, I see, you do too...

Dale
Click to expand...

Thanks Dale. It takes a lot of time and effort to document and post a project. Once again let me say that your project is AMAZING. There is great satisfaction in sharing my knowledge and experience with others. I am completely unfazed by the ubiquitous bullies out there.
 
Re: A Florida based 1987 390 Express Restoration - Painting Complete - Searchlight

Searchlight Stuff:

For those of you that have the big remote control Jabsco Rayline 7" Dia searchlight
http://www.stroboflash.com/SearayProject/gallery/2008-06-02 Searchlight/index.html
Mine was burned out so I went looking. The original was a Phillips 4710 spot/flood dual filament. No longer available. There is a Phillips 4545 single filament spot available as NOS. Apparently there are not many sealed beam lights being made anymore. I bought 4 - 4545 bulbs from a vendor on eEbay for $12 each - free shipping. I tested in my searchlight and it worked great. Just connect the black wire to one terminal and the orange and blue wires to the other. Search EBAY for Marine 4545

Jabsco wants $100 for a replacement bulb ( Don't know if it is the dual filament or not). Since I have docking lights on the bow I don't see a big need for the flood feature anyway.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAR-56-12v-...age_Lighting_Single_Units&hash=item27bdaad090
 
Dr MicroChip said:
It is terribly exciting. Finally I can finish all the deck mounted hardware and it will start looking like a boat again instead of an old hulk. There is a lot of detail work. I am a perfectionist so I take my time and do it right. It is soooooo easy to do things here at the shop and soooooo hard to do them once in the marina.

I am shooting for late this year. After HURRICANE season!!
Click to expand...


Ha! Good points!

Doug
 
Looking good Al! :smt119

Nikasil allows for tighter ring seal, low friction, next to nothing break-in etc. Works good until repair time, then very $$ to repair. Not the choice for the common racer type that always modifying, running, blowing up stuff, repairing etc. Although if you have the cash it can be an advantage.

Pietro! My deepest condolences! Thats terrible news. :smt089

-BL
 
Re: A Florida based 1987 390 Express Restoration - System Monitor

I am getting ready to design and build a microprocessor based system monitor to replace the "vintage" one that came with the boat. I discovered that my monitor did not sound an alarm when engine or gen set had a high temp or low oil pres condition. It is sealed in some sort of rubber compound so I can't really troubleshoot it. Also interested in any suggestions for other monitoring. There is no LCD display so feedback is limited to led indicators.

My design will monitor the following:

Port and Stbd engine high temp, low oil pres, high trans temp

Forward bilge pump, aft bilge pump, shower sump (pump on indicator)

Test mode. Sounds the bell and flashes the LED's

Connection for 12vdc alarm bell or buzzer

Alarm bell delay when starting engine so you don't annoy your neighbors at 5am

Leds that can be plugged in to your existing panel so it will look the same as the original or you can have your own panel made up at a trophy shop.

If anyone out there is interested I can make a few extras. Your cost will be about $250. Let me know.

Al
 
It's been two days with no response, frankly I' surprised. You can't come near a monitoring system that will accomplish those tasks for $250 on the open market, or have your original repaired for that amount. If I wasn't in the process of selling my boat I'd go for one.
Perhaps if you were to describe the interfaces as something a DIY could accomplish more folks would be taking you up on your offer and thanking you for the service.
 
Im intrested in one of the systems monitors
pm me to set it up
thanks
larry
 
Pietro said:
+1 for me, Al.
Click to expand...

OK! It is a cold, rainy day here in Florida so I am working on the design. Can I assume that all the system monitor panels look like the one below??
DSC_6784.JPG
 
No...........that one looks ok for the 390EC, but the same basic monitoring system is used on lots of models, so the system monitor displays are model specific because the locations of some monitored items vary by model and because some boats have systems that others do not. If all you want to address is the 390EC, then ok, but if you want to sell a product, you need to consider the universe of potential customers instead of a single model.

One thing I have never understood why Sea Ray never included on the boats is an engine cooling water flow alarm. The monitoring switch is simple and there is no telling how many impellers/engines would have been saved over the years if there were an audible alarm for no water flow. You might consider that as an added or even an optional feature for your "after-market" systems monitor.
 
Mine is slightly different. I'm going to post a pic in a couple of days.

Good point, Frank. That's why I added one!
 
Frank:
Thanks for the feedback. Just what I was looking for. I really did not intend to sell a product but I would like to make it as universal as possible. Maybe even a kit to keep the price down. So the panels are arranged differently. I can deal with that. I agree on the cooling water flow issue. How about battery water? Is it really important to have the LED's arranged in the shape of a boat?? Would a simple list be acceptable? LED on the left with identifying text on right? Sure would make it easier to design and fit all the components.
 
I help look after a Viking 55 for a friend and its warning panel is just as you indicated..........2 vertical rows of LED's with the script outboards on either side with sensors for everything on earth. I run the boat maybe twice a month so I am not nearly as familiar with it as I am with the usual boat shape on Sea Rays. I kind of like it because you quickly adapt to the 2 rows of lights, much like scanning a panel on an airplane.....you glance at the LEDs and if nothing is lit, you move on, but if something lights up on those 2 rows, you know to get moving and figure out what is wrong.

But, there is a built-in market for Sea Ray system monitor replacements because they don't like wet environments, Sea Ray no longer supports them and the only guy I know of who would repair them lost the employee who was doing the repairs and there isn't enough volume to warrant setting up a new test station and training employees. If you look at the boat shaped diagram, the real options are the number of shower sumps, their locations, the number of bilge pumps forward of the bulkhead and any additions you make for water flow sensing, etc. I haven't put a lot of thought into it, but I am envisioning a new monitor panel that fits over the old dash, covering the old holes and scrip with mounting holes outside the present foot print so at the very worst, the customer could saw out the old boat shape and place the new panel in the hole and drill pilot holes and screw it down. You could offer a variety of colors,.....white, black, graphite, wood grain, .....? With a new panel you wouldn't need the boat shape, but could certainly do it, and that way, you could have sort of a universal panel with extra holes for sensors that may or may not be in the schematic for every boat.
 
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