40 sedan bridge forum

[ZZ13]

What company manufactured your dish system? Is it HD? If not has Direct TV contacted about upgrading your receiver to HD?

I have Direct TV. It broadcasts HD signals on only the Ka band. It uses the Ku band for standard def. KVH doesn't support receiving the Ka band until you get to the HD7 antenna, which costs over $10,000. The TV1 I have only supports the Ku band, but is only $2000. So I bought it and settle for standard def only on the boat.

The DISH network does put out HD channels on the Ku band. So you can get HD channels from it with the cheaper KVH TV1 model.

 

[Juergen]

I have a problem with my gas engines, last weekend we cruised to an island and hang out for a couple hours and as I was backing out of a cove both engines stopped at the same time…. It took me several attempts to get one engine running again and we started our journey back on one engine. During our cruise back I tried about every 15 minutes to start the second engine and after a few attempts the second engine finally started, I was already mentally preparing to back her into my slip with one engine…. About an hour after successfully parking the boat I tried to start the engines and they both didn't start and I tried that over a couple hours…. The next day, everything worked as always, both started right away. The one thing what is really strange is that both engines do the same thing but they are completely independent from each other, right?

 

[cwiert]

I have a problem with my gas engines, last weekend we cruised to an island and hang out for a couple hours and as I was backing out of a cove both engines stopped at the same time…. It took me several attempts to get one engine running again and we started our journey back on one engine. During our cruise back I tried about every 15 minutes to start the second engine and after a few attempts the second engine finally started, I was already mentally preparing to back her into my slip with one engine…. About an hour after successfully parking the boat I tried to start the engines and they both didn't start and I tried that over a couple hours…. The next day, everything worked as always, both started right away. The one thing what is really strange is that both engines do the same thing but they are completely independent from each other, right?

A couple things:
First, you should probably post this in the mechanical section. I think you'll get more and better responses since this issue probably isn't unique to this boat.
Second, what do you mean by them "not starting." Were the engines turning over? Were you getting spark? Could it be a battery issue? Maybe some sort of safety shut-off issue? I think a little more detail on what you were experiencing would be helpful to narrow down some possible causes.

 

[ZZ13]

I have a problem with my gas engines, last weekend we cruised to an island and hang out for a couple hours and as I was backing out of a cove both engines stopped at the same time…. It took me several attempts to get one engine running again and we started our journey back on one engine. During our cruise back I tried about every 15 minutes to start the second engine and after a few attempts the second engine finally started, I was already mentally preparing to back her into my slip with one engine…. About an hour after successfully parking the boat I tried to start the engines and they both didn't start and I tried that over a couple hours…. The next day, everything worked as always, both started right away. The one thing what is really strange is that both engines do the same thing but they are completely independent from each other, right?

I did something similar once. After retracing all my actions as best I could remember, I inadvertently set my right hand down next to the throttles right on top of the engine switches. I had turned the engines off in gear. Not knowing I had done that led to a comedy of errors trying to restart, which included trying to restart with shifters in gear, which it won't do.

Any chance your hand hit the engine switches while looking backward?

 

[Juergen]

A couple things:
First, you should probably post this in the mechanical section. I think you'll get more and better responses since this issue probably isn't unique to this boat.
Second, what do you mean by them "not starting." Were the engines turning over? Were you getting spark? Could it be a battery issue? Maybe some sort of safety shut-off issue? I think a little more detail on what you were experiencing would be helpful to narrow down some possible causes.

U r right, I’ll post it there as well. They turned over just didn’t start and both engines acted up the same way at the same time and that’s kind of making me really scratching my head...

 

[cwiert]

I did something similar once. After retracing all my actions as best I could remember, I inadvertently set my right hand down next to the throttles right on top of the engine switches. I had turned the engines off in gear. Not knowing I had done that led to a comedy of errors trying to restart, which included trying to restart with shifters in gear, which it won't do.

Any chance your hand hit the engine switches while looking backward?

Been there, done that as well.

 

[Shorty0227]

It would be great to have a 400 sedan bridge forum

Agreed, thinking about buying a 400 SB how do you like the bigger engines

 

[ggiametta]

A couple more newbie questions if you all don’t mind? The Master Head Shower faucet, has anyone replaced theirs and with what? Also Ive seen the fantastic wood like flooring some of you have done and was wondering if anyone has reinforced the galley floor door at the storage area? Mines pretty flimsy.

 

[ZZ13]

A couple more newbie questions if you all don’t mind? The Master Head Shower faucet, has anyone replaced theirs and with what? Also Ive seen the fantastic wood like flooring some of you have done and was wondering if anyone has reinforced the galley floor door at the storage area? Mines pretty flimsy.

I reinforced mine. It was pretty springy. I added 4 stringers perpendicular to the two existing stringers. Now it's rock solid but weighs a ton. I kinda overengineered a bit and eventually will remove two of the four I added.

 

[PMC]

Hi fellow 400 dB owners, I am new to this group, I was wondering in the 145 pages if anyone recalls if there is a Sattelite TV Install topic with lessons learned Any help would be appreciated.

I installed a M3Dx in 2014

I mounted with a 5" Seaview in the same location of the glomex. I ran a new RG6 cable from the dome to the port side locker behind the sofa, where the DX receiver sits. Cabled that to the existing wiring (RG59) over to the TV connected to the dish network box (vip 211).....hdmi to the tv.

I didnt have either service, and decided to go with Dish for the HD programming. What I found was not every channel is HD and compareing STD to HD on a 32" TV....eh, its not really noticeable to the point I care.

With Dish, I did need to re-program the satellite frequency in 2017 after a sattalite change. Tech support with KVH is super! With their instructions, I was able to change the programming myself.

 

[Drafter]

I have a problem with my gas engines, last weekend we cruised to an island and hang out for a couple hours and as I was backing out of a cove both engines stopped at the same time…. It took me several attempts to get one engine running again and we started our journey back on one engine. During our cruise back I tried about every 15 minutes to start the second engine and after a few attempts the second engine finally started, I was already mentally preparing to back her into my slip with one engine…. About an hour after successfully parking the boat I tried to start the engines and they both didn't start and I tried that over a couple hours…. The next day, everything worked as always, both started right away. The one thing what is really strange is that both engines do the same thing but they are completely independent from each other, right?

Juergen, you may be running into the same thing that I’ve been running into with my gas engines. I think it’s vapor lock. 2 weekends in a row with temps in the mid 90’s, calm days with no wind to blow through the vents, and my genny running for a few hours, my port engine has stalled. Even running the blower the whole time exhausting hot air out. Once struggling to stay running and with some movement in flow using the other engine, and it cleared up. Seems to be a problem with SeaRay’s, and there is no shortage of complaints if you search it. A temp fix that seems to help is popping the lazerette engine room hatch, and getting some combustible air down there. My wife popped ours as I was struggling to keep it running, and she said it was like a suction to open, and that the engine sounded like it breathed a sigh of relief. There has to be a solution to this! I’ve even considered a 3rd blower fan to just move air around in there. It’s happening to a buddies Carver as well. Lately, we’ve had breezier days with what I would assume better airflow in there, and it hasn’t happened since. I also pretty thoroughly cleaned both spark arrestors with carb cleaner (after removal) which I’m sure helped quite a bit. I doubt that they were ever cleaned in 20 years by the previous owner! I would start with the spark arrestor cleaning first to make sure that they can breath in air as easily as possible.

 

[Tigger]

One problem solved and another manifests... "someone" was a little heavy-handed with one of the sliding doors in the kitchen (above the coffee maker) and it's "stuck" closed (see pic)... can't open the left hand door... before I use brute force and ignorance, has anyone got any experience of a more elegant/delicate solution as to how to get the door "back on track" so-to-speak?

Bump...

 

[cwiert]

Bump...

I'm not at the boat, but is there a way to get to the inside of that door? Possibly through the secret storage slot in the stbd side couch? I think you might be able to and getting at it from the inside may be the best way to free it up without breaking something.

 

[Juergen]

Juergen, you may be running into the same thing that I’ve been running into with my gas engines. I think it’s vapor lock. 2 weekends in a row with temps in the mid 90’s, calm days with no wind to blow through the vents, and my genny running for a few hours, my port engine has stalled. Even running the blower the whole time exhausting hot air out. Once struggling to stay running and with some movement in flow using the other engine, and it cleared up. Seems to be a problem with SeaRay’s, and there is no shortage of complaints if you search it. A temp fix that seems to help is popping the lazerette engine room hatch, and getting some combustible air down there. My wife popped ours as I was struggling to keep it running, and she said it was like a suction to open, and that the engine sounded like it breathed a sigh of relief. There has to be a solution to this! I’ve even considered a 3rd blower fan to just move air around in there. It’s happening to a buddies Carver as well. Lately, we’ve had breezier days with what I would assume better airflow in there, and it hasn’t happened since. I also pretty thoroughly cleaned both spark arrestors with carb cleaner (after removal) which I’m sure helped quite a bit. I doubt that they were ever cleaned in 20 years by the previous owner! I would start with the spark arrestor cleaning first to make sure that they can breath in air as easily as possible.

Thanks Drafter, that's great info and I think that's what really happened now when I think about it. Both engines did the same thing at the exact same time. What else do they have in common besides the air.... Since the two blower actually suck the air out of the engine compartment (what should make the vapor lock worse due to more vacuum) why not add a third blower what blows air into the engine compartment or would there be any issues to reverse the two existing blowers to blow air into the engine compartment?

 

[Drafter]

I've contemplated a blower that brings air in as well, but think it defeats the purpose of the blowers blowing out. You run into the potential of sucking exhaust fumes in from the generator back into the boat creating a potential carbon monoxide issue, not to mention the ability to exhaust potential dangerous fuel fumes out. Of course what air goes out with the blower must naturally find its way back in through the vents, so maybe that point is moot. I just don't think that it's finding its way back in fast enough, and creating a vacuum. The blowers are exhausting air from below the engines for the heavier gas vapors which is great, but doing nothing for the hot air above the engines where they are breathing. I think that I have issues with my port engine because it's intake faces the top center of the engine room in the hottest spot possible with how the 454 intake sits sideways. The starboard engine has the same intake, but is right next to the starboard vent. Hopefully just freeing up the spark arrestor from dirt build up will help them breath easier. Pulling out of a crowded cove or anchorage and losing an engine at idle speed in the wind comes with a pretty huge pucker factor.

 

[Juergen]

I've contemplated a blower that brings air in as well, but think it defeats the purpose of the blowers blowing out. You run into the potential of sucking exhaust fumes in from the generator back into the boat creating a potential carbon monoxide issue, not to mention the ability to exhaust potential dangerous fuel fumes out. Of course what air goes out with the blower must naturally find its way back in through the vents, so maybe that point is moot. I just don't think that it's finding its way back in fast enough, and creating a vacuum. The blowers are exhausting air from below the engines for the heavier gas vapors which is great, but doing nothing for the hot air above the engines where they are breathing. I think that I have issues with my port engine because it's intake faces the top center of the engine room in the hottest spot possible with how the 454 intake sits sideways. The starboard engine has the same intake, but is right next to the starboard vent. Hopefully just freeing up the spark arrestor from dirt build up will help them breath easier. Pulling out of a crowded cove or anchorage and losing an engine at idle speed in the wind comes with a pretty huge pucker factor.

Exactly and I lost both engines while I was pulling out of a cove but luckily the wind was in my favor and pushed me out of the cove and I was able to set the Anker again...
If I keep the two blowers below the engines and add one what blows air towards the air intakes and I make sure the air will be drawn from an area without exhaust fumes, that could work I guess. Any thoughts about that?

 

[ggiametta]

I reinforced mine. It was pretty springy. I added 4 stringers perpendicular to the two existing stringers. Now it's rock solid but weighs a ton. I kinda overengineered a bit and eventually will remove two of the four I added.

Bill, do you have a picture?

 

[ZZ13]

Bill, do you have a picture?

Here you go. I think two cross braces will be just fine.

 

[Tigger]

I'm not at the boat, but is there a way to get to the inside of that door? Possibly through the secret storage slot in the stbd side couch? I think you might be able to and getting at it from the inside may be the best way to free it up without breaking something.

Good idea... will take a look when I'm next at the boat (if my arms are long enough?!)... I think there are some screws that hold the upper track in place, so I may also see if removing them helps the jiggling game... will report back and, as ever, open to any other/additional suggestions as to how to get this "un-stuck"... thanks

 

[Tigger]

Exactly and I lost both engines while I was pulling out of a cove but luckily the wind was in my favor and pushed me out of the cove and I was able to set the Anker again...
If I keep the two blowers below the engines and add one what blows air towards the air intakes and I make sure the air will be drawn from an area without exhaust fumes, that could work I guess. Any thoughts about that?

I'm not a gasser, but I understand the problem... is there any way you can increase the volume of air moved by the existing blowers (install bigger fans, from bigger boats with bigger engine rooms, maybe?) and, perhaps, also find a way to increase the ability for more make up/replacement/cooler fresh air to enter the engine room through bigger/additional air intakes?... I'm no expert, but, pure physics, it seems like a possible approach?