Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Alan,
If you are talking about the concealed hinges for the drop down doors instead of the big doors between rooms, I think Sea Dog makes stainless steel knock-offs of the original plated Perko junk. The Sea Dog stuff is pretty good.
QuentHi Pete
No list. we upgraded the hot water heater to an 18 gallon unit, and installed the other four batteries under the quarter berth with the refrig compressor, all on port side. In addition, there are plenty of port side lockers to fill with heavy stuff. To list suggests that one side would come up higher in the water, not our problem. Sigh.
QuentAlan,
We have 12 volt diesel genset, bought used for $1200. It was built by Pulsar for Jack Rabbit marine. Has about 300 hours. It came with all the marine features. I’m sure I can get it to run, probably needs an injector and a head gasket, and a valve job. Probably an afternoon’s work, about $100 in parts. Very different from the Westerbeke.
We have a 12 volt motor powered SK watermaker that was the cheapest and most generic on the market. It has a Cat pump and standard sized membrane. With the exception of some of the Bahamas, we’ve not gone anywhere where a watermaker is necessary, but we are still hopeful.
A couple things you might want to consider when locating the genset:
Proximity to the batteries for short cable runs, how to run the water cooled exhaust, including the muffler, and access to other critical systems, like steering.
QuentBeen there, done that; got the dirty and torn t-shirt.
We pulled out the batteries from the stb. cockpit lazarette, built a new platform, installed a box of four golf cart batteries aft, and a 6 hp Kubota with a 130 amp alternator forward of that. Kubota ran fine in the driveway. In the lazarette, nothing. Got to Florida, still nothing. Called the best reputation diesel guy in Vero Beach. He sent an untrained kid who borrowed my service book, tried repeatedly to call other service guys, then took the fuel injection apart and announced we had low compression and it would be $2000 to fix the motor, with no guarantee, and I was already out $250.
I kicked him off the boat and bought the Honda. I’ll eventually fix the Kubota because it has the cheapest and most available parts of any engine, but it is wasted space and weight.
A second alternator on the engine and 320 watts of solar are all we really need unless we run the 12 volt watermaker and the 12 volt deep freezer a lot. In that case, the Honda would pick up the slack, or we could just motor somewhere for a couple hours.
Way too much stuff on this boat!!
QuentPat-
I really identify with what you said. Of course, it goes without saying that a pulpit is no substitute for a harness and teather. Years ago, I caught a jibing boom with my head, and almost went over the lifelines. A double reefed main wrapped on the boom and dumb luck saved my life.
We weren’t off shore either. We were in the sheltered waters of the Chester River, east of Baltimore so I wasn’t wearing a lifejacket, or a teather. No way Claire would have made it back in time. Live and learn, I say. Perhaps more accurately, If you live, you learn.
QuentHi Tor-
Thanks for the offer. I’ll get a pic next time I’m at the boat. Actually, I’m going to go ahead and order them. You did a really fine job with the design. They really look good in the pictures.
We have a Hood furling main which cranks from the front of the mast, but the sefety problem is winching in the outhaul a few feet aft of the gooseneck location. One hand for the winch, one to tail the outhaul, and none to hold on. It will be nice to be able to wedge my butt in the pulpit.
Regarding the air conditioning, you’re preaching to the choir. We had enough A/C in out last boat to frost the cabin and a genset to run it anywhere. Used it about eight hours over five years.
QuentDawn and Patrick-
I admire the dedication and craftsmanship you are putting into that good old boat. She must be a real showcase.
We replaced all our countertop fiddles when we replaced the laminate on the countertops. Some are still intact, available for anyone who needs them.
Actually, I have, and I’m sure others have stuff unique to the P-424 that will never make it back on our boat, is too good to throw away, and might be useful to someone with more purist instincts. Would a “need this part for my boat” be a possible addition to the site?
Also related, I noticed that trim parts have Pearson part numbers on the back. Does anyone know if a list of these parts exist? Better yet, any diagrams or patterns?
QuentTor-
I agree wih Bob, you will probably like the Honda. However, depending on the unit, you might have a bit of trouble running an air conditioner. A/C starting loads are 2-3 times higher than running loads and this might tax the limits of the 2000 series Honda.
What I like most about the Honda is that under light loads, like the last stages of battery charging, the Honda actually throttles back, saving fuel and running quieter. An old style constant speed AC genset can’t do that.
QuentCan someone tell me how tall (approx.) the pulpits are, and are they mounted entirely aft of the forward side of the mast? I have a jib sheet track just forward of the mast I must clear.
QuentFor a while, we ran our Honda with it sitting on the helm seat. Not a good idea. When the power cord connection is to starboard, the exhaust pipe is to port, near the scoop air vent. We sucked enough exhaust into the bilge to set off the propane alarm. Much safer on side deck or in the dingy.
QuentTor-
It’s not that complicated.
You want the 2000 series because the 1000 is too small, and the 3000 is too big and heavy to store.
There are two models.
One has 15 amp sockets like your house and a 15 amp 12 volt battery charger built in. If you have a mulit-stage shore power battery charger, you can use that instead.
The other model (Companion) has a 30 amp socket so you can plug your shore power cord to it without an adapter. This model does not have a 12 volt output.
These generator are efficient and quiet because they are basically alternators and inverters. Engine speed varies with load.
An interesting feature is a cord that will tie together two generators (maybe three) to double the output. It appears that this requires a 30 amp socket either on the generator or on the cord.
$800 sounds about right for the 15 amp socket model. We got ours from a company named Wise. They shipped it in a heavy plain cardboard box. Some companies just put a shipping sticker on the Honda box which probably increases the chance it might disappear in transit.
QuentThe Honda is quiet and efficient on fuel. We bought one in the Internet, paid about $1000, no tax or shipping, for the companion model which has a 30 amp format socket for a shore power cord. This saves buying a 15 amp to 30 amp adapter, but this model does not have a 12 volt output for battery charging. Simply Google the Honda to find a dealer, and have it in a week.
Seems like a lot for a small generator, but cheaper than hiring the local diesel repair guy to fix the installed one. It seemed like everyone at the Vero Beach City Marina had that model. Everyone was happy with them.
Quent
Clairebuoyant, #132Pete-
Did you insulate only the engine box and lid and upper panel, leaving the space between engine and fuel tank open? How many 12 x 12 tiles did it take?
Quent
Clairebuoyant, #132My problem is that the chain slips on the wildcat because, being a horizontal windlass, it only engages 1/4 turn of the wildcat. The snubber line gives another two turns on the drum. This is sufficient to pull the anchor over the roller.
I agree with John with the weight difference being a factor. However a Fortress has a lot of windage and when weighing the anchor you usually are going into the wind. This alone could prevent the anchor from turning on the roller.
Some boats address these problems using a second roller mounted lower and forward of the current one, possibly on an extension. This would have the same effect as a much larger roller and the shank of the anchor would turn easier to a horizontal position.
Quent
