The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
In keeping with my love of Shearwater, I bought the Vibe Shearwater and am almost ready to launch. First, I wanted Sonar and GPS. Sure, I'll fish some, but I really want to see what I can see down there before I splash. It needed power, so I researched how much I would need for a long day on the water and more than doubled that. Just how hard would be to add an aft light in case I go out early in the morning or a rain storm hits me? I want to fly a flag from that mast, so 3 ft is the minimum. Hey, if I add a switch, I could add bow lights! I could add another switch and have a horn too! Woot. So, that's what I did. I still have a bit of machining to do to mount the Garmin Vivid 7sv unit, but I think I'll get her wet before that.
CAD design was done using www.OnShape.com. It's intuitive and even I could understand their tutorials. YouTube has a lot. I printed it with white PLA on a Crealty Ender 3 S-1 Pro because it was loaded. Were I printing today, I would opt for the carbon fiber stuff that's out there.
Two ports, one fore and the other aft.
This is the second iteration of the 3D printed battery tray. It was way too hard to get it in and out of the port The fuse bus is bolted in from the rear, but the main wires are most of the problem with getting in and out.
Final edition of the 3D printed battery tray. I put in a nicer plate to mount the fuse bus and molded in a place for an SS 6mm bolt to act as the common ground.
All wired and ready to take the plunge. I only used three of the six circuits, and the other fuses will act as extras if I need them. FWIW. I'm pretty happy with my wire crimping. The heat shrink tubing is adhesive lined to seal water vapor out.
All buttoned up and ready to launch. I added a 3D printed handle to assist in removing and installing the battery tray. You can see the two gland nuts with the cable on the lower left, with the charge/power port on the right. It will power the Garmin unit.
CAD design was done using www.OnShape.com. It's intuitive and even I could understand their tutorials. YouTube has a lot. I printed it with white PLA on a Crealty Ender 3 S-1 Pro because it was loaded. Were I printing today, I would opt for the carbon fiber stuff that's out there.
Two ports, one fore and the other aft.
This is the second iteration of the 3D printed battery tray. It was way too hard to get it in and out of the port The fuse bus is bolted in from the rear, but the main wires are most of the problem with getting in and out.
Final edition of the 3D printed battery tray. I put in a nicer plate to mount the fuse bus and molded in a place for an SS 6mm bolt to act as the common ground.
All wired and ready to take the plunge. I only used three of the six circuits, and the other fuses will act as extras if I need them. FWIW. I'm pretty happy with my wire crimping. The heat shrink tubing is adhesive lined to seal water vapor out.
All buttoned up and ready to launch. I added a 3D printed handle to assist in removing and installing the battery tray. You can see the two gland nuts with the cable on the lower left, with the charge/power port on the right. It will power the Garmin unit.
