More 38 EC questions...
 

I'm not new to boating but new to this boat, and some of the systems are....interesting. Just when I think I have it figured out something else comes up and confuses me. Love the boat, just trying to get it all figured out.

We were out this week for 3 days/3 nights on anchor. Family of 4, being pretty conservative about water but ran out of fresh water in a day and a half. Tank was full to start. As soon as I found out we had no more water in the tank, realized the toilet wouldn't fill up either. I thought the toilet was supposed to use raw water...? Is it pulling water from the fresh water tank? That would explain why we ran out so fast and toilet wouldn't fill once we were out, but why the hell would they do that? How is it plumbed? I'm not real sure how the whole system works but it seems like the toilet should fill with raw water regardless of the fresh water tank. I don't see any valves, and the only pumps I can see in the bilge are the fresh water pump with 1 in and 1 out, and one going through the hull that is marked Dometic. I assumed this was for the toilet but it doesn't do anything when the toilet is flushed. So.... How the hell does the plumbing on this thing work...??

Next: Batteries. There are 3. I assume 2 house batteries and 1 for the generator. I keep 1 switch on 1, the other on 2, with the assumption that the 12v utilities would use 1 battery and leave 1 for starting. Same scenario (3 days at anchor, using only the necessities), the batteries were losing voltage each day even with running the generator in the morning and evening and starting the engines a couple times. Seems like the on board battery charger is very slow to recharge the batteries. I knew the batteries were getting critically weak, and sure enough it wouldn't start when it was time to leave. I put both battery switches to BOTH, still wouldn't crank. Jumped it, but wanted to avoid draining the both that far.
SO... Is it normal to have to run the generator so much in order to keep the batteries charged, and more importantly, what should I do with battery switches to ensure I will be able to start the boat if one goes dead? Does the house 12v power pull from both batteries all the time? I'm having a hard time figuring out how it's all wired...

Thanks in advance

Great post,

Firstly how did you get the anchor to hold for 3 days :)

the batteries are a real pain, my batteries were bridge in series so really made no difference those switches, if one switch was on both were on. I guess this was retrofitted post factory. The genset battery was isolated. I replaced all those push button circuit breakers that made a large difference for the electrics. both in function, and draw. for the majority of the toys on mine i need the genset to be running, (icemaker, microwave, tv, hob, ac) so generally i have it on for a few hours a day when on the boat.

I ve not noticed the toilet on fresh water, but i have the engines out shortly so will be able to investigate further. the fresh water is on the small side for more then a couple of people, even day trips having showers off the back i normally need to refill it.

Be great to see some pictures.

I meant to reply to a couple threads about the anchor because this was one of the first things I addressed on this boat. Long story short, a 22lb Delta fits and works. I tried a 22lb Lewmar Claw because it would have fit perfect against the front of the boat, but the arm of it wouldn't fit all the way in the opening of the hull. It was a little too tall and the 90 degree part got wedged. I was thinking about messing with a smaller roller to make it fit but decided to try a Delta. The delta holds well, the only downside is because of the shape it wedges crooked against the hull when locked in place. I decided it was a small price to pay for peace of mind when anchoring, since we anchor every time we use the boat. Now I set it and forget it.

As far as water goes, I'm pretty sure the toilet draws from fresh water, I assume it's because they don't want salt water to ruin the toilet components. I'd rather it pull raw water, but it is what it is I guess. Going to just plan on refilling water as often as possible.

It would be nice to figure out the battery situation. I ran the generator for a couple hours a day each day and it still wan't enough to keep up with the battery usage on the boat. Does anybody know what amperage the chargers charge at? Must be pretty small because they dont recover very quickly with the generator on. All the batteries are starting batteries also, maybe that's part of the problem.

One more thing, what was the original setup for the cockpit fridge? First off my boat has a fridge there not an icemaker. My 120 panel has a "fridge" breaker and an "icemaker" breaker. The icemaker doesn't seem to do anything, and the fridge breaker runs the fridge in the galley. I eventually found out my rear fridge only runs on 12V and is turned on by a random "accessory" breaker, but it is plugged into a regular outlet (120 outlet). Is this how it came? I'm wondering if it was retrofitted with the 12v fridge. If so, it would be nice to convert back to 120 there someday, as that fridge doesn't work very well below 12.5 volts and draws the batteries down quick. Very odd setup, hence my confusion.

Any other help on what all the other accessory breakers are for? There are a handful of them and I can't figure out what most of them are for...

..

Unfortunately i havent worked out what those accessary breakers do either.

unfortunately my boat came with virtually zero documentation. which makes it fun working out what everything does i guess. still enjoy the boat and cant work out what i will trade it for when that time comes.

The anchor would make it much more useable as i can never relax while it is on anchor currently, had one bad experience.

would be great to see some pictures, and i will try publish some with the motors out, so can have a better idea of plumbing .

One more question,

Do you know how the stereo is wired? is there an amplifier? Reason being, the kenwood headunit(kts-300mr) with remote would light up but never played any sound. I thought that the unit had become compromised so i replaced the head unit. i selected a new kenwood as i thought the wiring would be the same. it wasnt although close and i had to wire the new connection in. Same thing it would light up but no sound. ( i breifly got 2 speakers to make a sound but then it stopped when i tried to use the balance, I never get more sound). Therefore i thought there must be a remote wire to an amp somewhere or a dodgy amp, but i have yet to discover one(an amp or a remote wire). The only other option is all 4 speakers are broken, which i think is unlikely.

I am about to move to wireless speakers if i can't resolve this soon, as i play 99% of the music from my phone anyway. I will likely change the dvd player to a apple tv if i do this.

Has anyone else upgraded the entertainment system?

on my 2006, my remote amp is mounted under the bench seat in the galley. These boats came with varying stereo options, I had a slightly upgraded package on mine. I added a four channel amp, speakers on the transom, four sub woofers on the starboard side below the seats and 2 6.5" in the radar arch, All kenwood amps and speakers. The four subs really bring the base. Sorry, not much help with your question :)

Like the sound of your set up, will go out in the weekend to see if i can find an amp under that seat, but suspect the speakers are gone,

Doing a few repairs at the moment, and speakers are down the list,
the manifolds are getting changed out this coming week, also, new air idle modules, a salt away system, and replacing the shower sump. Then i want to fix the speedo, looks like a simple wire in a new attenna. New camper canvas goes on the end of the month, and then it will be looking mint again minus the stereo sound :(.

Anyview on bravo 3 xr prop pitch. I seem to be able to rev it along way past the red line, so i think its under pitched.

I had 1.81:1 bravo 3 with bravo III XR props (four blades leading three blades) at 25" pitch. Boat set right at 5,000 rpms at sea level and Florida heat. My bravo 1 drives are 1.65:1 with 24" pitch maximus props same 5,000 rpm and speed at 60 mph.

Thanks 38fountainecman, I am not getting anywhere near 60mph at 5k rpm. I check the props they are 27 XR type. and the drives at bravo 3X. I can see the ratio but think i must have a 2.2 ? as i would be lucky to get a bit over 50mph at 5k rpm. the engines dont seem very loaded. and it will continue to build revs to 5600 or more. I guess i can go 28p, but should i bite the bullet and go for a different ratio?

If you want to run a bravo III set up, mine was 1.81:1 ratio with bravo III XR props at 25" pitch. The XR props have a leading 4 blade prop with a trailing 3 blade prop. When I first got the boat, that combo ran 61-62 mph in the Florida heat at 5100 rpms. I've switched to a bravo 1, with maximus props. Probably down 1-2 mph, but that is because I've put a bunch of **** in my boat and weighed it down and have over 400 hours on the engines.