Author Archives: skysmith

Boat Insurance Tips!

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Boat Insurance Tips!

Boat Insurance Tips

A few Boat Insurance Tips to help you get the best insurance rates (and a few other things to remember):

  • Get out there and boat.  Experience moves you up the boat ladder and helps your insurance rates and requirements.
  • Plan on getting a survey whether the insurance requires it or not, it is just a good practice. Plus it helps determine a value for the boat.
  • Participate in training programs Coast Guard or others.
  • Regular maintenance can help reduce the cost of ownership and risk of problems.  Inspect or have your boat inspected by a qualified marine mechanic at least a couple of times a year.
  • Fix things that are broken or in need of repair before someone gets hurt or you get stuck on the water and you have to make a claim.  Claims will affect your rates and ability to get insurance.
  • Have a plan to protect or move your boat if bad weather is heading your direction.  If bad weather is winter, lay up the boat. Most underwriters offer reduce rates for boats that are not used year round.
  • Securely store your boat by installing theft prevention devices on electronics, outboard engines, out drives, trailer hitches, etc.
  • Install alarm and safety systems to protect against high bilge water levels, fires, vapors and theft.
  • Keep your supply of charts and data cards current and plan your routes to avoid accidental grounding and bad weather.
  • Be a responsible boater and use appropriate Personal Flotation Devices; don’t drink and boat and follow the “rules” of the waterway.

Need a boat insurance quote don’t forget to call me.

My names on the door!

 

HD Heritage Wheel Bearings Installation

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HD Heritage Wheel Bearings.

Following are a few pictures of installing Heritage wheel bearings.

Recently I was able to buy a 2002 Harley Softail Heritage Classic.

Bearings

One thing I have always disliked on my motorcycles is spoke wheels. Too many parts to loosen up and hard to keep clean.  Anyway, after a search on Facebook and craigslist I was able to buy a pair of solid wheels off a 2002 Harley Fat Boy.

Bearings

But before I install new tires (thinking wide white walls) and installing them on the Heritage, I wanted to install new wheel bearings.

I ordered four new bearings and a bearing puller/installer from MaXpeedingrods.com This is a very nice tool for the money.  It comes with everything you need to remove and install the bearings (besides the wrench’s). One thing that did bother me a bit, was mixing the SAE and metric sized bolts. Although it seems like almost every motorcycle or car mixes SAE and metric sizes too.

Bearings

Next was the process of removing the old bearings.  Read the instructions first!  The removal tool is a hollow bolt that slips into the inside of the bearing and then has a tapered bolt put inside to expand the tool to catch on the inside edge of the bearing.  The kit comes with three different size tools. One for the 3/4 inch axle, 1 inch and 25 mm.   The 2002 is the 3/4 inch axle. I coated all the threaded parts with oil (and the tapered expansion bolt) before starting, as stated in the instructions.

Bearings

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After installing the “cage” on the outside of the wheel, tightening up the wedge to catch the bearing. Then tightening the large nut to pull the bearing out of the wheel. Notice the ratchet, which had a short extension with a hex driver to hold the center wedge bolt to keep the assembly from moving. Just a matter of muscle power to pull the bearings.  Repeat on the other side. I did drop the puller inside the hollow portion of the wheel.  Don’t do that, it was a PIA to get it back out.

After I cleaned the bears races Inserted the installation tool started the install. Make sure and apply anti seize lubricant to the bearing surfaces inside and out to make it a bit easier next time you try this.

Finished installation.

Cessna 182, good for low time pilot?

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Cessna 182, good for low time pilot?

cessna 182

Recently I had a call asking “should a low time pilot buy a Cessna 182”?  The caller was concerned because they only had 75 hours total time and all of that was in a Cessna 172. On top of that, they had a chance to buy a Cessna 182 that has very low time and is a clean airplane, should they be concerned about their low total time when moving up to a 182?

My quick thoughts. The Cessna 182 is a great aircraft. It offers an excellent platform for instrument (IFR) training, is a respectable cross country aircraft and is reasonably cost effective to operate. As a private pilot, your first year will be a little more expensive to insure because of your low hours, but that’s about it.  Yes, it does cost slightly more to maintain than a Cessna 172, but the difference is slight, mainly in the fuel burn and engine costs.  The Continental six-cylinder, 470 engine (or the Lycoming 540 in the new models) are very reliable engines.  Parts are in supply, aftermarket items and service is available almost anywhere you can fly to.

About the only thing that seems to bother the 182 are the fuel bladders in the pre-1979 aircraft and the nose gear impacts that low time pilots inflict during training. The 182 gets quite a few hard landings on the nose, typically when they are full of fuel and lightly loaded with passengers and baggage.  A pilot tends to run out of elevator in the flare a little higher than they should and drop them on the nose.  Nothing that cannot be corrected with a good dose of training at different loads.

As with any other aircraft, a good pre-buy inspection for damage history, corrosion and maintenance should be done before the purchase.  Also line up an instructor that has a fair amount of time in the Cessna 182 and they can show you how well the aircraft can really perform. Oh, and if you are used to the Cessna 172, the 182 will just require more arm muscles in the flare.  The heavy control pressure will be notable for the first few hours, after that, it’s a typical Cessna!