Scaley! Hey Man! Which helped more... the doctor or the prescriptions? Enjoying your post on the Tomcat progress. Keep the post up and going. What airport should I fly into when coming your way? Like to shop airline tickets early to get better rates...and fit them into the budget. Byrdman
New TomCat 25
- Thread starter TyBoo
- Start date
Hi, Interested Parties
I am pleased to announce the delivery of Hull #4 from the CD Factory to Les at EQ Harbor Services on Saturday.
The hole in the transom where the compressor sits has been covered by an aluminum fold down box designed and built by Custom Boat Rails in Auburn. They also fabricated the compressor mounting plate. I'll paint the 5052 aluminum down here to match the boat color and apply a protective material to the top to resist dents and dings from the dive stuff.
Armstrong Brackets and bolt-on swim step/dive ladder is due 11/11 and will be sent with installer to Les for installation at EQ. Then, the Honda 150's.
I'll visit on 11/16-17 for final review, then return later with Katy, Mika the dog and Junior (F450) for the tow down. Gotta give Les some time to think about all this before asking for a delivery date, but I would expect christening/launching at Marina Del Rey mid December. This pretty much uses up all my Christmas wishes for the next decade!
As Les is doing his rigging magic on Dive Cat, maybe he can post pics of progress and challenges on the never-before-seen configuration. Hopefully, this will help future owners avoid pitfalls and anticipate problems to develop better methods and solutions.
Best regards,
Scaley
I am pleased to announce the delivery of Hull #4 from the CD Factory to Les at EQ Harbor Services on Saturday.
The hole in the transom where the compressor sits has been covered by an aluminum fold down box designed and built by Custom Boat Rails in Auburn. They also fabricated the compressor mounting plate. I'll paint the 5052 aluminum down here to match the boat color and apply a protective material to the top to resist dents and dings from the dive stuff.
Armstrong Brackets and bolt-on swim step/dive ladder is due 11/11 and will be sent with installer to Les for installation at EQ. Then, the Honda 150's.
I'll visit on 11/16-17 for final review, then return later with Katy, Mika the dog and Junior (F450) for the tow down. Gotta give Les some time to think about all this before asking for a delivery date, but I would expect christening/launching at Marina Del Rey mid December. This pretty much uses up all my Christmas wishes for the next decade!
As Les is doing his rigging magic on Dive Cat, maybe he can post pics of progress and challenges on the never-before-seen configuration. Hopefully, this will help future owners avoid pitfalls and anticipate problems to develop better methods and solutions.
Best regards,
Scaley
As you can see by the link in Scaley's sidebar info, he has an album in place. For the time being, the permissions are set to allow a few extras to post pics in there. Those guys are Jeff and Scott from the CD plant, Brydman, and Les at EQ. There are lots of us interested in seeing the Dive Cat come together, so maybe with that many folks having access to pics and a place to post them we can get us a look see.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
Hi, All
We are the owners of the next TomCat after Scaleys DiveCat. Our #5 is in the finish shop now and cabinets should be wrapped up today. Brackets and Motors (Honda 135's) in next two weeks. The Armstrong brackets and swim steps for both of our boats were delayed by hurricane Wilma. We will be at the factory on Nov. 28th to oversee Electronics and Helm layout and installation. Hope for on the water trials by Dec. 1st or 2nd. We have a lot of pix. of our boat as well as some of DiveCat's compressor modifications.
TyBoo, if you will allow I can post the compressor pix's to the DiveCat album.
No name yet for the new boat. Think the name Cygnet will retire with the sale of the TomCat 24'
We are the owners of the next TomCat after Scaleys DiveCat. Our #5 is in the finish shop now and cabinets should be wrapped up today. Brackets and Motors (Honda 135's) in next two weeks. The Armstrong brackets and swim steps for both of our boats were delayed by hurricane Wilma. We will be at the factory on Nov. 28th to oversee Electronics and Helm layout and installation. Hope for on the water trials by Dec. 1st or 2nd. We have a lot of pix. of our boat as well as some of DiveCat's compressor modifications.
TyBoo, if you will allow I can post the compressor pix's to the DiveCat album.
No name yet for the new boat. Think the name Cygnet will retire with the sale of the TomCat 24'
WOW.... the excitement grows again.... You guys have me wanting to pull FreeByrd back over to the left side for more TC24 shoppers.....and place possible order at the SBS with Jeff & Scott tangent on sale of FreeByrd. I need to pull her out of the water any way for engine oil changes and general get ready for winter water maintenance, and go ahead and repaint the bottom while she is out and dry. I guess worse case...she would not sale during the show and I would simply just have to bring her back home... There is some math... fuel cost hauling to & from east to west coast and back staying in boat rather than hotel ....vs.... plane ticket rental car/hotel for SBS and Factory Gathering.... hummmm Going to basically blow one week for the boat show any way..... why not 3 weeks and see a bit of America....other than that old 4 letter "S" :xseek word that almost caught me during our initial haul..
Any one hear what the final weight of boat/motors/trailer was of any of the 1st few hulls???
Byrdman
Any one hear what the final weight of boat/motors/trailer was of any of the 1st few hulls???
Byrdman
New Hampshire Guy
New member
Is that the EZ Loader custom trailer?
New Guy,
That's the EZ Loader custom trailer for our boat. Don't have a pix of the actual DiveCat trailer. I think the walkway is specific to our trailer only. Ours and Scaleys trailers have Electric/Hydraulic brake actuator, which is a special order item. Standard is dual axle with 8500# capacity, 16" class D wheels and tires, with surge type brake actuator.
EZ Loader has designed a trailer that should be a great improvement over the previous TC24 trailer. Jeff Messmer has gone the extra mile to make this trailer happen.
Brent
That's the EZ Loader custom trailer for our boat. Don't have a pix of the actual DiveCat trailer. I think the walkway is specific to our trailer only. Ours and Scaleys trailers have Electric/Hydraulic brake actuator, which is a special order item. Standard is dual axle with 8500# capacity, 16" class D wheels and tires, with surge type brake actuator.
EZ Loader has designed a trailer that should be a great improvement over the previous TC24 trailer. Jeff Messmer has gone the extra mile to make this trailer happen.
Brent
Posting pictures..... Good news/Bad news...
Good news is I have found that little cable that goes between the computer and the camera....
Bad news....is just got home ....and now I can not find the camera.... Uhh Ohh... that aint good.
But, I may have downloaded some pics earlier from the Blakely weekend/Factory visit... particuarly some of the trailer.
Scaley: Just found out that I will be roaming about the west coast between LA and San Diago somewhere between 28Dec thru 8Jan06 prior to the SBS visit. May get up/over to see your ride during that time... Sherryl has a conference in LA 4-8Jan06..... then back out again for me 12-16Jan06 for the show/gathering.
Byrdman
Good news is I have found that little cable that goes between the computer and the camera....
Bad news....is just got home ....and now I can not find the camera.... Uhh Ohh... that aint good.
But, I may have downloaded some pics earlier from the Blakely weekend/Factory visit... particuarly some of the trailer.
Scaley: Just found out that I will be roaming about the west coast between LA and San Diago somewhere between 28Dec thru 8Jan06 prior to the SBS visit. May get up/over to see your ride during that time... Sherryl has a conference in LA 4-8Jan06..... then back out again for me 12-16Jan06 for the show/gathering.
Byrdman
journey on
New member
Journey On has those electric hydraulic brakes. They're the only thing that allows us to tow the !@#$ thing. The only problem is that they came with a 12' tongue. I'm going to shorten it to the standard 10' length (when I get around to it,) so I can go around corners. When we're launching, putting on the truck brakes also actuates the trailer brakes. For us that's good. After the boat is off, disconnect the trailer electrics, otherwise the trailer wheels will lock up. It's fun to hear.
You'll enjoy that trailer.
boris
You'll enjoy that trailer.
boris
Hi, Everyone
The Armstrong Brackets and Swim Platform w/Dive Ladder were supposed to arrive by truck at the factory today. Haven't heard verification from Scott, so weather delay may be in play. Should arrive on Monday, then sent up to EQ with an installation tem from the factory on Tuesday.
Pictures as soon as there's something tangible. Keep an eye on the Dive Cat album.
Have a great USC is #1 weekend!
Scaley
The Armstrong Brackets and Swim Platform w/Dive Ladder were supposed to arrive by truck at the factory today. Haven't heard verification from Scott, so weather delay may be in play. Should arrive on Monday, then sent up to EQ with an installation tem from the factory on Tuesday.
Pictures as soon as there's something tangible. Keep an eye on the Dive Cat album.
Have a great USC is #1 weekend!
Scaley
Scaley's Trip Report:
Hi, Everyone,
Returned from EQ Harbor Services last night after 2 days with Les and Crew working on Dive Cat.
She is beautiful, even with wires strung out all over and cardboard deck covers. And she is . . . BIG!
The Armstrong Brackets and Swim Step arrived Thursday morning with the factory crew. They used a template and installed the units in a few hours. The fit is excellent. For my purposes, I'm leaving off the swim step rails because it will interfere with divers swinging over the stern and standing on the main engine brackets. The brackets have also been raised another 2" (from last placement) to put the engines in exactly the right mounting holes. This should increase engine efficiency and reduce splash at speed, I'm told.
The instrumentation has been placed in a very tight space. Considering the boat MUST have 2 engines some design review may be appropriate.
Les very cleverly divided up the water maker into small packages and found homes for everything out of the way. This whole water making thing probably has many eyes rolling, but with divers and cold water there's nothing like a warm shower and at least rinsed gear. Multip[ly these personal needs times 3-4 people over a couple three days and the need is clear. We don't have to come back for air, fuel or water. With fuel costing what it does, the diving economy of scale comes from one out, one back and as long as you can stay on station. Hopefully we'll catch enough to eat, but there's plenty of room for peanut butter and crackers.
We've come up with an inexpensive solution for after steering, too. We'll use the Teledyne Morse controlls fore and aft and a Raymarine joystick link to the Raymarine Autopilot. These controlls will be on the stb stern transom gunwale, protected somewhat by the hand rail. I can steer from the stern for 2 anchor placement and backing down on divers. Cool, and absolutely necessary for a diving operation.
Les recommended an invertor system to supplement the Honda 2K I have. With a couple of big house batts, I can use the microwave for awhile without pulling the generator out with divers on the deck, or people sleeping. Keeping the house batts charged should be relatively easy with the normal moves during a diving day.
The trailer has a little adjusting to be done, but I'm sure Jeff is on it so we won't cover that now.
Unfortunately, I don't have the little "add photos" option on my album page, so I'm asking Byrdman or Brent to filter through the pics and post them in the Dive Cat album. Les has agreed to keep us visually informed as milestones are met, so you can expect photo updates as we go along.
When will she be ready? Junior is fueled and ready. We know the route. We're packed, pretty much. Christmas?
More to come,
Scaley
Les is going to rig an exhaust tube for the gas engine driving the compressor, and a very long fresh air pickup hose for the compressor intake. He hooked up with the compressor manufacturer personally and got all the "unwritten" specs. I'll finish the high pressure side with the compressor distributor down here once I've got a good feel where I want the manifold to be.
Hi, Everyone,
Returned from EQ Harbor Services last night after 2 days with Les and Crew working on Dive Cat.
She is beautiful, even with wires strung out all over and cardboard deck covers. And she is . . . BIG!
The Armstrong Brackets and Swim Step arrived Thursday morning with the factory crew. They used a template and installed the units in a few hours. The fit is excellent. For my purposes, I'm leaving off the swim step rails because it will interfere with divers swinging over the stern and standing on the main engine brackets. The brackets have also been raised another 2" (from last placement) to put the engines in exactly the right mounting holes. This should increase engine efficiency and reduce splash at speed, I'm told.
The instrumentation has been placed in a very tight space. Considering the boat MUST have 2 engines some design review may be appropriate.
Les very cleverly divided up the water maker into small packages and found homes for everything out of the way. This whole water making thing probably has many eyes rolling, but with divers and cold water there's nothing like a warm shower and at least rinsed gear. Multip[ly these personal needs times 3-4 people over a couple three days and the need is clear. We don't have to come back for air, fuel or water. With fuel costing what it does, the diving economy of scale comes from one out, one back and as long as you can stay on station. Hopefully we'll catch enough to eat, but there's plenty of room for peanut butter and crackers.
We've come up with an inexpensive solution for after steering, too. We'll use the Teledyne Morse controlls fore and aft and a Raymarine joystick link to the Raymarine Autopilot. These controlls will be on the stb stern transom gunwale, protected somewhat by the hand rail. I can steer from the stern for 2 anchor placement and backing down on divers. Cool, and absolutely necessary for a diving operation.
Les recommended an invertor system to supplement the Honda 2K I have. With a couple of big house batts, I can use the microwave for awhile without pulling the generator out with divers on the deck, or people sleeping. Keeping the house batts charged should be relatively easy with the normal moves during a diving day.
The trailer has a little adjusting to be done, but I'm sure Jeff is on it so we won't cover that now.
Unfortunately, I don't have the little "add photos" option on my album page, so I'm asking Byrdman or Brent to filter through the pics and post them in the Dive Cat album. Les has agreed to keep us visually informed as milestones are met, so you can expect photo updates as we go along.
When will she be ready? Junior is fueled and ready. We know the route. We're packed, pretty much. Christmas?
More to come,
Scaley
Les is going to rig an exhaust tube for the gas engine driving the compressor, and a very long fresh air pickup hose for the compressor intake. He hooked up with the compressor manufacturer personally and got all the "unwritten" specs. I'll finish the high pressure side with the compressor distributor down here once I've got a good feel where I want the manifold to be.
I am so sorry. I was too busy setting it so all those other guys could post to it, and you got left out. Should be fine now. You set as the album "owner", and can do just about anything with it.
Not at all, for me anyway. I think it is a fantastic idea for all the reasons you mentioned, and I think it is a great idea for someone to get what they want.
He is crafty that way, isn't he?
I bet she is! Congratulations once again!
Congratulations-this is very exciting! I see what you mean about the instruments--almost wonder if a rigger could put a secondy pod or pannel for some of the guages just above the stb. dash. I have used remote jog stick steering on both of my ocean crossing vessels--works great--and gets rid of the second wheel. Many larger boats are going that way. I also put in "power steering" buttons on one of my boats, using the auto pilot motor and hydrualics.
I may have missed it, but are you putting a 12 volt water maker and which Brand? I hope that you get the boat down to Santa Monica while I am there, really want to see it!
Regards!
I may have missed it, but are you putting a 12 volt water maker and which Brand? I hope that you get the boat down to Santa Monica while I am there, really want to see it!
Regards!
Bob-n-Brent: Thanks for the pic updates. This looks great. Bob, I would have attempted to post the pics last night...but spent the day loading a truck load of items to go down to the gulf on the MS/LA Pearl River area... crashed a bit early last night. :moon
Yep, not as young as I use to be... :cry and there are for sure particular body parts I can not touch this moring :embarrased .....but, Motrin 800 inbound...and it is still early!! :clock
Hot tub is my friend. 8)
Yep, not as young as I use to be... :cry and there are for sure particular body parts I can not touch this moring :embarrased .....but, Motrin 800 inbound...and it is still early!! :clock
Hot tub is my friend. 8)