Lapwing Marine
L.L.C. ®
2008
Saint
Helens, Oregon
Services offered

"Based on the notion that you can tell
something about the way I work based on my tools and tooling"
Electrical
- Electrical
troubleshooting of both AC and DC systems. I have both the equipment
and experience to resolve even complex electrical issues.
- Inverter
installation. I particularly like Magnum inverters.
- I
install isolation
transformers and certified fail-safe, galvanic isolators
to ABYC A-28
- Battery system
installation and servicing. I use a Midtronics tester
to measure the true internal state of a battery. Correctly done this
yields the most repeatable measure of
battery condition. A printout
provides hard copy, for future reference, allowing me to track changes
over time. If requested I provide a printout with every new battery I
install. This is a must for expensive AGM and Gel cell batteries where
there really is no other way to assess battery condition.
- Battery
chargers, for multiple banks, even when the banks are different
voltages. I like Promariner
chargers (their galvanic products are also pretty good). Charles
makes some good chargers also.
- Balmar
- digital duo-charge regulators, Balmar alternators and smart
regulators.
- I install and
service electrical breaker panels AC and DC, including extensive
rewiring.
- Solar panels
and regulators, particularly Morningstar.
- I
love working on electrically powered boats (of which there are a
surprising number on the Columbia. I have experience programming,
troubleshooting and repairing, speed controllers, charging and battery
systems up to 80V DC (72V nominal). Electrically powered boats have
there own technical challenges. It is not uncommon on production
electric launches, to find 12V systems (running lights, GPS etc.)
tapped from 48V battery packs, leading to unbalanced cells and early
battery death. The solution is simple - install a DC-DC converter.
Charging systems on production boats are sometimes the worst solution
installations, leading to short battery pack life.
Electronics
- I particularly
recommend: Raymarine, Garmin,
ICOM,
Furuno,
tacktick
& Simrad. Thanks to NMEA
standards it is much easier these days to troubleshoot electronics.
- Installing and
troubleshooting complex networked systems.
- Resolving
connectivity and software issues.
- Installing, and
testing VHF radios and antenna systems. I generally recommend: Raymarine
& ICOM.
- Installing and
testing SSB systems.
- Installing Pactor modems.
- Autopilots -
Raymarine, B&G
- Windpilot
& Sailomat installation
Electrical safety
- AC
safety
in fresh water is perhaps the most neglected maintenance issue. The
correct installation & configuration of the vessels AC system
with
regard to a bonding system and the DC system, is very
important.
- The
condition of dockside delivery wiring is
also important.
- A typical
safety assessment only takes a few minutes. The basic tool is a very
sensitive AC clamp meter.
I simply clamp the shore power cord or cords if there are more than
one. Any AC current "missing" must be in the water. (note: this tells
us nothing about the DC side of things)
- If there are
any issues, I follow up with quick check
of the dock power. I usually unplug the boat, until the AC leakage can
be identified and repaired
Corrosion
- Corrosion
surveys - the science - no black art. I only work with what I can
measure. Milliamp clamp meter, custom calibrated zinc (for fresh water)
& silver/silver chloride test anodes, digital multimeter and
Hanna
salinity meter.
- My
comprehensive ABYC training and certification, together with a complete
checklist, helps get to grips with what's happening, and why? Based on
the results there is usually a best course of action. Often
the
boat owner has no control over dockside issues, especially transient
boats with problems. There are a number of solutions to those causes of
corrosion, like isolation
transformers and certified fail-safe, galvanic isolators
to ABYC A-28
Mechanical & plumbing
- Servicing and
rebuilding marine heads and associated valving and tankage.
VacuFlush
heads, and some of the more expensive bronze and porcelain
units are worth rebuilding, while with many other models, a more cost
effective solution, is changing out the pump or the entire unit
for new.
- Heating: Webasto
and Espar
servicing and installation
- Installing/troubleshooting
air conditioners
- Fresh water
pressure systems, pump service or replacement.
- SidePower,
Vetus, Lewmar, bow & stern thruster installation and
servicing.
- Harken,
Andersen and Lewmar winches - mechanical and electric.
Lapwing
Marine L.L.C.®