470 Dancer Questions (or 2009 43 DA)

[JamesT]

So after closing a few weeks ago, my boat is layed up and winterized. Point is I have no idea how to use it and I'm starved for information. I downloaded the 470DA user manual from Sea Ray, (from 2009 all the way to 2013 model year) but they're only about 50 pages and most of the pages are CAD drawings of the AC and DC diagrams not written for anyone but electrical engineers. It had none of the information I was looking for, some of which I describe below. As point of reference, I downloaded a 2006 40DA manual and it was properly 200 pages of very useful information. Why is the 470DA manual so limited?

I tried plugging into shore power to get some juice and keep the batteries charged, but no luck. The master AC breaker is in the galley closet, but apparently there is another one inside the engine compartment that must be off?? Why would they not put that breaker in the stern cabinet for easy access? So to get inside the engine room, I figure I need to turn the batteries on, to get the engine hatch up. So I turned the batteries on inside the galley, but only found three switches, yet I know there are four batteries? Why is this? Is there a house battery switch I'm missing? The three switches said port, gen, starboard. Anyway, the starboard battery is dead (hence the reason I wanted the shore power in the first place) but the other two have sufficient volts. So with 2 of the 3 of the battery switches on, I go to the helm and try to open the engine compartment and get nothing. In fact, none of the helm switches worked. What am I doing wrong? How can I get the engine hatch up with no battery power?

I know I just asked a lot of questions, but any answers would be appreciated.

Jim

 

[HUMPH]

Nice boat you have there Jim! As far as shore power breakers, look in the transom locker to see if the master breakers are in there. That's where mine are. The battery switches (3) are for house, helm and generator basically. The "starboard battery most likely operates the engine hatch. Check the water in the batteries, add if needed, then charge all batteries fully. You should be good to go once they are charged.

 

[JamesT]

Ken, no master AC breaker in transom locker. Any idea what the 4th battery is for, if only three battery switches?

 

[BerettaRacer]

No "handover" from previous owner or dealer? Usually outgoing owner/dealer will give a walkthru of systems and operation.

 

[JimT]

Sea Ray now has a combined Sport Cruiser General Information Manual that covers systems that are generic to boats in that size range. Together with the individual owners manual you are supposed to have all the system information you need. I found this not be the case when I bought my boat. Locating the battery switches and DC breaker panel required a search through the lockers in the cockpit as this was not detailed in either manual. I would call Sea Ray to see if there is a similar generic manual for sport yachts.
Turn all three battery switches on. I don't know how you batteries are wired but one of the switches controls two batteries. How do you know one of the batteries is dead?
On the main distribution panel in the cabin turn the shore power switch to on. Since you are not familiar with the boat I would turn all of the AC and DC breakers on the main panel to on. Turn on the engine keys on. There should also be a main DC breaker panel. I doubt it's located in the engine room. It's most likely in a locker somewhere in the cockpit.
There may be an engine hatch lockout that requires the transom walk through door to be closed in order to open the hatch.

 

[ziekman@cox.net]

James, when the boys put my boat to sleep, they disconnect the batteries. To open the engine hatch, there is a 12 volt receptacle at the helm. If you connect a portable battery pack (jump starter), it powers the hatch.

 

[HUMPH]

Ken, no master AC breaker in transom locker. Any idea what the 4th battery is for, if only three battery switches?

You should actually have 5 batteries. (2) for port or house, (2) for helm or starboard and an independent battery for the generator.

 

[DF470DA]

Ken is spot on re: the batteries

 

[Boatweiser]

Great Jim,
Are you getting power to everything but the helm? To my knowledge the only location for battery panel. If your batteries aren't dead then it sounds like
you have something turned off? One thing I would share is that the previous owner of my boat had a major issue with batteries because the darker want properly servicing them during winterizing. He chased issues for weeks as a result of a battery(s) that went bad due to poor service.
Good luck
Great boat - happy to answer any questions you have on her

 

[Jimsroc]

Just turn on your battery solenoids and got to the helm. You will see the emergency start switch. Hold down the emergency start switch and that will connect your stb bank to the port bank via a solenoid. While holding down the emergency start switch push the hatch button and it will now go up. The secondary breaker should be in your transom locker but it is hidden in a Hubbel dockside power fitting - open it up and you will see a double breaker


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