If I’ve had one thing beat into my head the past few years, it’s to avoid overly integrated devices and systems. Highly integrated systems all just freakin’ dandy when things are working, but when something goes wrong it can be just a real joy trying to troubleshoot and fix a problem.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m an old system integrator and believe a fully integrated approach is fine, but the integration method and system build up is critical to rapid troubleshooting, component failure identification and repair or replacement.
Here’s something I got right. We used to have a combo inverter/battery charger. Worked great, and Jack just installed it in his motor home, but if it goes wrong I hope he’s got a separate battery charger and spare inverter. Given that we were sailing off to the land of 50 hertz / 230 volt power, a battery charger that only liked 60 hertz / 115 volt power didn’t make sense. That big heavy box got replaced with 2 much smaller and more capable boxes, an inverter that works off our batteries, and a battery charger that doesn’t care where in the world we plug it in. If one of them fails, I lose half the capability. If the old unit had failed, I would have lost all the capability even if we still were in Mexico. I installed multiple solar panels. Each has a dedicated solar controller, and I left long service loops in the wiring, so if a controller or solar panel fails rewiring and recovery will only take a few minutes.
My nemisis is our lovely house water pump. It’s a great unit, a Pentair Shuflo II 5 gpm fresh water pump that generally works great for about a year then quits. Usually when Isabel is in the shower all covered with soap, we’re underway in a messy seaway and it’s dark out. What fun it is dealing with that. Of course I’ve got a spare ready to install, you think I’m crazy?
I was just yakking with another boat skipper, bemoaning that the pump I replaced about 3 months ago had just died again. The same stupid little switch that fails every time. I purchased a bunch of them from Digi-Key the first time it happened, and it’s pretty easy to R&R the switch, but getting the pump out and the spare installed is a giant pain in the butt. In the meantime maybe my wife has soap in her eyes and nobody’s minding the farm at the helm.
Anyway, my new best friend Alex on SV Ari-B told me about a solution he found to this particular problem. He’s had pump pressure switch failures at about the same rate we have over the years, and as he noted, the pump/motor assembly is good for 30 years, the switch for maybe 12 months if you’re lucky. His solution? Disable the integrated pump switch and install a fixture just downstream on the high-pressure side that houses the pressure sensing switch. Install it in an easy to reach location, and the way it’s assembled the switch can be replaced in just a couple of minutes. Apparently one can purchase these things from an RV repair or accessories facility and they’re cheap. Still a nicely integrated system, but now with more discrete line replaceable units, (LRUs) as we used to call them at the big aerospace company. Ultimately cheaper to maintain in terms of man hours, less hassle and maybe no sailor swearing lessons. Sign me up!
The folks that build these boats don’t do it for ease of maintenance. They do it for ease and speed of build so that they can sell them cheaper and compete in the marketplace. The diesels even get installed before the top deck gets glued on. Good luck replacing one of those, and have fun standing on your head while you work on one.
If you’re looking for a boat to buy, look at each system component installation and consider how difficult it might be to maintain, repair or replace. Might really influence the buy/no buy decision. When you do buy your dream boat and decide to add systems or equipment, think long and hard about the above.
All whining aside, being out here still beats a great day at the office. . .
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