That would make sense if the gauge is between the valve and the vac pump. Sounds like the valve is set up inline as a flow control rather than in a tee as a vac control (as a bleed valve to atmosphere). You want a cheap vac gauge on or near the bag. I have a bleed valve (called a vacuum control valve) in a tee that allows me to set the vac to the bag and the pump; closed I get 20" and open I get 3-5".

Valve.
 

My yellow jacket has a main valve to the pump on the pump intake. And then another vavle for bleeding to atmosphere. So you can adjust the vac pressure and hold the vac at a specific "hg..my guage is on the vac pump..I also run one on the part side inline on a t...but if there is no leaks my pump will pull the parts to 20+" hg no problem...if there is bleeder valve then maybe it is leaking thru it

Check your hoses as well. My main leak were around the hose and plastic.. But I was not using those vancy vac connectors either...

I did a second hatch a couple of nights ago. I sealed up the bag better, especially around the hose and was able to get about 13 inches of mercury. With a little more practice, I am sure I will get 20, as the owner of the pump regularly gets 20.

20 degree tilted element transducer?
 

Just made up my mind to buy the Garmin GSD 26 and B175 transducer to go with the Garmin 7215 I bought in October.

Question for the Seacraft electronics guru's....what version of the transducer do I need...the 20 degree version?

Made some progress on my 27 Tournament hardtop project.

After too long of a wait, I picked up the hardtop the other night and dropped it off at the fabricator. The mold is owned by the fabricator but it was laid up by a local glass guy. The entire process tried my patience and then some. However, it will look very nice when finished as it is from a two piece mold and is finished on both sides. It has a radar bump on top, an electronics box and (4) led courtesy lights below.

We are going to make some modifications to the top next week to to better complement the boat, and then he will start bending and welding the pipe work.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product in the next week or two.

New hardtop is complete!
 

Well, after taking over 9 months to complete the new hardtop on my 1986 27 Seacraft Tournament is finished!

The front legs are a gunwale/cabin top mounted and made of 2 inch, schedule 40 anodized aluminum pipe with a brushed finish.

Since I always found the aft legs of the original top to be in the way, we designed this top to be a hybrid style. The rear legs have been moved inboard and make up a truss and they now come down next to the leaning post (which will be swapped out with something better in the future). In order to support the load, this pipe was upgraded to 2.5 inch, schedule 80 anodized aluminum. As a result of this hybrid design, I have the entire gunwale free and can fish or dock without any interference.

I also purposefully eliminated the traditional "halo" ring around the perimeter of the top. I feel they are unsightly, are a magnet for salt & corrossion and with the additional structural support elsewhere, unnecessary.

The top is from a two piece mold and is cored with 3/4" H-80 and coremat.

I also installed a new Garmin 7215 plotter with a 15 inch screen, a Garmin GSD 26 Black Box fishfinder, an Airmar B175HW 1kw flush mount transducer and a ICOM VHF radio with a Digital Antenna. Over the winter, I will add a Garmin Radar and some other accessories.

Attached is a before photo of the boat from the day I bought it down on the Cape and a couple of other photos with the new top installed.

Although it took way too long, I am really happy with the end result. Time to do some tuna fishing (or wishing)!

Wow... :eek:

That looks so much better.
I'm pretty familiar with that boat as I have worked in and around Saquatucket Harbor for years.
Was kind of sad to see her go away (and not to my house ;)).
But, you definitely took her to a better home.
Well done!

That thing is awesome. One of my new favorites to look at. Great job with the hardtop.

can you post a picture of the inside? I just want to see the layout.