Sewing, SNADS, and Fuel Systems (MJ Sailing - EP 13)

[@BillB23]

Gratuitous comment during my catch-up-to-present-time-binge-watch to help your analytics.

[@bkackman]

Fuel decisions and routing was interesting and we'll thought out. The shaded covers were well thought out and executed as well. You two are a great duo/team. I'm always impressed.

[@ToFinka96]

Hello MJ, I have been reading your blog in past and you really create dream in my head. Now we have with my wife 3 year plan to buy a boat and explore world. Great videos, please continue! Have a great day Tom & Vera

[@lancechristy2595]

Well is good to your progress can't wait to see her in the water

[@MJSailing]

Counting down the weeks now instead of months. :)

[@rem9607]

you guys are really doing a first class job on this boat. Looks great.

[@donaldloos7692]

I hope you show the fuel lines after you complete your work. You guys do a great job, both of you and I enjoy watching you move along finishing your boat

[@OrlandoPaco]

Wow Jessica! What a boat!

[@workwillfreeyou]

Very nice job with the plumbing. Can't go wrong with S.S. on boat fuel lines.

[@edrosenberger6947]

From what I've seen in your videos, you both are conscientious with good craftsmanship. I have no doubt that your vessel will end up a very worthy sailboat. I'm looking forward to its launch.....

[@MJSailing]

Thank you so much! Yes, we're looking very forward to its launch too. :)

[@fishin4bogey]

Good idea on the in-line fuel filters. We have started adding the 3/8 inlines on our big pumps to clean the schmeg out of the diesel fuel before it gets to the fuel pump and the primary and secondary filters. The plastic filters are way cheaper than the Baldwins! I must tip my hat to the two of you living on that boat in the Florida heat. Summer is about three hours away, and if this year will be anything like last year....it's gonna suck! I deal with heavy equipment and large diesel pumps here in lovely Fort Lauderdale, so if you guys ever need anything, I'd be happy to help!

[@skycop56]

You guys rock! Your hard work will pay off soon.

[@SailBeforeSunset]

Great update. She's really coming along!

[@MJSailing]

Thank you!

[@1_fishin_magician153]

Matt..... excellent decision's regarding fuel lines....well done. Jess... you are just as crafty with WHATEVER you do......* hurry up an finish your boat because I wanna hire you two to BUILD MINE.......!! Thumbs up as usual.........!!! 1FM Lake George, NY

[@MJSailing]

Hahaha....When this boat is done I think we'll want a bit of a break from boat building. :)

[@danyetzer3612]

Nice work, look great!

[@MJSailing]

Thank you!

[@mike-vo9bg]

Just found your vlog this week (nice!) and I had noticed in an early episode that it appeared that some of your windows were plexi, throughbolted to the hull at the four corners. In this episode you mention crazing. If those windows are just through-bolted, that WILL cause crazing, it is a mounting design that GE and others expressly say not to use because of that problem. If they are mounted like that, you need to make the mounting holes oversize, to allow the plexi to expand and contract, with large fender washers to keep it trapped under the screw/bolt heads. FWIW. Using 3M VHB tape, and no mechanical fasteners, is another good alternative. And if I've "misread" what I saw, "Nevermind" as the old SNL show said. Amazing job you've done!

[@jessicakirchoff2536]

Jess, awesome job with the plexi-glass covers. Your craft is very good! Thanks for the tip on saving your windows from crazing!

[@MJSailing]

Thanks! They're coming in very handy, we can already tell a temperature decrease inside the boat.

[@seajourney5491]

excellent video! excellent work! take a sewing machine on your travels, you can make extra cash with your handiwork. matt, if I may suggest, you have the basic setup ready to go to make a fuel polishing system, just adding in another filter and using one tank as a day tank. if you want to see an excellent system, tour any nordhavn. great for remote places with questionable fuel. you two are the best, y'all think things through

[@jeromewelch7409]

Nice work ... Guys. Be proud!

[@teefa2u]

hi guys, great videos, you may already know but just watch using stainless and aluminium in direct contact with each other, it can also cause corrosion. cheers, keep the great content coming.

[@akfortump2024]

Top-Snapper Snap Tool For Boat Snaps at Amazon or at most marine stores would make life much easier and your snaps will last longer. It also help to use a tiny bit of zipper lube of even naval jelly on them.

[@MJSailing]

Good to know, thanks for the tip. :)

[@AfricanFlightStar]

Great job!

[@kadven6447]

Nice job Jessica!

[@MJSailing]

Thanks!

[@ToddKesler]

Uni strut makes a great ridged clamp system... it's use a lot in the mechanical system field very cheap less than 30 bucks

[@robertcharles4053]

Shiver me timbers!

[@gregh7457]

If that was my fuel line setup, i'de change out those irrigation clamps for some fuel line clamps. The irrigation clamps cut into the rubber lines

[@theislandpackrat]

You've done a great job!

[@MJSailing]

Thanks!

[@dutchmansailing857]

Hey there have enjoyed your videos hope to see you all soon I am sailing my 33 ft Cheoy Lee offshore there in July . I do hope you have your boat in the water before I get there But if not we can be neighbors for a week or two . Have a great one there and look forward to the next video!!!!! AS well if you need help with the engine I have a lot of experience with diesel engines and some good parts suppliers can hook you all up with.

[@MJSailing]

I think there is a chance we *will* be in the water by July....but if for any reason we're still here, we'll keep an eye out for you. :)

[@nicholsworth2754]

Not being disrespectful, but your eyes are crazy cool ! woW!

[@MylesNicholas]

Just a thought, transparent Lexan polycarbonate sheet for windows.

[@jetlaggedchef6806]

Plastic windows develop superficial cracks within 1 to 2 months if exposed to any solvent, especially acetone (e.g. - cleaning desk, wiping down the plastic, etc.) Not sure if that was the case for you, but just dropping that info for when you get around to the window replacement.

[@jaysparc]

Did you guys analyze the off gassing of plexiglass? I install window film which utilizes an acrylic adhesive, one of the problems with plexiglass is it it's constant off gassing reduces adhesive life and effectiveness.

[@SailingJAEKA]

⛵⛵⛵ You guys look creative and productive. We also are planning to do a work on a boat here in the St. Martin. We should look for an expiration from your movies :-) ⛵⛵⛵

[@MJSailing]

St. Martin is a great place for boat work! We found a lot of things we needed at Island Water World, and also used their bicycles to tour the island. :)

[@dusty265]

Covers look great, with the fuel system have you cleaned the tanks out of the sludge build up? As always you guys are a great team and are refitting a wonderful vessel, Thanks for sharing

[@mattjohnson6716]

Thanks Forrest. Jess posted a photo on facebook showing her actually INSIDE the keel tank cleaning it. We cleaned them all extremely well multiple times. Matt

[@jlillieify]

You've given me some really good idea with the Phifertex. I've used this before from Sailrite to make sheetbags and the Snads to mount them. I'm now seriously thinking about sewing up some sun screens for my plexiglass windodows and companion way hatch. how well can you see through them at night time with lights on inside?

[@MJSailing]

Night time is a little bit harder to see out of them, but we usually always have the lights on in the boat, so that can make it hard to tell, haha.

[@susanl435]

I too have an aluminum sailboat; a 42 foot Colvin Gazelle (a bit of a classic, designed 50 years ago). Last fall her bottom was blasted (glass beads) and soon she will receive two coats of coal tar epoxy and then bottom paint. Without a doubt, you two have to be the best boat restorers on the east coast. Can I follow you from port to port so that maybe you could work on my boat from time to time? You really seem to enjoy restoration work, and my hat is off to you. Great videos too!

[@MJSailing]

Geez, we don't even get any time for cruising in first? ;)

[@susanl435]

Just kidding! I am starting to think that you are the best boat restorers on the east coast. You are doing a beautiful restoration job on your boat (I wish I could half as well).

[@snowdingo7283]

Shine on you crazy diamonds. For your holidays can you come over to New Zealand and renovate my house?

[@MJSailing]

Can't be any harder than a boat, right?

[@Rittlesleo]

Hello! We're wanting to do some canvas work and we're hoping you could give us a recommendation for a not too expensive sewing machine. Love your channel!

[@ChuckMcC]

I know this is weird but you look just like my great grandmother when she was very young.

[@MJSailing]

How cool! I wish I could see a photo.

[@evalopp]

It looks like a Sailrite machine. What kind is it? Are you happy with it?

[@mattjohnson6716]

Eva. It's a 15yr old LS1 that we bought off Craigslist for $25 more than they paid for it new. Crazy the resale value of these things. It's been wonderful so far, but besides an old Brother, we don't have much experience.

[@rogerhowell3317]

Is the fuel transfer pump on the engine? What is the fuel lift height?

[@mattjohnson6716]

The Yanmar 4jh4e requires a separate fuel pump. Ours is a Facet pump. Keep in mind that we have a day tank that will feed the engine. It's above the engine, but the fuel feed is on the top of the tank, so it won't gravity feed the engine unless a siphon is created....not sure if that will reliably happen. The bunker tanks are pushed to the day tank via a Groco fuel transfer pump. I bought this because I already have the same pump for oil change and can switch pump heads or rebuild with just one spare kit needed.

[@SVLOKEE]

Hey, thanks for the update! great idea on the plexi covers...I'm thinking about doing plexi windows like you did in the aft cabin of my boat. What sealant did you use between the plexi and the fiberglass? Did you use the Dow Corning 795? Keep up the good work!

[@mattjohnson6716]

We used 3M VHB tape (4991) and Dow 795 caulk. We posted about it on our website.

[@SVLOKEE]

Cool, I'll check it out! thanks

[@ELCADAROSA]

I've been viewing your vlogs in order, starting at episode 1. You two are doing a fabulous job!!! Thank you for the reference to the SNADS; that has given me plenty of ideas for uses on my boat. For your windows, would Lexan be a better material than the Plexiglass? It is more expensive, but its a tougher material and should not (ever) craze. Thoughts???

[@MJSailing]

Lexan actually is the plan for right now, but sometimes I forget specifics when I'm in front of the camera talking. :)

[@jcf6597]

Great video! I apologize in advance if I misunderstand why you put valves on the fuel tank vents, but not allowing the tanks to "breath" even when not i use is a REALLY BAD idea. The air in the tanks has to be able to flow freely as it expands and contracts with temperature. If you're worried about water intrusion, you can move your vents higher on the boat and Attwood also makes a vent that has a built in "P - Trap" to prevent water ingress.

[@mattjohnson6716]

Good point. The vent valves are actually to be kept in the open position at all times unless I need to completely isolate/eliminate a tank when/if there is a leak. Of course the vent wasn't hugely important for isolation, but I figured it also means two less vent holes. The original plan was to bring all three vent lines high up and loop downwards. At the bottom install a tee facing down and to the hole... all without making a fuel trap. I wasn't able to locate an area to do this high enough. I guess we'll see how it works out. Matt

[@jcf6597]

Yes, a fuel trap can cause frustrating gremlins until it is fixed. I also try and make a loop in the vent hose above the actual vent so that it is self draining if water does enter it. What size vent line are you using, The minimum size should be 5/8 which is also Coast Guard regulation.

[@mattjohnson6716]

Unfortuantely we were limited by the stupid welded in stub hose fittings. They really are metric sized, but closes fit is 1/2"

[@siaripop7]

Matt.....I was just wondering about the arrangement for those vent lines and I thought I would add my own two cents to the conversation. All of them run into a single vent line to the outside of the boat, however you are venting several tanks into what ends up being a single 1/2 inch line. That means the volume of air venting is limited by that last line. I would think that that last line needs to be three time larger to support the air flow of the three vent lines to prevent a bottleneck although the actual volume of air/fumes venting may not be that high. Rather than a T, I would suggest using a manifold to run each line into, and then vent that manifold with a larger hose to the outside, or vent each line separately to the outside while still having the shutoff valves. Just a thought!

[@mattjohnson6716]

Hey Marc, I'd guess maximum fuel vapor/air flow would be during refueling, when the amount of fuel added would equal the amount of air needing to be pushed out the vent line. ABYC 183.520 on fuel tank venting said that with a fill rate average of 9-12 gallons a minute, a 9/16th hose was adequate to not experience fuel fill blow back. Now I can only fit 1/2" due to the fitting, but each tank is filled separately, and at that time, the filling tank's vent can be valved to only have that go through to the outside. Also, the previous configuration for the past 30 years has been for the three tanks connected with 1/2" hose and a tee, which was brought to a single vent. Doesn't mean it's right or recommended, but at least there is history to it working with these tanks. Matt

[@jaysoncody8716]

You guys should go buy a little $200 dollar, or less small window unit air conditioner from Home Depo, or Lowes. I'm sure Matt could figure out away to temporarily rig it into a hatch or window. From May till mid October, Florida is to hot for man or beast !

[@jackneff179]

Shouldn't the vents be the highest point not in the middle???

[@baldeagle7604]

I am sure you have been asked a million times... but what is the length and maker of your beautiful boat? My partner and I are currently looking for something similar to work on and then start our own channel and get to the open water. :)

[@fatbowe]

...Just found you guys...so my question is... ...What was wrong/bad...with the other boat???...;--)..........

[@markgomez1000]

10:47

[@_Willem_]

The fuel return line, Isn't it that you will loose presure on your fuel system ? o_~

[@kennesbitt9353]

why are you changing out the fuel system, gravity system is used on most boats

[@mattjohnson6716]

If you're referring to gravity feed between the tanks, we're concerned that at 34 years old, one of the tanks will leak sometime. We wanted to easily be able to eliminate that tank. Also, If we take on bad fuel, we're able to isolate that too.

[@kennesbitt9353]

good idea

[@alphasxsignal]

I myself would stay away from real old boats that need to much work.

[@MrWeltreise]

Good Body :-)