Systems Overview
As you can imagine, a vessel the size of Island Eagle has some fairly sophisticated systems. Propulsion, electrical, and electronic systems are similar to those found on small ships (or small towns, for that matter). Over the first two years I owned Island Eagle, I replaced or upgraded virtual every system on the boat. Here's a quick overview, with links to more detail.
Mechanical Systems - Propulsion
The propulsion system is obviously the most critical component of an ocean-going motor vessel, and if you have a single engine like Island Eagle does, then you care a lot about that engine!
When I bought her, Island Eagle was equipped with the same engine she had been launched with, a General Motors Detroit Diesel model 6-110. Power was delivered through a Allision Model MH 4.5:1 reduction transmission, driving a 3" diameter bronze shaft to a 5-bladed 44" diameter prop. This combination will drive the boat at approximately 7.5 knots when the engine is turning at 1350 RPM, which is a very comfortable cruising speed.
While I initially considered replacing the old engine,for a number of reasons we decided to keep in in place. I've done a fair bit of work on it, though. For more details, see the engine section.
Of course, an engine needs fuel, and most engine failures are actually fuel system failures. As part of our system upgrades, Island Eagle has a completly new fuel system, including freshly cleaned tanks. Details of that upgrade are in the fuel section.
The final component of the engine systems is the exhaust, and this is the system which caused us the most trouble (and judging from the battle scars, we're not the only ones to experience it). The latest installments in the exhaust sage are in the [Link]exhaust section.
Rounding out the propulsion system is the rudder and steering gear, which at the time we purchased Island Eagle was a Rube Goldberg contraption that barely worked at the best of times. It's been changed to a nice new Jastram hydraulic systems, which is about a thousand times better.
Mechanical Systems - Plumbing
Once you've got the boat moving, the next area to worry about is plumbing. You need water to live, and much more importantly, you need a way to deal with the byproducts of the good life!
When I bought her, Island Eagle had a fairly unusual plumbing system. First, there were the tanks: four massive steel water tanks, totaling about 2000 gallons of fresh water! I decided that I'd keep the tanks, and replace everything else. Have a look.
Of course that water has to go somewhere. The grey water on Island Eagle runs to a little sump in the engine rooms, and it had a pump which occasionally wheezed a bit overboard, but usually the grey water overflowed into the bilge. I decided to clean things up a little, and appropriated one of the fresh water tanks as a grey water holding tank. It holds about 200 gallons, which is more than enough. Learn more about the grey water system.
Of course, this still leaves one very special system, the very very smelly one. When I got her, Island Eagle had two electric heads forward (32 volt, of course) and one manual head in the master suite. I knew we had to do someting, but what? After a long and informative discussions with the folks at Marine Sanitation in Seattle ("We're number one in the number two business") I had a plan. And you know what? It's worked out pretty darn well. See the details.
Mechanical Systems - HVAC
Toasty warm in the winter, chilly in the summer. That's the theory at least. Here's the practice.
Electrical Systems - DC
When I bought Island Eagle, we knew that she would need some electrical work. Some of the problems were obvious, such as rats nest of wires coming out of rusty junction boxes. Some of the problems were a bit more complex, such as the question of whether to convert the boat from the existing 32 volt system to a more modern 24 volt one.
Lest you think that the problems were overwhelming, there were also some real positives (no pun intended): All lighting on the boat was battery powered (32 volt, of course), which avoided having to run the genset. Most of the wiring runs were relatively exposed and easy to get at, which would make rewiring easier. The roomy engine room afforded plenty of space for battery stowage, panels, inverters, etc. In short, rewiring would be difficult but not impossible.
Luckily, I had a fair bit of experience wiring, and I come from 3 generations of electricians. After a thorough investigation and consulting with the experts, I came to the conclusion that the only solution was to rewire the entire boat. This included new batteries, new primary wiring, new load panels, new shore power, an isolation transformer, a new genset, and completely new AC load wiring. Throw in the conversion of all motors from 32 to 24 volts, and you've got a fun summer project. Well, OK, more like a two year project, but you get the idea. Check out all of the details here.
Electrical Systems - AC
Now, this was just scary. Where do I start? The antique GM 2-71 genset which leaked a gallon of oil per hour? The fifty-amp shore power cable with melted, burned ends? The breaker panel with a completely random assortment of breakers? Or how about the galley outlets wired with solid #14 house wire, where exposed connections were wrapped with scotch tape??!!!
Really, this was the single worst part of the boat. There was no choice. Every single inch of AC wiring was removed from the boat and thrown in the trash, and the entire boat was rewired from scratch. It's a big job, but it was done right.
Electronic Systems
I did our best to limit the use of electronics on Island Eagle, but for a few things we couldn't help ourselves. GPS, radio, autopilot, radar, sonar... OK, well, might as well add weatherfax, Loran... hmmm... what was I saying about limiting electronics? Take a look.
Mechanical Systems - Propulsion
The propulsion system is obviously the most critical component of an ocean-going motor vessel, and if you have a single engine like Island Eagle does, then you care a lot about that engine!
When I bought her, Island Eagle was equipped with the same engine she had been launched with, a General Motors Detroit Diesel model 6-110. Power was delivered through a Allision Model MH 4.5:1 reduction transmission, driving a 3" diameter bronze shaft to a 5-bladed 44" diameter prop. This combination will drive the boat at approximately 7.5 knots when the engine is turning at 1350 RPM, which is a very comfortable cruising speed.
While I initially considered replacing the old engine,for a number of reasons we decided to keep in in place. I've done a fair bit of work on it, though. For more details, see the engine section.
Of course, an engine needs fuel, and most engine failures are actually fuel system failures. As part of our system upgrades, Island Eagle has a completly new fuel system, including freshly cleaned tanks. Details of that upgrade are in the fuel section.
The final component of the engine systems is the exhaust, and this is the system which caused us the most trouble (and judging from the battle scars, we're not the only ones to experience it). The latest installments in the exhaust sage are in the [Link]exhaust section.
Rounding out the propulsion system is the rudder and steering gear, which at the time we purchased Island Eagle was a Rube Goldberg contraption that barely worked at the best of times. It's been changed to a nice new Jastram hydraulic systems, which is about a thousand times better.
Mechanical Systems - Plumbing
Once you've got the boat moving, the next area to worry about is plumbing. You need water to live, and much more importantly, you need a way to deal with the byproducts of the good life!
When I bought her, Island Eagle had a fairly unusual plumbing system. First, there were the tanks: four massive steel water tanks, totaling about 2000 gallons of fresh water! I decided that I'd keep the tanks, and replace everything else. Have a look.
Of course that water has to go somewhere. The grey water on Island Eagle runs to a little sump in the engine rooms, and it had a pump which occasionally wheezed a bit overboard, but usually the grey water overflowed into the bilge. I decided to clean things up a little, and appropriated one of the fresh water tanks as a grey water holding tank. It holds about 200 gallons, which is more than enough. Learn more about the grey water system.
Of course, this still leaves one very special system, the very very smelly one. When I got her, Island Eagle had two electric heads forward (32 volt, of course) and one manual head in the master suite. I knew we had to do someting, but what? After a long and informative discussions with the folks at Marine Sanitation in Seattle ("We're number one in the number two business") I had a plan. And you know what? It's worked out pretty darn well. See the details.
Mechanical Systems - HVAC
Toasty warm in the winter, chilly in the summer. That's the theory at least. Here's the practice.
Electrical Systems - DC
When I bought Island Eagle, we knew that she would need some electrical work. Some of the problems were obvious, such as rats nest of wires coming out of rusty junction boxes. Some of the problems were a bit more complex, such as the question of whether to convert the boat from the existing 32 volt system to a more modern 24 volt one.
Lest you think that the problems were overwhelming, there were also some real positives (no pun intended): All lighting on the boat was battery powered (32 volt, of course), which avoided having to run the genset. Most of the wiring runs were relatively exposed and easy to get at, which would make rewiring easier. The roomy engine room afforded plenty of space for battery stowage, panels, inverters, etc. In short, rewiring would be difficult but not impossible.
Luckily, I had a fair bit of experience wiring, and I come from 3 generations of electricians. After a thorough investigation and consulting with the experts, I came to the conclusion that the only solution was to rewire the entire boat. This included new batteries, new primary wiring, new load panels, new shore power, an isolation transformer, a new genset, and completely new AC load wiring. Throw in the conversion of all motors from 32 to 24 volts, and you've got a fun summer project. Well, OK, more like a two year project, but you get the idea. Check out all of the details here.
Electrical Systems - AC
Now, this was just scary. Where do I start? The antique GM 2-71 genset which leaked a gallon of oil per hour? The fifty-amp shore power cable with melted, burned ends? The breaker panel with a completely random assortment of breakers? Or how about the galley outlets wired with solid #14 house wire, where exposed connections were wrapped with scotch tape??!!!
Really, this was the single worst part of the boat. There was no choice. Every single inch of AC wiring was removed from the boat and thrown in the trash, and the entire boat was rewired from scratch. It's a big job, but it was done right.
Electronic Systems
I did our best to limit the use of electronics on Island Eagle, but for a few things we couldn't help ourselves. GPS, radio, autopilot, radar, sonar... OK, well, might as well add weatherfax, Loran... hmmm... what was I saying about limiting electronics? Take a look.
