Recent Posts

31

General Discussion / Re: ICW 2016

« Last post by Ed Criscuolo on August 17, 2016, 10:51:29 pm »

Well, only 6 weeks left till departure, and I'm busily trying to re-insulate our icebox/fridge from the inside.  I'd love to hear from anyone else who has done this approach.

32

General Discussion / Re: ICW 2016

« Last post by Ed Criscuolo on July 25, 2016, 01:23:50 pm »

Yes, we have had a sheet of 1" insulation that we place over the entire countertop where the icebox is for several years.  My wife stitched a felt cover for it to protect it and provide a better air-seal against the countertop.  It's amazing how cold the countertop is underneath it when we move it for access.

The one downside of it that we've found is that it tends to promote condensation on the countertop underneath it, which in turn swells the wood trim on the icebox lid, making it very hard to remove and replace.

33

General Discussion / Re: Solar panel Upgrade

« Last post by Ron Harbin on July 24, 2016, 09:13:27 am »

The addition looks great Ed.  I'd like to talk to you about your wiring etc. sometime.
I have been using solar for several years.  I started off with a rigid 65w panel that I mount on the cabin top between the mast and the traveler.  About a year ago, I got two flexible 50 watt panels that I lay on top of my bimini.  I have one small PWM controller for my 65 watt panel and another PWM controller for the two 50s.  Depending on the type of cruising I'm doing, I will use only the 65 or may use all three.  It's kind of a temporary setup since I still have yet to hard wire anything.  But the good news is that I can run a portable refrigerator and almost never let my batteries get under 12.6v. 

34

General Discussion / Re: ICW 2016

« Last post by Ron Harbin on July 24, 2016, 08:52:22 am »

I have spent a lot of time weighing the different alternatives for keeping batteries charged.  I have concluded that doing what you did is probably makes the most sense.  But it is one I have not yet opted for because of the expense.  I do have a new (older model) wind generator that I have never installed.  And I have 3 solar panels that I love and use regularly.  My P31-2 has a 16hp Yanmar with a 55 amp alternator.  Although the alternator only puts out about half that at normal motoring speeds, I do usually run the engine for at least an hour on most days and it does seem to give the batteries a pretty healthy charge - so I'm living with what I have for now.  Please let us know how you make out (engine load, battery charging, etc.).

Regarding the fridge, one of the things I did on my previous boat was to cut a piece of rigid foam that I covered with some shelf paper and just sat it on top of the ice box lid area.  It was very easy to do and almost doubled the time ice would last in the ice box.  Of course, it had to be moved every time you got in the ice box but there are many hours in a day and night that you don't need access. 

35

General Discussion / ICW 2016 - Boat Preparations

« Last post by Ed Criscuolo on July 22, 2016, 11:46:09 am »

Just a little update on our preparations.

I've completed two of the four major boat projects we want to have done before we leave.  Dolce Vita's engine now has a 125 amp alternator, controlled by a Balmar MC-612 smart regulator.  This gets us several benefits:

• Will minimize the daily engine run time needed to recharge the batteries while at anchor in the islands
• Has a "float" mode which will keep it from overcharging the batteries during the long motor runs on the ICW
• Although the 125 amp alternator only puts out about 60 amps on our engine (due to the low RPMs), it runs cooler because its loafing at half its capacity

We also now have a pair of 100 Watt solar panels mounted over the bimini, and a Midnite Solar "KID" MPPT smart controller to make maximum use of them in charging the batteries. http://www.midnitesolar.com/productPhoto.php?product_ID=531&productCatName=Charge%20Controllers%20-%20KID&productCat_ID=43&sortOrder=2&act=p

I'm hoping that this, plus the wind generator we already have, will further minimize, if not eliminate, the need to run the engine to recharge while at anchor for an extended period.

So, now I'm off on my next project: Beef up the insulation on our icebox/refrigerator so the compressor doesn't run so much and consume so much power.

36

P-37 / Design Specs

« Last post by cbpsa on July 17, 2016, 11:33:09 pm »

P 37

Designer    Shaw   Main Area    277   Hull Speed   7.35
Model #       ??   For Tri      363   SA/D         19.1
First Year  1982   I           48.9   D/L           205
Last Year   1986   J           14.8   BR            43%
LOA         36.9   P           42.6   L/B          ?.??
LWL         30.1   E           13.0   LWL /B       ?.??
Beam        11.8   Engine       M25   OR            ??%
Disp      12,500                      CSF            ??
Draft        6.5                      MCR            ??
Sail Area    640                      M/F          ?.??
Ballast    5,400   # Built       42   PHRF           ??

P 37-2

Designer          Shaw  Main Area     320   Hull Speed   7.29
First Year        1988  For Tri       341   SA/D         16.7
Last Year         1991  I            47.3   D/L           276
LOA               37.4  J            14.4   BR            38%
LWL               29.6  P            41.0   L/B          ?.??
Beam              12.3  E            15.6   LWL /B       ?.??
Disp            16,000  Engine     Yanmar   OR            ??%
Draft (wing keel) 4.67  Fuel           37   CSF          ?.??
Sail Area          494  Water         100   MCR          ??.?
Ballast          6,000  Mast Height    52   M/F          ?.??
                        # Built        ??   PHRF           ??

37

General Discussion / Solar panel Upgrade

« Last post by Ed Criscuolo on July 14, 2016, 09:38:46 am »

Well, after lusting after solar panels for several years, the deed is finally done, and Dolce Vita has two shiny new 100W panels mounted above her bimini!

I initially wanted to install an arch to provide a platform for mounting the panels, as well as consolidate all of the "clutter" that is mounted on the stern, but the $4000+ price was too much to swallow.  I figured that cash could be better spent on other projects.  So i designed and built a framework of SS tubing over, and independent of, the bimini and put the panels there.

38

General Discussion / Re: Magothy Rendezvous July 16, 2016

« Last post by Ed Criscuolo on July 08, 2016, 09:02:55 pm »

Just a reminder that today is the deadline to sign up for the Magothy Rendezvous next weekend!
Details at http://cbpsa.org/upcoming.php
This is always a great time, and you can come by boat or by car.

39

P-323 / Re: Step for Pearson 323

« Last post by Ed Criscuolo on July 02, 2016, 11:27:12 am »

Yes, the OEM A/C wiring is primitive.  That was one of the first things I replaced.  Here's a link to the projects page of my website describing the upgrade I did.

40

P-323 / Re: electrical for 323

« Last post by Wayne See on July 01, 2016, 07:15:20 pm »

Ed, the original atomic 4 was replaced with a yanmar 30 hp diesel. It is a tight squeeze to replace impellers and fuel filters.

My main concern with the electrical is the 110 AC. There is no breaker panel or a circuit breaker for the water heater or the outlets in the boat. I could use another 12 volt dc breaker panel to accommodate anything I might add.

This is the fun of owning an older boat.