Pacific Console Change

< Edit: Comments and questions here please (http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10566)! JK >

In the depth of winter I decided that the original Pacific 22 Console had to go. It suited the RN but not me. Ocean ribs supplied a new one for £400 so these are the pics of the change.

Time taken so far, god only knows but every weekend since the end of Jan. The console took 3 weeks to fit out including extra re-inforcing behind the dash since the Halmatic instruments live in a big Al box that is quite heavy and requires a big cut out. Same for the GPS which will be permanently fitted. A dry storeage box was glassed in to the side of the console in the shape of a wahsing up bowl, infact that is what it is. It ought to be waterproof then. including the deck I it has taken 30m of 450g CSM at 30L of resin, somewhere. Next the console needs fitting with the assistance of my able helper.

Target for completion is the end of Easter and there is a lot of wiring to sort too.
Pete:p

Stuart came down and gave me a hand to take the old deck out and this is what he left me with. Err perhaps we shouldn't have done this.

Next step was to double up the fuel tank under deck supports from three to six then glass in an 18mm piece of ply to take the weight of the new tank which was changed from 80 L to 170 L.

The plastic tank came from Vetus and fitted like a glove between the Halmatic bulk heads. Final fitting with a size 10 insured a good fit. The gap along the side of the tank was packed out with more 18mm ply but the length was spot on at 1100 mm.

With the old deck destroyed during the removal a new 9mm deck was made and covered on both sides with a layer of 450g CSM. Although this is quite thin the deck sits on four supports so doesn't flex at all. A final layer of gel coat over the CSM keeps the water and oil out of the GRP (I hope).

Okay console is in with a little help from Stu, who I am very greatful to for giving up a weekend when he is just starting a new business.

From the front

Battling with the wiring,

Low hatch in the console so you can reach the battery master switch and possibly a dry location for the radio, not fully decided yet though.

Well, not quite, the battle with the wiring continues, there are just three which I have no idea what they do or go. However lots of progress elsewhere.

The orange wiring is 12 volts to make it easily identifable from the 24 volt stuff.

So late this afternoon with the fuel lines installed and primed, I pressed the big button to see what would happen. She turned over but wouldn't start, soon sorted by bleeding the injectors. Water from the exhaust keeping the 4.2 L block cool as she ticks over. A great moment the first time she has run since early January.

A big thank you to Mal who came down and spent a whole morning sanding down the stern drive ready for the first layer of 5 coats of paint. The first is an epoxy etch coat. Odd stuff very thin and diffcult to paint on but dries quickly like evostick.

And thanks to Phil for the stern drive top cover to replace mine which was missing.

One of the engine with a hose pipe feeding directly into the sea water cock to enable the engine to be run out of the water and flush the salt water out after use when she is on a mooring. Don't think you need to flush the system through, well have a look at how much a new water cooled intercooler costs.

The wooden thing at the bottom of the picture is the very swish steering wheel. And the green things bottom right are the paddles, (thats a big engine bay then!)

Pete

A view of the whole boat showing what she will look like in a fortnights time, hopefully, with a little help from friends to bleed the hydraulic steering, paint the decks, stern drive and a hundred other things.

So whilst most of the members were safely tucked up in bed on Sunday with hangovers she quietly slipped into the water for her maiden cruise from Portsmouth to Southampton. 29 knots with all the MCA Code 4 kit on board and full fuel tanks. The only major problem that came to light was the prop is over size so she doesn't pull full revs. Now sorted with a call to Lancing Marine.

Pete :p

Another view

last pic