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Duffy Electric boats....?

Discussion in 'Tenders & Dinghies' started by Norseman, Sep 18, 2013.

  1. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Don't drink beer...lol

    Plus the fact I'm in Belize at the moment makes it difficult to assist you today. That and the fact I'm generally opposed to manual labor and my hourly rate would be much too high.

    We are waiting to hear the rest of the story. Meanwhile think we've about walked the entirety of San Pedro. Probably should have rented a golf cart.
  2. Belle

    Belle Member

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    Only item over 75 lbs he's going to carry anywhere are females...;)
  3. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    [​IMG]
    Taking a pause in the project, 2 old Trojans waiting to be lifted up and 2 new ones in the boat but not installed..

    Aye Belle, don't give the Old Man Carte Blanche to carry females over 75 lbs: There is some cute 90 lbs Filipino
    babes out there that would love to be carried here and there.:p

    Make sure the batteries are not 4 years old, otherwise you could be walking...
  4. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    How's that belt working out? Seems every day my wife gets calls about her products not holding up, and every time it's been bought on Amazon (her company doesn't sell on Amazon) and are counterfeit.
  5. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Aye, same brand name belt, Goodyear or something. Holding up good and the old one as spare.
    Of course it could be counterfeit, but a $9 item may not be worth the effort?
    Not a Louis Vuitton bag or a Rolex but good point.
  6. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Good to hear. Price doesn't matter. She gets the most calls off an item the retails for less than $10. I think the knock-off sells for about $3, and yes people raise hell over $3.
  7. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    No AGM and wet use the same charger settings. Gel has lower charger voltage settings
  8. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Roger on the cheap knock-offs on Amazon Mr. NY.
    Again, I doubt it is the case with my drive belt but who knows?

    Aye Mr. Capt J, yes the AGMs are also Lead Acid and they should be about the same as far as charging. My problem was different though and self-induced.
    Stay tuned for the rest of the story...

    Now on break again, can only work 10 mins in the sun with no shade, then a 10 minute cold-beer-break.
    Now got 4 batteries in place and 4 to go.
    Need a hand and my wife should be home shortly, she does not know what is in store for her..:cool:

    Where is all the friendly and helpful folks on YachtForums when you really need them? :D

    I know, Belize or New York, but this gig could have save ya'll a trip to the gym and no charge.:p
  9. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    [​IMG]
    Port bank, brand new...
  10. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Rest of the story:
    So I continued up the River and into my canal, going really slow now and Voltage really low.
    Barely go the dock and looked at the batteries.
    A terminal was melted and the post disintegrated to the point I could rip it off the battery.
    No idea what went wrong. Did I hook up the new battery backwards??
    Found the problem next day, when installing the cable terminal I started the nut with a couple of turns, then
    I was going to come back and tighten it after everything was in place. And forgot..:rolleyes:
    Used the boat for almost 2 hours while the bad connection heated up to the melting point:
    [​IMG]

    Problem entirely self-induced....
  11. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The problem is directly related to too many beers, you are only allowed 1 beer per every battery you install AND remove. It appears by analyzing the photo that you had 2 beers per battery installed AND removed leading to the failure to properly inspect your work and double check that every terminal nut had been tightened to 8-10 ft lbs of torque.
  12. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Aye Capt. J; You are confused.
    Perhaps too many beers before dinner.?

    The damage to the battery and terminal was not after I installed the 8 new batteries yesterday, and uh, sampled 8 beers during and after, but rather a few days before when I replaced the 1 bad battery and I did not clamp down the connector properly. My bad indeed, but I was as close to sober as a true Norwegian can get late morning or early afternoon.


    Today's test ride with the new bank went flawless, the boat had plenty of power, spunk and endurance, much like the owner/operator.
  13. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    [​IMG]

    Went Duffy riding yesterday and hit a rock, lifted the boat out of the water and bent the rudder shaft.
    Bummer.
    Took me 3 hours to drop the rudder, of which 2 was spent removing a cotter pin out of sight: Had to work in the blind, tried mirrors, cameras, and magic. Only a wise grip, brute strength and patience worked.
    The rudder shaft is aluminum with a foam/plastic sleeve.
    Considered fixing it myself, but Duffy were pretty reasonable today (I was expecting a sticker shock and a cattle probe up my tail-pipe, but a new rudder with shaft and the sleeve was $229, 3 day shipping $37, not bad)
    Should have it Thursday and back in the drink Friday.
    Heads up to other Duffy Dudes: The skeg/prop protector won't protect yer spade rudder, be gentle if you are going to ride up on hidden rocks..

    (Tried to rotate the pic 90 degrees, but beyond my modest abilities, Carl...?)
  14. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    After 30 odd years at sea, I can state without remorse, that shallow berths and shallow people always end in bent concerns.
  15. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Uh, Roger that Mr. Fishtigua.

    Taking a close look at the prop yesterday, which had traces of blue bottom paint at the tip of the blades, I can only conclude I hit a submerged wreck laying upside down.
    Oh well, now I know :confused:
  16. todd kromer

    todd kromer New Member

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    I'm a new member and have a question about the forward bearing in a old ( 1999 )Duffy Classic 18. Does any one out there work on their own Duffy.
    Thanks,
    Todd
  17. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Yes, I work on my own Duffy.
    (did you read this thread?)
    What is your question about the forward bearing?
  18. todd kromer

    todd kromer New Member

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    Really is nice having some one to talk to as I refurbish this 1999. The factory is helful some times and other times not so much. I have had the motor professionly reworked. I personnally have installed a new shaft, new forward bearing and I even installed a P.Y.I. dripless shaft seal, I'll post a picture. I only have about 10 motor hours on her after my winter long " restoration " of the whole boat. I've been around boats big and small all my life and enjoy trying to get them perfect.
    The forward bearing gets HOT !!!!! I have a digital thermomter I'm going to put on her in the a.m. but after an hour of 75%/ 50% throttle the white outer bearing housing is approx. 98 degrees and climbing. The air temp. is about 65. I havn't gone longer yet to see there the temperature will " top out at " and thats whats important. The bearing itself ofcorse is hotter and even the shaft right at the bearing is hot. Maybe all is normal but with those low R.P.M,s I was just surprised to feel it. My belt tention I think is ok and not too tight ? The dripless spring bellows puts a little forward pressure on that bearing up not that much ? I paid careful attention to my shaft alignment into the bearing ? Everything is all tight with " red " Locltite so I hope I don't have to rip it all apart agian !
    Do they run hot or is it just me ?
    Thanks a bunch,
    Todd
  19. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Do you have seawater cooling the p.s.s. bearing? Usually with boats with engines, seawater is constantly pumped through the bearing.
  20. todd kromer

    todd kromer New Member

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    On the electric Duffy its a diferant bearing than the one you are referring to.The bearing I'm referring to is not water cooled or cooled in any way. It secures one end of the shaft to a bulkhead wall. However I do have sea water to the dripless via a vent tube and the pss runs real nice and cool.
    I'm trying to post a picture but it says the file is too big ?