Launch day today question

Southpaw II said:
Congrats on the new boat......just a note that I learned a long time ago regarding connecting and disconnecting shore power.

You mentioned turning the AC switch on and off on the boat....

It is best to turn off the shore power at the source before disconnecting from the boat, and not to turn the power on again until the cord(s) are reconnected to the boat. I am talking about the breaker that is typically located on the power pedestal at your slip.

The reason for this is that every time you attach that cord to your boat, and the power is on, there is a spark. Doesn't sound serious, but after time, and many connections, the plug will begin to discolor, then slightly start to corrode, and then to generate heat. Next, it overheats the plug and melts.

Sorry to say, I've seen this happen on another boat, and when I checked mine, it had corroded a little. Before, I always unplugged and left the dock as quick as I could. Now, I always cut off the breaker first.
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Thank you very much....i will take your advice, :thumbsup:
 
billnpat said:
Thanks Bob.....Just looked again at the work sheet they gave us at launch and i see they also put in new manifold kits and risers and an elbow Asy- Exhaust....not on the survey..

YES! they have a monthly deal were looking at...Right about us having a full plate ...

Any comment on my pre- launch and post launch senario? :thumbsup:
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The one thing on your note that caught my attention was turning off the blowers before the start. I would leave them on. Do a search here, but there has been lot's of discussion about whether to leave them on all the time, only when idling or turning off once everything is running. I don't have a "horse in this race", just passing along some information. Good luck and remember to breath when bringing her into the slip!!!
 
On the blower issue, I leave mine on while operating. There could still be gas fumes in the bilge. You should turn off the blower while fueling the boat though.
 
Glad to see your delivery went so smooth, enjoy the boat - I take delivery from the same place on the 17th - went down last week and saw them delivering my old baby (ie - trade in) to the new owner, so am really getting anxious! Hope they do as good of a job taking care of my "punchlist" items!
 
I leave my blowers running at all times while I'm running the boat if not for the only reason that it keeps air circulating down there and keeps it a little cooler.
 
I added some comments Bill.

billnpat said:
Im trying to remember the what the captain instructed me as to what to do before launch, i wrote it all down but left it somewhere on board or ? and i cant find what i wrote to read what he said.and I want to get it right....

Does this sound right?? and if not please correct

Boat is on shore power, A/C main switch converter below deck is ON position

Upon boarding and getting underway for a short trip

Make sure main battery switch is on .located on the S.D. 310 port side lower area near the breakers behind locked hatch...

1... RUN BILGE BLOWER FOR 4 MINS

2.....GO BELOW TO ELEC PANEL AND SWITCH OFF SHORE POWER SWITCH ON RIGHT SIDE.. I always turn off each A/C breaker first, then the main A/C breaker, then unplug the shore power. I do this to drop the load before disconnecting, reducing any chance of power surge.

3 THEN SWITCH OFF A/C CONVERTER SWITCH SAME SIDE, move this to step 2 for reason stated above

4 SWITCH TO D/C POWER ON LEFT SIDE

5 TURN KEYS FOR PORT AND STARBOARD ENGINES

5 GO ABOVE,AND SHUT OFF BILGE BLOWER Leave your blower on until you are underway and cruising above 6 knots.

6 START PORT AND STARBOARD ENGINES

7 WHILE WARMING ENGINES UP DISCONNECT SHORE POWER CORD


8 AFTER WARM UP AND UN-TYING BOAT GET UNDERWAY...


RETURNING AFTER TYING UP..

1: Run your blowers while cooling down.

1: COOL DOWN ENGINES FOR 5 MINS.....SHIFT IS IN NEUTRAL.THROTTLE IS DOWN

2 AFTER COOL DOWN SHUT OFF ENGINES

3 GO BELOW AND TURN OFF KEYS PORT, AND STARBOARD

4 FLIP SWITCH FROM D/C POWER TO SHORE POWER

Plug you shore power cable in before turning on your A/C breakers, again reducing the chance of A/C surge.

5 PUT A/C SWITCH ON

Move before step 5 for above reason.
6 CONNECT SHORE POWER...

PUT THE MAIN BATTERY SWITCH IN OFF POSITION IF LEAVING BOAT FOR EXTENDED TIMES TO SAVE BATTERIES

8: Wash or at the very least hose off the boat.

SOUND RIGHT???????? :huh:
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capecodcruiser said:
The one thing on your note that caught my attention was turning off the blowers before the start. I would leave them on. Do a search here, but there has been lot's of discussion about whether to leave them on all the time, only when idling or turning off once everything is running. I don't have a "horse in this race", just passing along some information. Good luck and remember to breath when bringing her into the slip!!!
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Thank you...YES breath deeply before and during bringing her in...:thumbsup:
 
shinsr said:
Glad to see your delivery went so smooth, enjoy the boat - I take delivery from the same place on the 17th - went down last week and saw them delivering my old baby (ie - trade in) to the new owner, so am really getting anxious! Hope they do as good of a job taking care of my "punchlist" items!
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From what i have learned from my service advisor and others is that the earlier the better in getting your boat ready..mid may and beyond it gets real busy..you will be surprised at the giveaways, and ask for a work sheet as to what exactly they did, you will get a worksheet with parts and labor and exactly what they fixed and serviced our total work performed was $5060.00, including our own list...costs.... get to know your new service advisor...:thumbsup:
 
Carver370 said:
I leave my blowers running at all times while I'm running the boat if not for the only reason that it keeps air circulating down there and keeps it a little cooler.
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Good idea....:thumbsup:
 
I agree with the folks posts for the following:

Run blowers don't turn off to start. Run them all the time at idle no wake speeds.

Shore Power. Turn off all the AC loads at the panel, turn off the AC mains. Unplug at the shore side, then remove from the boat. Don't want to drop an engergized cord into the water.

Prior to starting and after the blowers have been running I do a through inspection of the engine room. Check fluid levels on the engines and transmissions. Inspect all around front back of engines and transmissions, under both. Look at the lower sump for collection of any tell tail fluids like sheens from oil or trans fluids anything that would indicate a problem. If you have to you can lean on the elbows above the manifolds as they are bolted and solid. I avoid leaning on any hoses belts. Also check out the belts, water pump, fuel pump visual inspection which will be on the back side of the engines so you can lean way over. I check out the rudder posts steeting linkage look for missing pins signs of an issue.

Once satisified I start both engines. As they are coming up to temp I verify the water flow from the side discharges. I let the engines come up to temp to be sure that the thermostats open and the temp holds. Then while tied up I put each transmission in gear to make sure that they engage. Only briefly you will feel it and hear the prop wash.

I have found that and read somewhere (I could be wrong) but my particular V drives need to get a hydraulic charge on them prior to them getting in shape and getting into gear. I have rushed things at the dock and found my port transmission not engaging in forward after I have some the doek lines off. Not the best situation. So now I check the transmissions prior to leaving..

Sorry for the long winded post but the easter egg hunt is done!!!

Take Care and enjoy the boat!!!
 
Thanks fpr posting Tom... your advice is well taken. :thumbsup:
 
The warming up and cooling down of the engines to me is really important. The first time your lose an engine from failing to warm it up and almost hit someone, something, whatever, you will undertand this valuable lesson. Nice list all and all, always nice to read what others say, good reminder for all of us.
 
StevenA said:
The warming up and cooling down of the engines to me is really important. The first time your lose an engine from failing to warm it up and almost hit someone, something, whatever, you will undertand this valuable lesson. Nice list all and all, always nice to read what others say, good reminder for all of us.
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AGREE....Good post :smt001
 
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