Monday Minute - Using Technology to Watchdog Systems

Blue Angel's helm is compact but I added some great utility with the NEMA 2000 network. If your engines can be connected to a network, you can monitor so much more than having a few analog helm gauges.

On my last two boats, I created an onboard NEMA 2000 network, as the engines were contemporary enough (aka electronic) to allow me to connect their electronic control modules (ECM) into a network through one of Maretron's excellent gateway interface and bridge modules. While I have not yet fully expanded on the potential possibilities of this network beyond engine information on a small Maretron display, I have the basic essentials to create some pretty neat control and alarm functionality.

Whether you have a sailboat or cruising powerboat, if your engine is electronic, you have the opportunity to create a vastly useful network over which all sorts of useful information can be tracked and monitored. Even some older engines can be successfully connected. Check out Maretron's website to learn all about information networks. https://www.maretron.com/ 

Steve Dashew showed me an example of what is possible on his FPB 78, Cochise, which also has a NEMA 2000 network. He was especially happy to explain how great a particular Maretron product is and how he takes advantage of its ability to keep an eye on his engine room.

He installed Maretron TMP100 black box modules (https://maretron.com/products/tmp100.php) into his boat's network, and each TMP100 can monitor temperatures using up to six accessory temperature sensors. 

He put these sensors on his shaft logs, so he can monitor if the temperature increases if the packing gland nut is too tight. He has temperature probes on the engines' raw water pumps, Aqualift mufflers, and exhaust injection elbows. By having these sensors physically in contact with critical components, he knows real time when something is amiss, as any significant increase in temperature means something has happened, such a sudden loss of raw water flowing through the cooling circuit.

Temperature probes in the exhaust system of one of the FPB's John Deere diesel engines.

He also has temperature sensors on the engines' alternators, so he will know right away if one of the alternators is failing, as an alarm will sound through the ship's network.

I could have used this temperature monitor last summer, after I ran Blue Angel WOT for a brief time to check that it still hit the top speed of 42 knots. It did, but the high rpm caused a hose to came off the outlet of the heat exchanger. Raw water continued to pump through the heat exchanger, but instead of moving into the exhaust manifold to cool down the engine exhaust gases, it discharged into the bilge. Engine temperature remained normal, as it was being cooled just fine, but without raw water in the wet exhaust system, temperatures soared quickly. Before I realized there was an issue, a ECM alarm sounded as the exhaust gases were too high, and the rubber hose connecting the manifolds were already melting. The bilge pump ran all the while but there was nothing to alert me that it was on, keeping the boat afloat. The water stopped as soon as I shut down the engine, but not before I ruined three hoses on the Volvo Penta 8.1 liter gas engine.

Smoke and the smell of melting rubber is not what I planned for this day. Note the blown crossover hose. Very sad.

So an upcoming project will be to install a Maretron TMP100 temperature module, with probes located to notify me if something like this happens again, before I cause any damage. I believe I can set up alarms in my Garmin multifunction display so that any increases in temperature in an exhaust elbow or raw water pump are quickly detected and set off a specific alarm.

I already have a Maretron DMS150 multifunction display at the helm to provide engine information coming from the ECM, so perhaps I can duplicate this temperature information on this display as well.

I've been reading a lot recently about digital electricity and it seems we will soon be able to monitor most every system on a boat, including a ship's electrical system. Using new algorithms that sample and measure the flow of electricity, it will be possible to identify a piece of electrical equipment, even a lightbulb, before it fails because we will be able to detect a change in its digital footprint. Yup, pretty cool stuff on the horizon.

Have a great week.

Have a great week.

The Philippines are a Cruiser's Paradise

Brian Calvert shoved off in 2009 from Friday Harbor, Washington, headed south and then west into the Pacific on his Selene 48, Further. He documented his travels on a website and blog so others could follow along. Along the way he found crew to join him from 26 countries, using the crew finder website, findacrew.net. 

An avid diver, Brian explores under all of the waters during his travels, and now that he is based in the Philippines, finds it the ideal place to cruise and dive. He recently came up with a charter and diving operation for those interested in exploring a different part of the world seldom visited, as it is off the traditional cruising routes. He explains why this is such a fabulous place to cruise, dive, and live.—BillP

The Philippines are one of the last great undiscovered cruising grounds on earth, so often passed by (or even avoided) by cruisers, and as a result, they miss the real pearl of the Pacific.  We cruised from Seattle, leaving a lifetime of exploring the great Pacific Northwest, to cross the Pacific and wind up in the islands of the Pinoy.  

So, what makes this often skipped over area so wonderful one might ask?  Start with geography, over 7000 islands many formed by dramatic volcanic eruptions causing hardened rock to jet out of the sea.  Others are the palm tree covered surfacing tips of massive coral reefs, abundant with life, forming iconic white sandy beaches the stretch for miles. The array of islands forms countless spellbinding anchorages, where you often are the only boat.

Add to the natural beauty, the almost perfect weather from December to June each year.  Short burst of rain die off by January and the real “summer” is February to June. It took me a while to get used to never having the think about being cold!

Ask anyone who visits here often and they will tell you why it is such a magical place. It is the people. The Filipinos are simply a life changing experience. The openness, generosity, and frank friendliness is often alarming at first, but soon you learn it is genuine. They laugh constantly, always, and I mean always smile and are so eager to become friends. Celebrations are every present, each village has a Fiesta, there is a long list of holidays, events, and just about any excuse for a party...all enjoyed with vigor.

The Filipinos love their children and have lots of them, families of 6 are average.  Even the poorest parents send their kids to school in crisp clean uniforms, smiling and ready to learn. I have often said, if they could bottle a Filipino kid’s smile it would put Prozac out of business.

For many it is what lies beneath the sea that attracts us here, some of the best diving on the planet. From expansive coral reefs, unique wildlife experiences and historic ship wrecks, diving in the Philippines is incredible.

We have explored almost all of the Philippines and now center much of our time in our favorite area, Coron, Palawan. It is the archipelago that is named in most diving lists as “the world’s most beautiful, world’s best island, world’s best diving.”    

The terrain, hidden lakes, endless anchorages, and, of course, the diving draws us back for the past four years. The geothermal gods smiled here leaving several natural hot springs and a “wonder of the world” lake where the temperature rises to 40C (105F) at 10-meter depth. Other areas benefit with more moderately warm water.  Geography gave us another wonder, Apo Reef. Only surpassed by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, it is the second largest coral reef in the world.  Steep dropoffs attract an array of sea life along its walls.

 History laid a golden egg in Coron, on one morning during WWII, when U.S. planes sank seven large Japanese supply ships in a small shallow bay.  Today they form some of the best and easiest wreck diving one can find.  And like most things here, there are no crowds. We might find one or two boats on a wreck or often by ourselves, which is such a relief after diving in other SE Asian hot spots.

For less “deepening” experiences the kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and exploring is endless, the terrain and remoteness combine to make a great deal of choices

Brian and Donna celebrate the kindergarden graduation of her son, Piam.

Nothing makes me more excited about a place I love than sharing it with others. This year we are offering limited adventure experiences. Also we can provide a Trawler School type experience for those considering this lifestyle with hands-on learning.  

For more information, see www.furthuradventures.com/charter