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Messages - chuck53

#31
Ed, I put mine in that same locker just like you, but I only have one vent, coming thru the louverd door.
When I talked to my AC guy, he wanted the 16k unit and I wanted the 14k unit.  We both felt the 12k unit might be too small.  When he went to order the 14, it had been discontinued, so we both decided to go with the 16.  Wish I had gone with the 12k.  Yes, it would have struggled more on a hot, sunny day, but would have been the better unit to have once the sun went down.  A comfortable, good night's sleep is very important to me.
#32
I've got a 16K unit on my boat and only have 1 - 30 amp plug.  Never had a problem with the AC and water heater running at the same time.  Now if I try to turn on my microwave, yes, the breaker will pop.
There is one problem running a 16k unit....after the sun has set for an hour or two, the compressor doesn't need to run nearly as much.  On my boat, I have to turn the temp way down at night, around 64, otherwise, humidity starts to creep up and becomes uncomfortable.
There are times I wish I had a 12k unit.  If I ever have to replace my unit, that's what I'm getting.

Also, I started using sun shades to keep the deck cool.  Helps A LOT.
#33
Main Message Board / Re: Extra Thru Hull / new bilge pump
December 05, 2016, 01:16:59 PM
I made the change you are asking about a year or two ago.  Sink drain and head intake uses the same thru hull.  Makes it very easy to do a fresh water flush anytime you want.  Don't even have to close the thru hull to do it...just turn on your water spigot to full volumn.
And icing on the cake....very easy to winterize the head.  For that, I do close the thru hull and just pour pink AF into the sink while I flush the head.
#34
Main Message Board / Re: Companionway wood slats...???
December 01, 2016, 09:56:19 AM
I made companionway doors like the Zarcor, but mine are solid wood.  I hate slats.  I have the lift off hinges so we completely remove the doors when sailing.
I only use the doors on the weekends when we are actually on the boat and put the slats back in place when we close up to go home.
#35
Main Message Board / Re: Cooling water on the hard
October 06, 2016, 07:02:42 PM
The strainer method...
I have a nozzle on the end of the hose, if I use too much water, it overflows into the bilge.  Not enough, you can see the water level drop in the strainer.  I'm sure my 10 year old grandson could do this just fine.
#36
Main Message Board / Re: Cooling water on the hard
October 06, 2016, 04:54:48 PM
I flush my engine with fresh water every weekend when getting ready to go home.  This obviously works on the hard as well.

It could not be easier. 

Close seacock
Open strainer
Have water hose ready to go
Wife fires up engine and I add water to the strainer.
Done.

Works great for winterizing...just pour AF in the strainer.
#37
Main Message Board / Re: Let's talk Macerators...
October 03, 2016, 02:50:21 PM
2 years ago, my macerator pump crapped out and halfway thru the installation of a new one, it hit me...why bother.  I capped off the hose and sent the new pump back for credit.  Haven't missed it a bit.
#38
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
October 01, 2016, 02:24:03 PM
Quote from: KWKloeber on October 01, 2016, 01:15:02 PM
If you can get water past that blockage, I think I'd try a dock water hose coupled to it, and water flowing coupled with the pressure might break a dauber free -- or whatever else it is.

ken

I used my dock water hose which has a lot of pressure.  No, I didn't have the 2 coupled together, but I was able to hold them together hard enough that there was very little leakage at the connection.  My wife said there was a very strong water flow coming out of the vent.
#39
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
October 01, 2016, 02:20:31 PM
Quote from: KWKloeber on October 01, 2016, 01:17:12 PM
Quote from: chuck53 on October 01, 2016, 10:13:34 AM
Yes, there is a dip in the line, but there is no way a couple of ounce of water is going to block the line enough to allow pressure inside the tank build to the point that the sides of the tank will bulge out.

regardless, for the vent to work as it's supposed to, you can't have water or worse waste collecting in the dip.

I agree, but my point, 4-6 ounces of water can't possibly block many pounds of air pressure that is building up in the tank.
#40
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
October 01, 2016, 10:44:16 AM
Ok, here's what I have found.
I took the hose off the tank again and this time used my water hose with pressure nozzle to flush the hose from the tank side.  I did this at least a half dozen times, each time a little dirt coming out of the vent along with a strong stream of water.  In between flushing I tried to run a pretty flexible wire thru the vent hose both from the vent end and tank end.  Either way, I could only get the wire in about 3 feet or so.

This tells me there is some kind of blockage somewhere in the middle of the hose.  I'm guessing a mud dauber.  The only real bend in the hose is about a foot from the stanchion vent hole and I can get the wire well past that meaning there are no bends or kinks in the hose.

My next plan is to get another wire that is stiffer than what I tried today and try to get it past the blockage so we can pull the wire from either end.  If I can do that, I will put a knot in the wire, pull it back and forth to try to break up the blockage. 

Yes, I could just replace the vent hose, but that job is way easier said than done.  Breaking up the blockage will be 10 times easier.

Anyway, I think I have already cleared enough crap out of the vent hose that I won't have anymore problems, at least, in the near future.
#41
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
October 01, 2016, 10:13:34 AM
Yes, there is a dip in the line, but there is no way a couple of ounce of water is going to block the line enough to allow pressure inside the tank build to the point that the sides of the tank will bulge out.
#42
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
October 01, 2016, 06:31:15 AM
Ok, I just disconnected the hose at the holding tank.  I cleaned the end some and blew thru it.  NO resistance at all.  I unscrewed the fitting on the tank and looked it over.  It's fine. 

#43
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
October 01, 2016, 05:42:33 AM
Ok, I thought about a check valve...there is none.  No kinks.  Blockage?  Why is ok sometimes?
I've pumped the tank many times since we have had this boat and always add fresh water to the tank to rinse.  No, I've never filled the tank to the point of water coming out the vent.
However,  on more than a few occasions while pumping out, I've held the water hose up to the vent and flushed water thru the vent while pumping out.  Water was being sucked thru the vent... no gurgling or backing up.  If there was something in the line, I would think this would wash it out.

Despite warnings not to do it, I just stood on my tank.  The bulging slowly went down as air escaped thru the vent.  It's back to it's normal size.  I can always tell when my tank isn't venting as the board covering the holding tank raises up above the settee.  Not much, maybe an inch.
#44
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
September 30, 2016, 06:35:43 PM
There are no kinks in the hose.  As I said, on occasion it vents as it should, but mostly not and the vacuum pulls air thru just fine with no problem.
#45
Main Message Board / Re: Holding tank venting issue.
September 30, 2016, 05:52:29 PM
Not saying you are wrong, but me standing on the holding tank, all 200 lbs, should push a few ounces of water up and out the vent opening. Once in a while, I can stand on the tank and the air will rush out.