One of the best phrases I have come across during my first 5 years of boat ownership is... "Boat Unit." For those not familiar, Boat Units tend to make the bigger ticket items a little easier to digest. For instance one Boat Unit is equivalent to $1000.00 - An engine rebuild can cost anywhere from 20 boat units, to 3 boat units depending on the vessel.
Boats can be pricey mistresses, and many sailors endeavor to be economical about their maintenance and repairs. I believe in having quality reliable gear - while getting the most value for my hard earned dollars. Recently I have been having troubles with my aft throttle - It has been very stiff and challenging to use. This can make docking an incredibly irksome experience. Imagine driving a car with a gas peddle encased in half solidified cement.
The problem arose because my aft throttle is outside and completely exposed to the elements. After 32 years, the weight of the mizzen mast had caused the fiberglass to sag and pull apart the throttle housing. Rather than paying a full Boat Unit for a new throttle, I chose to to pull it apart and see if I couldn't figure out an alternative solution.
I managed to get it all apart, and cleaned up with nothing more than a little time, elbow grease and lemon juice. I did apply grease on a few key components to hinder any future corrosion.
Next step was to create a flat surface for the throttle housing to mount onto order to keep the elements out. I opted to make a form out of electrical tape and styrofoam and filled the form with a 2 part epoxy.
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I was really impressed with how well everything went back together. All in the $1000 repair came down to a whopping 79 cents for a lemon plus $20 for some epoxy and electrical tape. #winning
Now that the throttle is moving smoothly I can get back out on the water!
Thanks for the support Steemians!
All content is my own unless otherwise noted.
The Thrifty Throttle: How An $1000 Repair Was Replaced By A 79 Cent...
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