Misc 42/44 stuff

Robski97

Robski97

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2007
1,828
North Bellmore, NY
Boat Info
44DA
Engines
Cummins QSC 8.3's
Guys,
Splashed the boat today and a few things came up that I think u guys should be aware of.

1) my batteries werent fully charged and a fire suppression control under the dash disables the fuel pumps. ( The nasty alarm was a clue something was wrong ) Well after my marina tried to start the boat to no avail we found said controller and it has a by-pass postition to allow u to start the boat. Once batteries were fully charged this became a mute point.

2) my battery charger would only trickle charge the port side batteries. Nothing going to stb batteries. For an hr I jerked around looking for a bad connection at the charger and then a circuit breaker, just for hail mary turned the charger on and off nada . My manuals were home so I hadnt a clue the electrical circuit. One of the marina mech's came over and manually triped both DC circuit breakers in the bilge that pretained to the battery charger. He then reset them and all was fine again, Battery charger was off and running . I havent a clue WTF that was all about . they were not tripped but after he manully tripped and reset them the charger was pinned trying to charge the batteries.

3) Diesel engines hate the cold . These BAD boys sucked the life of the batteries trying to start. TRULY amazing amount of electric consumption when COLD .


So charge ur batteries and find that fire by pass control . ( its just under the dash where ur radio plugs in)

Rob
 
Rob, Is this an early splash for you? I'm glad someone up here is using there boat. Good luck. I hope everything goes well. Brian
 
Rob, your my hero, what are you doing using the 44 for an Ice breaker, it's cold up there man and you will have more snow coming, I am sure of that..... It's too ealry Man.... Listen to me bud....Why didn't you preheat the oil in the diesels and warm them up first with an external oil Heater..... they exist for people like you... oh your my hero because of your Boat, I want one, but will again patiently wait......

Your Boltman...
 
Rob -

Thought you were going to start back up the 42/44 compalint list :)

I keep my batteries on a trickle charge randomly over winter - so they have been pretty good. But, that is interesting the problem you had?? Makes no sense to me..if breaker sin't triped - why ??? Who knows there.

Yeah - that first start in spring - esp after sitting - I usually do it while it's plugged in so it isn't as much of a drain! And then let it all run for a bit, then, unplug from shore. Same thing on the remainder of colder days. Just helps the batteries a bit.

I am a bit away - but considering the weather service had "ice berg warnings" for Lake Michigan on Tuesday - I have plenty of time to worry. And, yes, that is true - we had so much ice break off from shore on Tuesday - they called it a ice berg effect!!
 
Did you splash the boat - or bounce it off the ice? We're considered early launchers around here - and that won't happen for another five weeks. :smt089

As far as batteries...my boat is stored in a giant storage barn without available electric - so charging over winter is not possible unless they are all removed. So, at a minimum, we unhook all of them from the cables.

The other thing I think that makes sense is to rotate the batteries...swap port for starboard, generator and bow thruster banks whatever random method makes sense. Figuring that the port side batteries take the beating as the house bank; I think it makes sense to give them a break by sending them elsewhere.

As far as the other stuff...well I'm not sure about why any of that stuff happened. Nothing more frustrating then tracking down electrical issues on a boat that has a few miles of wiring.
 
Rob
Glad you're IN. I'm right behind you. 3/29 and I'm wet, wanted next week, but with Easter...well family dinner and such.

Like Cutting Edge, once in, the early season starts are always done with shore power connected.

See you on the sound, and if Ginna & Phil can get a "go" from SS3/MM on the Rendezvous, then hope to see you at Montauk.

Have a great season, and enjoy the quiet an early launch provides!
 
Glad to see that your "in" Rob...

I installed the Wolverine Oil Pan Heaters last December. I plugged them in about two weeks ago in anticipation of "startin'em up". I'm expecting 'some' smoke, but I'll report back if the smoke is more or less than what I typically saw last December when I started on cold days....HOPEFULLY this weekend....if not....NO LATER THAN next weekend....
 
U guys are too funny....
Regarding the batteries I just paid a bill that specifically said Charge batteries and topped fluids. So that will be conversation with the serivce guys . A few years ago I posted that Iplugged the boat in while on land to charge the batteries. It was something I always did. The marina manager at the time made a huge stink about the possibility of electric shock due to the boat being out of the water... So I was banned from plugging in the boat any more....

AS for the motors... With the QSC it was really never a problem before. Having low battery power, empty primary and sec fuel filters just added to the misery. Im just glad I stumbled accross that fire supression by pass switch.

So now im floating and Im back to having a place to hide from work and home....

Oh did I just let me secret out ....

Enjoy the weekend guys ....

Rob
 
We stayed in over the winter, and never needed bubblers. Only minor surface icing on the Potomac this year.
Shrink wrap came off yesterday.
Got her cleaned up today. Over the winter I re-bedded all the deck hardware items-windlass foot switches, bow pad clips, etc. etc., etc.
Tomorrow the new linear actuator for the starboard side of the engine hatch goes in.
Sunday we light the fires in the Thundering Cathedrals of Torque and go for a ride.
Then we head off on Spring Break (not on the water)
Then it is time to recommission the fresh water system in time for the 29 March weekend trip to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms, with an overnight at the Alexandria City Marina.
And then I am burning serious diesel until November.
WIll probably haul out in May to do bottom paint, anodes, line cutters/spurs, and check the cutlass bearings. I prefer to go to the yard after the spring rush is over.
This assumes I don't smack any debris in the river, requiring an emergency haul out. Once per every boating lifetime is enough for that excitement.

I cannot wait to crank the Cummins up.

Skip
 
No.. cheap-o John Deere... I would like to get a "real" one with a diesel someday...

I am really good at cutting the grass: "CHRIS! GET OUT THERE AND CUT THE GRASS!"

Works every time.
 
Ummm.......I went boating yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, etc.....and I'm going again tomorrow.

And, this for you Northern guys with doubtful battery charge condition. Diesels are not like gas motors. It takes a certain amount of cranking speed to develop enough compression to explode or fire a diesel cylinder.....I don't care how electronic your engines are or if your yard doesn't like you to charge your batteries. It is very hard on your engine's starting gear and puts unnecessary wear on a diesel to try to start one with low or marginal batteries. Cranking one too slowly causes unburned diesel fuel to spray into the cylinders and wash the lubricating oil from the cylinder walls which means that, while you are grinding on the starter, the pistons are wearing away the rings, piston skirts and cylinder walls.
 
My boat is plugged in all the time.. and if it isn't plugged in, the generator is running. Even when the boat is hauled and sitting in the yard (about 2 weeks/year), it is plugged in... The 480 DB does not like to be without 240v... batteries are always on the chargers and the fridge is always running... and the engines always start right away.
 
Frank,
TY....Was not aware of the starter speed was relative to starting...Love my marina but WTF.....

And yes MR edge ....we do have a complaint / issue. My DSM 300 fish finder transducer dumped out ... its clean and wont read squat..... ( 2nd one in 3 years ) Just more ray junk......


Rob
 
Bubblers????? Is that when you are diving under your boat? Sorry, had to ask as I am writing this e-mail from a mooring in front of Pete's Pub in the Abacos.

briman
 
2 Things...

Great idea on moving the batteries around...maybe I will get hard up and do that. Except, my only problem, I am terrified of electricy (yeah, it's one of my quirks) - so will have to find someone I can bribe to move around...but it does make good sense...

But, I will say, I know last year - started the diesels up - no problem at all - I don't even remember any smoke!

Skip - wow, you stayed in all winter? Do you leave your heaters and all running? I ask because I had my boat in till Dec 1 here last year - and had some pretty good problems with my heaters - they actually all froze up on me. The lake water was +/- 34-degrees...hull had ice hang'n on it. Outside temp was 20 or so. So, nothing was running - luckily it was coming out next morning! But, still not any fun for the night - running around with portable heaters trying to keep pipes from freezing!
 
I do a complete winterization-mains, gen set, heat/AC units, freshwater system, heads, etc. The Potomac probably dropped to the mid 30's at the surface, and we had very minor surface icing. I do not use any heaters, etc aboard. I worry about the risk of fire.

Went to the baot today. Shrink wrap came off on Thursday, and I got her cleaned up on Friday. Some of the gear went back on today. We had planned to take her for a short run, but the wind was whipping the Potomac into white caps and the family was not motivated for a boat ride.

I am in a new slip this year, right in front of the Marina office, bulkheaded on two sides (port and stern) with a Meditteranean spring on the starboard bow. The slip is 55 x 16 to we can go bigger at some point if I win Life's Lottery. Ahem.

The downside to the new slip is the Marina cat apparently thinks the 420 is a good place to hang out. My helm cover was coated in cat hair. The (*Y*&^%$# cat comes aboard by climbing through the gap between the transom door and aft canvas.
I need to figure out how to keep the cat off the boat. My black lab hates cats passionately, so that may be an option.

regards
Skip
 
Skip -

OK, so really, all you are doing is just letting it sit in the water all winterized... Aren't you worried at all about any water in the bilge freezing? Or you pour stuff down there too?? If I wanted to - I could leave mine in all winter (3 sailors do) - but, too me, not worth the work... I like to pull it out - and do cleaning, etc. on it all winter...plus saves all the shoveling! And, it sounds like you still shring wrap it?
 
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