Patch PVC/ Battery for Windlass

[brianontheroad]

Two separate problems -- but they're of equal stature on my to do list, so hopefully you guys will help me finish them this week

This is my new to me 67 Chris Craft Apache, just going down the list trying to get all my projects going to get this beautiful old boat into the shape it should be in

#1. I've got an old Avon RIB I got cheaply -- It holds air long enough for a ride to an anchorage, but it doesn't hold air longer than a few hours -- so lots of slow leaks, I've patch one with a pvc patch kit I got from West (round pieces of various sizes and an adhesive) but I'm not convinced this is the best way, any way to to just completely coat the outside of it and shore it up probably not, but any suggestions on better ways to patch an old pvc dingy would be great

#2 I bought one of those black and decker auto battery charger things from Wal-Mart -- when I hook it up to the windlass battery (looks like a standard car or marine 12v battery) it says there's an error and that I should run the battery reconditioning cycle, the instruction manual says this should take 20 minutes but I let it run for 45 and it just continually said reconditioning -- I guess I should check the water level (if it's that kind of battery) but I think I should replace it, it is an old batery and hasn't been used much -- it's a long way from the windlass too so I guess voltage is continually bleeding out anyway right? Whenever I try to use the windlass the fuse goes -- any other thoughts than get a new battery?

Thanks!

Brian
SV Illusion

[btrayfors]

Brian,

1. Avon RIBs are not PVC. They're hypalon (much better). Avon makes repair kits. Whether or not you'll be successful depends on a lot of factors. Suggest you contact an inflatable repair outfit.

3. You could have multiple things going on with the windlass. Maybe the battery has lost capacity. Maybe the wiring is inadequate or corroded. Maybe the relay or the windlass motor itself is frozen or shorted.

For what it's worth, the WalMart type battery chargers have no place on a boat. They won't maintain your batteries properly. My advice is to check out the windlass itself, the wiring, then replace the battery with one large enough to handle the load drawn by the windlass motor. Then, replace the battery charger with a smart charger, like an Iota/IQ4 or another real marine battery charger. Keep the new battery fully charged so it won't sulfate and lose capacity before its time.

Bill

[SVDistantStar]

Brian, where are you at? That Avon sounds like the one i sold awile back.

[sailingdog]

Don't waste your time or money with that cheap Walmart auto battery charger. It'll kill good marine batteries pretty quickly. You need a good three-stage marine battery charger. Btrayfors recommends the Iota brand, and if they're good enough for B, they're good enough for you.