Category Archives: Customizations

Air Conditioning

AC Condensator

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Hello all,
Has anyone installed a condensator on their AC unit. I have a 16000 Cruise Air with two handlers. The main AC is in the rear lazerette. The drain hose for the rear unit empties into the bilge aft of the main bilge. Water stays in their always because the drain hole is higher than the forward bilge. I would like to get the water out the boat so it doesn’t sit in the bilge. Any thoughts?

Thanks, Russell
Catalina 380 1997 #20

 

I had these installed in my units back when I used a/c.  They worked great.

http://www.mmair.com/marine_division/accessories/mermaid_condensator

Chris
s/v MoonSail
1993 CM38cc #26
www.MoonSail.com

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Customizations, Electrical/Electronics

Sirius Weather

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I just installed Sirius weather on my C385 Raymarine Plotter. Sirius does a poor job of providing user guides to explain all the features. Does anyone know a good resource to learn all the in and outs of the product?

I had the same issues last year when my Sirius weather was new.  When I inquired, Sirius said there were too many models of equipment and each used / displayed their data differently for them to issue instructions.  They said see the equipment owners manuals.  It took about a year of playing with the unit to figure out what it would do and how to access it.  I am still frustrated with the “warm up” time to acquire a signal.  On some days it is immediately present and other days it can take as long as 20 minutes.

Jim Sullivan
WASOKI
C-380 #174

Good luck. I have not found a

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Electrical/Electronics, Repair/Replace/Maintain

C387 Microwave Replacement

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My husband and I are in the process of buying a 2004 Catalina 387. The boat has a microwave sitting on the counter that does not fit the space in the cabinetry.. Now that I am reading this discussion from 3 years ago, I am wondering if it will be possible to replace it with one that fits. Any suggestion?

Thanks,
Sharon Pierce

Sharon,

When I looked last year, I found one that fit.  I ended up with an Emerson.  The issue I had was mounting it securely.  I ended up mounting the microwave to a piece of plywood, then attaching the plywood to the bottom of the cabinet.

Jim Sullivan
WASOKI
C-380 #174

I just had to replace mine this year as well.  I found one at Wal-Mart for about $79 that fit right into the cabinet without any modifications.  The only thing I had to do was drill

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Customizations, Helm Seat

Raising the Helm Seat – Two Approaches

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I made a folding seat platform from wood that I hook to the boarding ladder when I want to sit.   It folds flat and stores in either the lazarette or on the deck bungee strapped to the stern pulpit.  I place a standard floating boat cushion on top for comfort.    I do not carry the helm seat or cushion on board at all.   It’s at home over the garage where it has sat for the past couple of years.   I found it was always in the way and unpractical to sit on.

Here’s a link to a picture  of it taken earlier this summer in case the attached picture doesn’t come through:    https://picasaweb.google.com/102287896228248359993/September262012#5792580032623887234

Bill
C380 #183
Rockland, Me.

 

Seems that when sitting on the helm seat, even with the oversized cushion, forward visibility left a lot to be desired, so I found myself standing most of the time, which

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Customizations

Bow Thrusters

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Has anyone installed a bow thruster on their 380? If so, any details with the installation would be helpful. Cost, brand, effectiveness, etc.

Keith
380, hull 375

I spoke to New England Bow Thrusters at the Newport Boat Show.  Their verbal quote was $8000-$8500.  He seemed to be very familar with the Catalina 380.  They are based in Groton CT

http://www.newenglandbowthruster.com/

Harlan Shakun
Morning Star

We were also at the show and talked to Floridabowthrusters for a quote of about $6700 installing a Vetus BOW55 121 lbf./12 volt bow thruster .  We were looking for anyone who had installed a thruster and/or had experience with  Floridabowthruster.
We also requested a quote from New England Bow Thruster, but have yet to receive a quote.  We are located in Groton Ct.

Keith
2003, 380, hull 375

My bow thruster was installed in 2007 by Engineered Marine Systems in Annapolis.  The total cost

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Customizations, Electrical/Electronics

Wind Generator Installation

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Here’s one example from Warren Elliott:

As to pole mounting, it’s adjacent to middle of aft seat, with attachment to rail forming aft-most part of seat’s back-rest.  Attachment is from Edson & uses a couple of C-clamps with special “adapter” which grabs rail.

At bottom, pole is supported/attached to hull with Edson’s swivel-type surface mount.

Also used Edson’s tall pole…11 1/2 feet as I recall.  Used this pole to get radar beam sufficiently above boom & bow per my radar antenna background.

Garhauer has similar parts, although somewhat shorter pole, but probably considerably less $.

BTW, wind gen is “Air-X”, not a “big” unit as some.  If you are going to install a big gen & radar, then you’d definitely need the longer Edson pole or equivalent to have sufficient space.  If wind gen only, smaller/ shorter pole is ok.

 

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Electrical/Electronics, TV

Shakespeare TV Antenna

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The original TV antenna provided with La Mariposa in 1998 was an analog type that is no longer useable due to transmitting stations changeover to digital transmission.  This analog TV antenna was removed from top of mast and not replaced.  Coaxial Cable is still connected from chart table behind VHF radio all the way to the top of the mast where cable exits the mast.  The Antenna bracket is still on top of mast.

I have replaced the analog antenna with a Shakespeare omni-directional marine TV digital antenna.  The picture quality is terrific and the signal does not degrade as the boat swings on its mooring because of the antenna’s unidirectional feature.  I am now receiving “over-the-air” reception on the boat’s Sharp flat screen TV, model LC-19DV-12U.

I am using 117 VAC power to drive both the TV and antenna.  I use an inverter.  The antenna’s power selector (12 VDC

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Customizations, Engine, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Engine Compartment Cooling

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Jim,

May be able to suggest a way to improve the air circulation and cooling in the engine compartment.

I’ve been holding off installing the larger Ample alternator and Balmar regulator until I could figure out how to improve cooling in the engine compartment.

Last trip to the boat I completed replacing the flimsy ventilation hoses with nearly indestructible Hi temp thermoplastic rubber duct hose and rerouted the positive ventilator discharge duct from under engine to top of engine and alternator to scavenge rising heat more effectively. I’m heading up to the boat Wednesday and should be able to complete a number of projects, including rewiring the blower to automatically run when the engine is running, and for a 15 minute cool down period after shut down using a delay board (should be able to re-utilize the fan switch as an off switch). Then install the alternator, regulator and sensors.

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Air Conditioning, Customizations, Electrical/Electronics, Genset

Experience with Honda Generator

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There has been considerable discussion recently on the use of a Honda 2000 generator to power AC units when not connected to shore power.  Having just purchased one, here is my experience.  Note that this was for a 387 with two CruiseAir AC units, a larger one for the main cabin and a smaller one for the stern cabin.

First, the generator had no problem running the stern AC unit.  Unfortunately, the stern unit couldn’t deal with the whole boat when at anchor in the 90+ degree afternoon’s sun.  We didn’t try it at night.

Second, the generator could run the larger AC unit as long as it was the first time you ran it that day.   What you can’t do is to let the compressor stop and then restart it.  That causes an overload on the generator.

(Updated: 8/19/2013 – I installed a Dometic SmartStart to the main AC

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