[C320-list] Zapped Mast Instruments

[Pat Moriarty]

Bill

Those lines are owned by PEC not LCRA and I have been there and 
wondered if we would clear also. So what are you doing for excitement 
next time out.

Pat
#130 Yacht Harbor E15

At 08:45 PM 6/13/2007, you wrote:
>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
>
>
>
>************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Pat Moriarty
PSI Urethanes Inc
PH: 800-888-5156  Fax: 512-837-8733
Please visit our web site at
www.psiurethanes.com