Windshield Wipers

[rangerscott275]

Hello,

I recently purchased a 1970 53' Classic MY. I picked it up in Baltimore and drove it to right outside of new york city (4 days total trip). It performed flawlessly in some very VERY big seas.....with the exeption of the original equipment vacuum windshield wipers. 2 out of 3 quit on me at some point in the trip. I was wondering people's thoughts on replacing them.....should I go for new vacuum models or should I go for electric? any ideas / experiences appreciated.
best,
Scott

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have 32v electric wipers on my 53, but I had air wipers on an old Eagle Bus once, so I know a little about them. I would look into rebulding/repairing the old air units. If that doesn't appear to be reasonably feasible, I think I would switch to electric. Call Steve McPherson at Sams Marine. I know he can help you. He is an exceptional resource for old Hatt parts and knowledge.

 

[Dustoff44]

I had this place rebuild my Trico pnuematic wiper and they are now working great. www.wiperman.com/rebuildpage202.html
As long as the port engine is running or there is air in the tank these wipers will work.

 

[Nonchalant1]

My air wipers were replaced with big 12V wiper motors. They have worked perfectly for 3 years in some very difficult conditions. I'd recommend them. I don't know what brand or model (I'd have to take apart the mahagony boxes to find out. I can check if you think you're going that way.

Doug Shuman

 

[MikeP]

We made nearly that same trip at the same time last year when we brought our "new" 53MY home to the north shore of Long Island. If the wipers had not worked, we could have never seen where we were going! They were running the whole time.

I agree with Sky, if you can repair the old ones, that's what I'd do. If they cannot be rejuvinated, then I would consider replacing them with electric models.

 

[wndsr]

I have air operated wiper motors not vacuum. If you are referring to air operated motors, I checked with the "wiperman.com" and he could not rebuild. He referred me to Abshier Manufacturing. Dana Abshier called me back right away and said he can rebuild. I sent them to him last week. He quoted $56.00 ea. to rebuild. His ph# is (317) 271-0711. I am also curious. Did you recently buy "Traveler"? We got to know the owner from attending club functions. Plus if you are a new owner we need to recruit you into the club.
Thanks
Ben Fishel
"Size Matters"

 

[rangerscott275]

Hello & yes I did buy Traveler from the Felps'....it is an amazing boat! Thanks everyone for all of your advice....This website is an amazing resource! Now that you mention it, the wipers must be air (not vacuum)...or could it be either? I'm pretty sure they are the originals.

 

[spartonboat1]

I would have thought that you might want to switch to the parallel arm/cantilevered wipers for improved windshield coverage, plus they allow for a longer arm and come down further on the windshield.

Unless that is what you have.

How big were the seas on the maiden voyage?

 

[rangerscott275]

I should write up the whole story of the adventure back because it is really amazing that both I and the boat made it.....but the worst of it was in the atlantic I was in solid 10 foot seas with some bigger...it was so bad that the force ripped the trash compactor out of the wall in the galley and the fridge out of its cabinet on the fly bridge and sent both flying. I watched my ship's bell diappear under the crest of a wave as I first pulled out of cape may canal. The bell is at least 10 feet back from the tip of the bow. I wanted to turn around and go back but couldn't b/c I was afraid the boat would get broached (based on direction of the waves) plus I figured that once I got clear of the mouth of the canal, and into the atlantic, it would calm some. I was wrong. The worst part was coming into atlantic city. I'd never been before and night fell on me, raining and fog, lights and wipers went out and I couldn't see the entrance to the harbor (actually couldn't even see the lights of Atlantic City). Used Nobeltec to guide me in as I had 10 foot following seas with breaking waves coming off my starboard stern. My stepfather was praying out loud, we had both doors open in the main salon for egress, EPIRB & life jackets beside us! I'm not exagerating...it was so bad that though we made it, he quit the voyage the next day and I had to hire someone to be my deckhand for the rest of the trip! There is more to the story for sure, but don't want to overdo my posting to the thread!

 

[mariah]

You are VERY lucky!! and possibly stupid as well. should have stayed outside, motor slowly into wave and waited till dawn, don't enter a strange harbor at night in low visi and following seas. Thank you lucky stars.

 

[rangerscott275]

I am indeed lucky. The weather station was calling for 4 to 6 footers (though not comfortable, completely doable) so I didn't expect that kind of sea condition. Also, we arrived at Atlantic city around 6:30 / 7pm at night and there was no way I was staying out in the ocean for another 12 hours till sun up....nor did I want to continue on all the way to NYC through the night so Atlantic City was the best safe harbor for both us (mentally & physically) and the vessel. We did go slow....very slow believe me. The biggest problem is that at night, you can't see the waves to steer into them appropriately until they are on top of you. In any event, I will never subject myself to anything remotely like that again....if weather station says 4 to 6, I'm staying home! But thank you for pointing out that I may be stupid...that is helpful.

 

[admiralty58]

Moving boats around in the NE from november to may just plain sux-unpredictable, cold and nasty- gets big quick- gives you alot of respect for the commercial guys.

 

[spartonboat1]

Yes, its astonishing how running in the dark affects your ability to gauge the waves and steer accordingly.

Also, I have started to run in the dark, under decent conditions, for IFR practice if you will, in areas that have good nav lights and running my radar to see other traffic, etc.

Just the same, I was surprised how difficult it was to recognize where we were, based on the nav lights, even though I have been through for decades. Also, I was running two GPS's and they helped, but only until you get about 100 yards out. I almost hit/came much closer than I wanted, a breakwater that came out a lot further than I remembered it. We were dead slow, so had plenty of time to adjust, but just the same, it gets you very focused.

P.s., Lake MI and Superior had Full Gale force winds recently with 20 foot and 25 seas respectively. While we were installing the last of the boat covers in St. Ignace, MI, before the really bad weather, I noticed several large commercial vessels come into the lea of the islands and land. Maybe having lost several large vessels, all of which were the largest on the Lakes at the time they went down (Fitzgerald, Bradley, and Morrill) the shipping industry is now more careful.

 

[jim rosenthal]

You guys are a lot braver than I am. I suppose any one of us can get caught out in weather like that. I have been across the lower Chesapeake in a Northeaster and would never do it again if I could possibly avoid it. After it was all said and done, and I had got into port, I just felt like I had been lucky and not very bright to do it in the first place. And that was in a wooden boat! an Egg Harbor 37. Lovely little boat, but not as tough as a Hatteras.
Speaking of which, if you'd been in some other boats, you might not be here now. At least you did it in the right vessel.

 

[Nonchalant1]

Whae you get into bad conditions, for both comfort and safety the difference stabilizers makes is absolutely incredible. The only problem is being able to afford them ($43K for Naiads on a 53MY). I've been in 7-8 ft Great Lakes waves without and with stabilizers and I never want to go back.

Doug

 

[rangerscott275]

Stabilizers would have been amazing! I had no idea they were that expensive and funny enough, after that journey I immediately put them on my wish list! If there isn't one already, we should start a new thread on stabilizers....it would be interesting to get everyone's take on them and hear some sea stories about how they helped.

In response to one of the posts about being in the right boat, I'd like to agree with you wholeheartedly. I've been an admirer of hatteras boats for years and my boat really lived up to its reputation duing that journey. I've been saving for a long time to own this boat and couldn't be more pleased. To be clear, it was never my intent to put my vessel or my crew in those waves. I just got caught in a bad situation and did the best that I could given my experience and knowledge. I think it worked out since I'm ok and my boat is ok but please know that I take saftey seriously.

Thanks all for your responses!
best,
Scott

 

[Genesis]

I don't go into strange harbors at night. Period. If I find myself potentially in that position, I turn around or stay offshore.

I don't like getting my butt kicked in the daytime, but it is VERY easy to end up broached and up on the rocks or sunk running a harbor entrance at night if you're not VERY familiar with it - and sometimes even if you are with limited visability.

We have one of the worst inlets in Florida here (Destin - I think its rated as "3rd most hazardous" or somesuch) and if the wind and tide are right its a real BEAST. At night in bad conditions it is downright dangerous, no matter the vessel or your experience with it.

I've come across from Clearwater to Appalachicola (an entrance I don't know well) in NASTY conditions, and I'm ok doing it as long as I have daylight. At night - no way. I've run at 18kts into 8-10s for several hours to avoid having to run that cut after dark. It was not fun and there was no part of the exterior of the boat that wasn't covered in salt (and not spray either - WATER) when I got in, but Gig handled it fine and nothing got broken.

On a calm night when you can safely poke your way in its one thing, but when the seas are rough that's not an option. If you get "behind" the sea state you're fixing to get broached or (in a cockpit boat) pooped, and either can be very bad news with a jetty in close proximity.

Were I to find myself with a bad forecast and unexpected snot at night in an unfamiliar area I'd stay safely offshore until morning. Yeah, you're gonna take a pasting. But as long as the mechanicals are in good shape and you're just keeping steerageway against it, the boat will be fine. If you get tossed up on the rocks or have an unseen shoal rip out your running gear you'll lose the boat and might lose your life. It ain't worth it.

I've diverted to Pensacola before (a HUGE, wide open, DEEP pass) on the way in from the canyon when I didn't think I could make Destin before nightfall and conditions were deteriorating. Its a ~50nm detour (one way!) and god-awful expensive fuel-wise, but I can run that inlet without fear of tearing anything out or getting rolled dead blind, and once inshore in protected water I can always drop the hook and wait for morning to make the rest of the run home.

Don't run inlets you're not REAL familiar with in bad conditions at night.

We like having 'ya around!

 

[wndsr]

My wiper motors showed up this morning from having them rebuilt at Abshier Manufacturing. They look very nice. Cost was $65.57 per motor plus $9.50 total shipping. Probably the most inexpensive project yet!!!!

 

[SeaEric]

Wow, another scary story from the New Jersey coast. I have been there myself and one time almost ran up on an underwater jetty in broad daylight at Barnegat. Darned thing just didn't look like it did on the chart. Funny, the chart was correct. Going slowly is always a good thing! I have also traversed the Atlantic City inlet at dusk. Was not easy. Scott, we're all pleased that you lucked out and made it OK. Traveler is a very special, beautiful 53 Classic. I was the broker who sold her to Dr. Felps. That was 7 or 8 years ago if memory serves me. You got a good boat with a history of caring owners. Good luck with her!