420/44 DB Owners Club

[saopm]

Those with hydraulic swim platforms may want to take a close look at your hoses. One of my outside stainless braided lines was leaking at the fitting. Speaking with a hydraulic rigging guy he recommended changing the outside hoses every five years and the inside hoses every 10 years. When I took a close look at the inside hose one was ballooning and ready to fail. I called GHS for exact replacements. It was not fun climbing in the back to replace them, but it was doable. The old hoses were surprisingly puffed out and stiff compared to the new ones.

 

[Shaps]

Thanks @saopm
Just curious, what did the full set run you? Have been thinking of replacing my outside hoses.

Assuming you had to lower the platform before replacing the hoses?

 

[saopm]

Thanks @saopm
Just curious, what did the full set run you? Have been thinking of replacing my outside hoses.

Assuming you had to lower the platform before replacing the hoses?

Just under a boat buck for all the hoses, outside and in. Yes, I lowered the platform then replaced the hoses. There is a bleeding procedure in the GHS manual. Fairly easy to do. It would be a bad day on the water if one of those hoses blew in the down position.

 

[Irie308]

Those with hydraulic swim platforms may want to take a close look at your hoses. One of my outside stainless braided lines was leaking at the fitting. Speaking with a hydraulic rigging guy he recommended changing the outside hoses every five years and the inside hoses every 10 years. When I took a close look at the inside hose one was ballooning and ready to fail. I called GHS for exact replacements. It was not fun climbing in the back to replace them, but it was doable. The old hoses were surprisingly puffed out and stiff compared to the new ones.

View attachment 161658

Thanks for the insight. Have changed my outside hoses but never thought twice about the interior ones. Will be inspecting.

 

[AEO]

Thanks for the insight. Have changed my outside hoses but never thought twice about the interior ones. Will be inspecting.

Ordering

 

[Todd P.]

I’m not clear on why you did the contact paper. Can you explain further? Was it to mask off an area?

The contact paper, is the faux wood design. Does this help? I did not use veneer wood.

 

[Irie308]

The contact paper, is the faux wood design. Does this help? I did not use veneer wood.

Got it. thanks

 

[craigswardmtb]

Preferred 2006 - 2009 (44 DB), but will also consider the right 2004 - 2005 (420 DB)

If we can ever find a bigger slip in our home port town, than we will likely be looking to sell sometime this season. I was about to sell last season but struck out on finding a slip and we do not want to go a summer without a boat or slip. We have a very nice 420 with mechanical Cummins 6CTAs.

 

[AEO]

I was wondering if I can get some advice and information on our battery installations. Mine is an 08’ model but the battery banks seem to be a little different to the owners manual. My starboard house batteries are constantly running flat and I don’t know which ones to replace. I could replace all but it would be nice to know how it all works.. I can use the emergency switch to get the starboard engine running. My question is what are the bigger batteries for?

I put an external charger on the aft 2 x starboard batteries and they went from around 9v to 12v quite fast. But I’m curious what the big battery(s) are for ?

Port batteries. 1 x large and 2 x smaller just outboard of the generator (the aft battery can’t be seen in this pic)

Starboard battery(s) one large in foreground and 2 smaller batteries outboard of the exhaust (bow thruster I believe).

 

[SeasNT]

Never saw that set up on a 44DB. Engine batteries are big 8D's. A heavy load to lift out. Noticed your genset is mounted farther port than earlier models. Are the port batteries all in parallel or are they separated? Normally the port batteries ran most of the DC house load.

 

[AEO]

Never saw that set up on a 44DB. Engine batteries are big 8D's. A heavy load to lift out. Noticed your genset is mounted farther port than earlier models. Are the port batteries all in parallel or are the separated? Normally the port batteries ran most of the DC house load.

It does seem strange. I only have two small batteries for the house by the looks of things. Those two small batteries are in parallel so I’m guessing Starboard.

Mystery for me is if I connect a portable battery charger to that bank of two small batteries they charge quite quickly..

Another mystery is when the starboard bank is dead I can’t start the starboard engine. So it begs the question what is the second large battery for?

All very bazaar

 

[SeasNT]

Look at the bright side, if in good condition, those 8D's will never have any issue turning over a QSC. If the house DC load is indeed separated back there on the port quarter, you can enjoy more quiet time on the hook and not worry about the main engine starting.

 

[AEO]

P

Look at the bright side, if in good condition, those 8D's will never have any issue turning over a QSC. If the house DC load is indeed separated back there on the port quarter, you can enjoy more quiet time on the hook and not worry about the main engine starting.

I would agree with you however I can’t start the starboard engine either… I’ve got no idea why it is connected to the port quarter/house. The reason for the 8D on the port side is a mystery.

 

[SeasNT]

I agree, seems like we're missing some basic understanding of the DC system layout. Are you looking at updating the electrical schematic drawings?

 

[AEO]

I’m

I agree, seems like we're missing some basic understanding of the DC system layout. Are you looking at updating the electrical schematic drawings?

I’m just trying to understand it for now. I’ll keep you updated.

 

[SeasNT]

I’m

I’m just trying to understand it for now. I’ll keep you updated.

Please do, we're all interested on how this is set up.

 

[AEO]

W

Please do, we're all interested on how this is set up.

No problem. It’s definitely non standard.

 

[Bruce SEA 993]

AEO, it looks like a PO modded your battery setup. From the factory, there were 2 group 31s each for Port and Starboard. The thruster also had a pair of group 31.

I am guessing that Sea Ray figured if you needed more, you would just run the generator. Is that a Florida way of thinking as the A/C is a must for most of the time out on the boat?

The 8Ds might be on a separate charge circuit or separated by an ACR. The 8Ds are about 2x the power of a Group 31.

On my previous boat, a 380 DA, I separated the house loads from the start. I did not go this direction on the 44. I just added more batteries and some solar. In the Northwest, we tend to spend a lot of time anchored in coves and bays. I also try to use the generator as little as possible. I do not mind running it as it is really quiet and low vibration. I use an inverter to run the TV in the evening if we are not hanging with friends.

The house loads on the Port bank work well as I have 5 group 31s. The Starboard bank was two group 31s but the Starlink is now on that bank so I am adding a 3rd group 31 and solar.

Let us know what you find. these flooded batteries do not last too long but I could replace them every year for what LIFo batteries cost. I am also worried about the fire hazard on the LIFo batteries.

 

[AEO]

AEO, it looks like a PO modded your battery setup. From the factory, there were 2 group 31s each for Port and Starboard. The thruster also had a pair of group 31.

I am guessing that Sea Ray figured if you needed more, you would just run the generator. Is that a Florida way of thinking as the A/C is a must for most of the time out on the boat?

The 8Ds might be on a separate charge circuit or separated by an ACR. The 8Ds are about 2x the power of a Group 31.

On my previous boat, a 380 DA, I separated the house loads from the start. I did not go this direction on the 44. I just added more batteries and some solar. In the Northwest, we tend to spend a lot of time anchored in coves and bays. I also try to use the generator as little as possible. I do not mind running it as it is really quiet and low vibration. I use an inverter to run the TV in the evening if we are not hanging with friends.

The house loads on the Port bank work well as I have 5 group 31s. The Starboard bank was two group 31s but the Starlink is now on that bank so I am adding a 3rd group 31 and solar.

Let us know what you find. these flooded batteries do not last too long but I could replace them every year for what LIFo batteries cost. I am also worried about the fire hazard on the LIFo batteries.

Thanks for your advice. Now that you have mentioned it, I’m going to disable my TrackVision Satellite as it draws too much from the batteries even though it isn’t being used and it’s now virtually useless due to the capability of WiFi. It’s also powered through the TV breaker.

I’ve decided to go down the Starlink path.

May I ask if you power your Starlink through a transformer? If you do could you please advise;

1. The size of the TR? 2. Is your SL a marine or RV unit?
3. Where did you put the SL Antenna array?

TYIA

 

[Bruce SEA 993]

Glad to let you know how I use the Starlink...!

It is an RV unit. We never use it underway or rely on the internet for navigation.

I have a 300 Watt inverter that I power it with. The heater is off but it still draws some power. That is why I am upping the battery count on the Starboard side. I plug the base unit into the inverter that is plugged into the cigarette lighter outlet at the helm. I have a spare "rocket launcher" fishing rod holder mounted to the rail on the bow...about 8 feet back from the anchor for the antenna. This way, it might not be blocked by the bridge when we swing on anchor. We never have had an issue with connection.

I have not figured out a clever way to rout the cable out to the bow. The cable is fed out through the canvas and along the deck to the antenna. Not the best but it works. I have also just put it between the dash and the cabinet on the Starboard side of the helm.

I know the routing from the helm to the area behind the TV and Stereo in the salon but forward from there is a mystery. I guess I could get it to the area behind the 110v outlet in the galley. Dunno about from there forward and then out to the deck.

Cheers!