I've not commented before but I am absolutely invested in this project. Cannot wait to see Alan out on the water

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Aaron. Good to hear, whether a commenter or a lurker!

I like the remote searchlight idea, I did start work on a generic remote control 360 gimbal for mounting various things; spotlight,microphone,megaphone, laser rangefinder, LRAD, fluffy toy, whatever. But gave up as it was a lot of work/expense. Something for you to consider perhaps. Also. On the rare occasions when your are in warm climes, your solar cells will run inefficient, due to heat build up if there is no airgap between them and Alans hull.

@minhducnguyen9276

Жыл бұрын

Worst case is when on of the panel get blocked and it turns into a resistor and waste your energy. But I believe that most solar panels already come with shun resistors installed to prevent further energy lost.

I watch a few other channels and often its "oops got the wrong size so waiting for another delivery"". That's why I love your solutions Alex, out there on the ice there is no next day delivery!

Long-time viewer, first time commentor. Excellent videos with great detail. Drain Holes are best fitted with a Split Pin to ensure that the Drain Hole remains open & functional.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Interesting tip

I really like you effort and perseverance.

Maybe this is a stupid question. But what is the advantage of having a remote controlled mobile searchlight, vs having 2 or 3 fixed big lights that cover all the front of the boat?

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Space saving, and an ability to aim at a specific point. I think you'd need more than 3 fixed lights to give good coverage.

@Dave78214

Жыл бұрын

I've owned servos and an arduino kits, an adafruit servo controller etc for almost 5 years - I never managed to make the robot stand on its own 2 feet but apparently that's an easy kaggler task nowadays. I would use them with camera, probably double camera for distance measurement, maybe a lidar if I could afford, but never a weapon. Perhaps a distress beacon launcher.

@alttabby3633

Жыл бұрын

It's counter intuitive if you are accustom to night driving in a automobile, but on the water it's much better to have a sweeping beam of light than to have multiple fixed lights.

I wish that you would give us at least a months notice when you will be working on the flood light box. I like to take off from work the day before, of and after in preparations for this event. I have to give notice to the droves of people that come to watch it on my large outdoor projector screen, whilst cheering you on every riveting step of the way. The extra heads up would allow for proper parking accommodations for the lines of cars and catering as well. Thanks in advance.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

It's now over. Mourn at leisure.

Quite enlightening.

Nicely done.

A thought comes to mind as I watch you work on the searchlight cover. Fiddling with the cover while sitting high, dry and stable is one thing, but out at sea could be something quite different. Perhaps a short safety cord attached to the cover and the other end to the surface inside the housing would prevent losing the cover overboard. Consideration to keep the cord from tangling with the light's movement would be needed.

@RandomNooby

Жыл бұрын

What he said, everything that can detatch must have a safety cord, even you Mr Hibbert.

My only concern is heat build-up inside the enclosure... so, get thee to arctic conditions promptly!

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Based on 65% heat loss for an LED, that's only 32W of heat - I'm fairly sure the housing can radiate that away.

Oh yes I do need a book for this winter. I don't like reading story books, I only read for knowledge. I'm sure a lot of people can relate to this. Steve

I really like your voice-over comments. I wonder if Alan is looking forward to the end with anticipation, or with some trepidation?

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Luckily Alan is a boat, so just does what he's told.

If you believe everything they tell you online Alan would never be build. Thanks for the video.

OK done with the Oxford Union piece - congratz on that one :D

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Cheers

I did watch the Oxford Union video. That was very interesting. 10 out of 10 if anyone else is thinking of watching it.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Cheque's in the post

Another option for a searchlight cover is a motorcycle windscreen. Different sizes and shapes. Find a fiberglass fairing to go with it from the breakers yard and modify as necessary to box in and mount. With a big enough windscreen and curvature, you could probably mount across an edge and not have to mount on a flat space.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure how this solves the mounting method question mark? The clear panel itself is fine.

i recommend reflective tape behind the searchlight

I have hardware and attachment method suggestions for you- I’ve done this sort of thing before! First, don’t feel too bad about getting a little scratch on the polycarb. While it is way easier to work with than you had heard, polycarb does scratch super easily. At work we say you can scratch the polycarb if it thinks you’re looking at it funny. Oh and don’t use windex on it, it will get cloudy. As for attachment. Have you considered rivet nuts? This seems like an ideal use, but I’m not sure about the compatibility with the fiberglass. Maybe a washer reinforcement on the inside would help the rivet not compress the fiberglass and pop though. I would probably combine it with a spade-headed or winged thumb screw if you can find it in ss316 where you are. You can buy all the different thumb screws from McMaster Carr, but they’re US only I think. Hope this helps- I’ve actually done this almost exact thing before - poly to fiberglass without interior access for holding the interior bolt. The solution at the time was to embed nuts in the fiberglass during the casting process, and honestly I wouldn’t recommend it as a solution. Over time it hasn’t held up the best and my project was a fairly stationary object indoors. I can see it delaminating from the stress of rocking on Alan. Rivet nut would be my top thing to try- especially if you have a friend with the tool. My last idea would be to do one last layer of resin and embed on metal tabs on the inside of the housing that you drill and tap after attaching, which would act as a washer and bolt all at the same time.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Cheers - will see if I can work this in.

@Burgeonite

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexHibbertOriginals Hey, last week I traveled to where I have the project with the metal plates embedded in the fiberglass that are drilled and tapped. This project happens to be green translucent fiberglass (don’t ask why) so you can see through to the hardware. Give a shout if you want me to send a photo. It’s at last seven years old, has a mechanical structure inside and is doing very well.

Hello Alex. First comment for me here. First of All, Congrats ! Never been so excited for a not so much navigating boat (so far) videos. I love it all. About your angle problem for the bolts, what about tight hinge on top? If they are tight enough It will push on the joint just fine and allow the access at sea without fearing of droping the hatch in the water. Cheers !

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

A hinge. Quite possible.

Very nice work. Does the search light put off any heat that needs venting?

Its got a bit of a spidermans face to it. 🤣 great update 2x👍

would a 90 degree spring loaded latch clamp be any use for the front light access panel. but the shape of the housing maybe abit awkward.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

It's my current favourite option.

I'm about to try to bend PC to use it as a taillight cover that was broken. Needs to be bent to exact shape and then glued toghether. Maybe You have some tips You can share?

Bring extra wingnuts ‘cus the currently fitted ones, will surely end up on the bottom of the ocean if rapairs will be needed, out on the water. 🙃

Is it worth using a much longer rectangle of acrylic and bending it all the way over the light housing and down to the roof? This may add improved water proofing, added strength and provide a little insulation to the housing.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Importantly it's polycarbonate, not acrylic. I don't think that would add a great deal. We need the top free for anti slip, and there's no real need to insulate the unit.

A metal frame on top of the lens might help secure it and keep the gasket tight.

I see you are still using corded tools, will you be getting any cordless ones to keep on board just in case, or just a basic tool box?

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

I have cordless drills and a sander. Otherwise, happy with the power of corded. On the trip, will have a rethink.

@RandomNooby

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexHibbertOriginals It gives you multiple redundancy.

I'm dubious about the holding power of the magnet mount after many miles of pounding waves.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

There are guides around it too so it doesn't slip or rotate. The magnets are outrageously strong. Almost too strong.

@RandomNooby

Жыл бұрын

It should be fine, a lot of people who live on the ocean use modern magnets to secure things.

Make longer videos. ~15 minutes seems to be a very popular length.

've occasionally witnessed other episodes before, loving the life-boat transformation - sometimes simplest solutions may serve best - why not merely fabricate a pressure plate, patterned to cover the top inch or so of the polycarbonate, with the 3 bolts going through it, thus their pressure will even out and firmly compress the transparent covering to the sealant/housing; the problem atop is more one of distribution of pressure, rater than of bolt-down force/torque; you may even bend/angle the top edge of this bolt-down metal plate - which would be essentially one big washer with 3 holes instead of one - so as to cover the upper edge of the plastic and when it (the metal) would reach the housing you'd be prevented from over-tightening those 3 bolts...

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

I take your point about making a giant washer, and I could, but the seal is complete along the top as things are. The challenge is the angle of the studs themselves compared to those lower down.

@Boris_printmaker

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexHibbertOriginals actually the first thing i'd 've thought of was a piano-stile hinge up-top, but whenever i'd seen such used in other blokes' sailing videos, them hinges (and their respective axles) seem to always eventually rust with time - even the "most stainless" and "maritime" of the steel ones... alas my suggestions seem to be as useless as their author, oh well P.S. just to clarify, when talking of the "giant washer" i was suggesting a mere straight piece of material with 3 holes in it, and NOT a full pressure flange, which would span the periphery of the entire polycarbonate sheeting - though now i think of it - why not...

Are you playing the guitar in the intro?

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Best £17.50 I ever spent!

I don't know why you didn't make the housing into a slanted circle with a metal top that screws into aluminium blocks that are glued against the top side wall of the plastic housing.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

I don't really follow the description, but I suspect the answer is because the housing doubles as a heavy duty step.

It seems odd to me to have a searchlight that can only effectively swivel a few degrees. To look around at night, you'll need to rotate the whole boat. I must be missing something.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

Having a 360 one mounted high would cause a load of issues (not least illuminating rain and snow close to the helm's cabin). We'll have handheld's for scanning to the rear etc.

@jaygee5693

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexHibbertOriginals Thanks for clarifying, I was sure you had it covered. Your very solidly built light will be perfect for night manoevering anyway, where you'll typically be steaming forward. Got to illuminate those bergs.

those little salad bowls, man.

@AlexHibbertOriginals

Жыл бұрын

That was my thought initially. But they are 4mm polycarbonate and a fraction of the price of having domes custom-formed for me. And I bought a third to test by stamping and bashing it. I couldn't break it.

First I guess.

Shameless drone shot, shameless book plugs throughout and 100% overbuilt searchlight housing….. brilliant, my OCD can rest for several seconds. 👍