It was Ambition's time yesterday!!

[Merrill Mant]

Well one day before launch, the last "before launch" task list item was to check all the through hull ball valves. For those of you who have followed this 411 group .... All valves passed the test until I reached the little one that provides an intake water supply to the prop shaft seal. Yes ... snapped the handle off the valve ... of course I bent the rubber hose which snapped off the fragile nipple on the prop shaft. I was amazed at how easily it broke .... just glad I did this while the hull is 5 feet in clear air rather than 5 feet of clear water!!!  
Now I have added four more tasks to the "before launch" task list:

1. cancel launch
2. remove and replace ball valve
3. replace and reinforce shaft seal water supply
4. replace hose

 
If you have not gotten around to checking your shaft water supply... please do this the very next time your boat is out of the water. In teh mean time ... don't even breath on that little thing!  Whoever designed this little mission critical piece of equipment obviously spent little time thinking it through.  
 
If anyone has already figured out a much better solution, I would appreciate your pictures or notes.
Thanks in advance,
Merrill
s/v (not just yet!!) Ambition B411 #155
www.synergymarine.com  

[nigel henry]

Hi Merrill 

             the little tit on top of the shaft is a weak point  I am making a saddle made of rubber as even bonding it again is not a good option so the tit goes through the saddle and secured by an industrial cable tie and bonded in place. Gets a bit crowded where mine is as I have the filter pot for the AC generator as well in the area. Nigel 

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From: merril...@hotmail.com
To: benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: {Beneteau Owners} It was Ambition's time yesterday!!
Date: Tue, 22 May 2012 09:29:08 -0400

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[bjgr...@verizon.net]

Funny you mention this.  I had water supply valve for the prop shaft on my  2002 361 but do not on my 2008 OC40. Did B do away with the design on later models. Bruce ( Breezy )

[Mike Ordun]

Earlier this spring I replaced the raw water connection on the dirpless shaft seal in my 2001 361.  There were no hints of problems, I was just doing this as a precautionary measure while the boat was still on the hard.  When I attempted to gently pry the water hose off of the shaft fitting the fitting snapped leaving most still in the hose.  At this point I was annoyed at how easy it broke and that now I had yet another repair but glad that I had done and was on the hard to fix it.  I had a repair kit in hand -- a new fitting, some two part epoxy, and filler.  This came from Annapolis Yacht Sales.  Repair involved cleaning of the leftovers on the shaft with a dremel, threading in new fitting, and reinforcing it all with the epoxy and filler.  Back in the water now all is good.

FYI, a pencil was recommended as a good plug for this fitting in the unfortunate event this gets banged and breaks off while the boat is in the water.

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[Cap Munday]

Thanks for this! I was looking at that thruhull the other day and did not exercise it. I'll be doing that the next time I access that area.

Cap Munday

S/V Zydeco

Beneteau 473

-----Original Message-----
From: Merrill Mant <merril...@hotmail.com>
To: beneteau-owners <benetea...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, May 22, 2012 9:30 am
Subject: {Beneteau Owners} It was Ambition's time yesterday!!

[Kidd, James]

Group,

A word of praise for a great company….

I  received my new leather cockpit cushion covers from Seaworthy Seating in Hickory NC, last week and had them installed on my foam cushions.

I have to say that the quality is extremely high “Glove leather” which is softer and much nicer than I imagined.

They did the entire 18 piece set on my 473 for about $2500.

The covers were installed on the foam by a local (CT) upholstery shop, who also praised the quality of the leather and workmanship.

It’s a family owned company, Glenda and her daughter Renee, were great to deal with.

E mail there is: Renee Whitson [seaworth...@hotmail.com]

Phone is 828-598-0026

 

I wish every company I dealt with was as good as these folks.

 

James A. Kidd

Adventure Galley

B 473

 

[Cap Munday]

We had a great experience with these folks, too. I made up the foam and should have had a pro do the job, but Seaworthy was excellent. They have all the Beneteau designs and can fit your boat at an excellent price. If it isn't right, they make it so at no extra cost, as it happened in our case. 

Cap Munday

S/V Zydeco

Beneteau 473

-----Original Message-----
From: Kidd, James <jk...@kaydon.com>
To: beneteau-owners <benetea...@googlegroups.com>

[John and Barbara Locke]

Cap/James:  Would you recommend them for Salon cushions.

 

John Locke

Island Time

473 #237

Kent Narrows, MD

[Kidd, James]

They actually were salon cushions that were made for my boat..I misspoke when stating  cockpit cushions.

 

James A. Kidd

\B 473

jk...@Kaydon.com