[C320-list] Zapped Mast Instruments

[John Frost]

Thank you Bill for the vivid description of this potentially dangerous
encounter. 

Don't be too hard on yourself. The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
has very specific height requirements for lines running over waters subject
to sailboat traffic. The requirement is based on the acreage of the water
accessible to the location. I suspect that the power company just might chip
in on the repairs if they violated the code. More importantly, if the line
is too low, they need to raise it before it does human damage. Two people
were killed 100 feet from my boat a few years ago by just such a situation.
Let me know if you want the numbers and I will look up. Be advised that I
head to Antigua for a week of sailing tomorrow night.  :-)

Best Regards,
John Frost


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of BillAleshire at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 8:45 PM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zapped Mast Instruments

Questions:
(1) Does anyone know where I can get (1) ST 50 wind, speed, depth  
instruments (OEM on the boat in 1998) repaired or (2) ST 50 instruments in
good (new) 
shape to purchase?
 
(2)  Does anyone know whether the Ratheon ST 50 wiring, transducers,  and 
plugs will work with the Raymarine ST 60 instruments?
 
(3) If I just forget trying to get replacement instruments for my ST 50s,
do 
you have a recommendation for updating my instruments to some other  brand.
 
It is with sadness, multiplied by embarrassment, quadrupled by pleas  for 
advice that I confess the following on my Hull #551 (1998), Rae de  Sol.  On

Memorial Day on Lake Travis in Texas, I was watching (too  closely) my depth
as I 
traversed up Cow Creek and did not notice the overhead  power line (that was

not on the lake chart in the 1994 version they last  printed, and
inexplicably 
a clear hazard to navigation (for the unexpected  sailboat)) as we turned a 
bend in the creek.  The lake came up 5 feet over  the weekend while we were
at 
anchor, and my mast hit the power line about a foot  down the mast.
 
My first clue we were in trouble was the wind/speed/depth ST 50 Autohelm  
instruments blowing out in front of my face (literally blowing the seals)
and  
then a loud sound, seemingly emanating from the cabin below.  Our mast
caught 
one hot line, virtually explosively melting and obliterating the mast  
instruments, dripping molten plastic on deck, and dragged it under the next
power 
line, causing us to be tramped, sizzored between the power lines.
Fortunately, 
the short tripped the power off and denied the auto-turn-back-on  feature
they 
have in those lines.  I cannot explain why the electric  company (or the 
Lower Colorado River Authority) would permit a power line  to be strung so
low 
over a creek (with 25' depth), but I'm also making no  excuses:  My boat hit

their line; it's my fault.  Turns out, the loud  noise I heard from below
was the 
forestay echo when it melted about 2 feet down  from the top of the mast and

popped loose, leaving by furled Genoa to  perform the duties of the
forestay.  
My first mate/last wife and I feel  lucky to be alive.
 
Boat U.S. has been responsive, but they'll deduct 10% per year up to 80%
for 
parts (the instruments) for these 9-year-old parts.  They'll pay for  labor 
(as in "repair" the instruments).  Today, I got the bad news (piled  on):  
Raytheon says they don't repair or have parts for the ST 50s anymore,  so it
would 
appear that the less expensive way to repair my instruments  is not gonna 
happen...unless there is 320 experience and expertise out there who  can
guide 
this careless sailor.  I hear that a new tri-set of ST 60s will  run me
about 
$1700 (and I'll eat 80% of that).
 
Since Boat U.S. paid to have the boat hauled, demasted for inspection, I  
figured it's a good time for a bottom job.  So, while I've got the boat out
of 
the water, I can replace transducers and reconfigure the instruments and  
wiring more easily based on the wise counsel of my fellow 320 owners.  I
humbly 
ask for your advice and forgiveness for the embarrassment I caused a
Catalina 
320 in a creek full of stinkboats on Memorial Day....an apology  only
matched 
by the one I telepathically sent to the 500 homes who around noon  lunch
time 
on Memorial Day had their ice cream makers suddenly  go off for a couple of 
hours. 
 
Bill Aleshire
Rae de  Sol



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