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1

Main Message Board / Re: Refinishing the Hanging locker wooden door slats

« on: April 30, 2023, 05:46:21 AM »

Thanks Craig. I have a heat gun :)

Here's how the galley drawer cabinet turned out.

The cutlery drawer is next, then the slatted door.

2

Main Message Board / Refinishing the Hanging locker wooden door slats

« on: April 29, 2023, 02:39:11 PM »

I'm refinishing the interior of Eximius, just done the Galley Drawer Cabinet, turned out really nice.
Next project is the Door on the front of the hanging locker ( just aft of the Nav Table )

But how to refinish the slats?

The Galley Drawer Cabinet was pretty easy, just sand it down to remove 36 years of previous finishes and then apply 3 coats of Water Based Polyurethane.
But sanding those slats, that's a challenge, anyone done it or knows how?

Thanks.
Paul

3

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: April 02, 2023, 10:02:21 AM »

Fixed :)

Finally got the new belt and pulleys installed.

I had an issue with the supplied belts being too long, the Alternator would protrude out of the access door in the head.

Balmar offered to replace the 42" belts with 41" belts. Instead I got them from V Belt Guys for about the same including less shipping than I would pay to return the originals to balmar and back.

 

4

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: March 25, 2023, 05:57:59 AM »

Update.
The kit arrived complete.
I was able to easily remove the Coolant pump pulley.
Could not remove the Alternator pulley - took it to a shop that replaced it with the new one
Was able to remove the out pulley from the crankshaft ( not used or required ) but new pulley would not fit over the old pulley as per the design.
Removed crankshaft pulley took it to a shop and had them turn it so that it would fit.
Everything installed and found that the belt with the kit was too long ( alternator would stick out of the access door in the head)
New belts are on their way.

5

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 15, 2023, 05:41:17 AM »

Rod, would you have the model # of the Alternator that I purchased from you?

6

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 15, 2023, 04:26:20 AM »

Thanks Rod, Yes, both the new Crank pulley and the existing crank pulley have 3 holes.

I had to go check a pic of the engine and check the pic from Balmar.   

7

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 13, 2023, 07:22:18 AM »

Will do.

8

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 13, 2023, 07:14:41 AM »

Just spoke with Mike at Balmar ( thanks for the ph# Ron )

The Balmar 48-USP-M25 is the appropriate Serpentine Belt Kit for the Universal M25-XP

:)

Paul

9

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 13, 2023, 06:59:21 AM »

The 'Why'

Belt dust despite great efforts at alignment.

Our alternator ( purchased from Maine Sail ) is a Balmar 100A, we had it serviced a couple of years back and the shop ran it up to 140Amps, it's powerful.

We have a Balmar MC 618 external regulator and have it throttled down to 75% to keep the load down to prevent squealing despite keeping the belt tension set appropriately.

I'm about to install 300Ah of LiFePo4 batteries and they can suck up the power ( hence the MC 618 ) but I'll be happy to fill the new batteries when we run the engine.

I have upgraded our electrical system substantially over the past year, a full Victron System, with the intent of replacing the Lead Acid Batteries which don't last very long here in SoFla.

Here's a link to my blog posts that show what we have done.

10

Main Message Board / Re: Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 09, 2023, 02:43:56 PM »

Thanks Ron. I'll ask.

Paul

11

Main Message Board / Balmar Serpentine Belt Kit

« on: February 09, 2023, 12:08:02 PM »

The thin Alternator support Arm on our 1987 C34 Tall Rig Fin Keel's  M25-XP Universal Engine broke.
I had a new support arm manufactured by a local engineering shop.

Now I feel that it's time to replace the V-Belt with a Serpentine belt, I'm very impressed by the improvements my sailing buddies have experienced on their, different, boats.

Looking at the Balmar 48-USP-M25  Pulley Kit.
I have checked and there is plenty of room between the front of the alternator, crank shaft and coolant pump pulleys to fit the wider serpentine belt pulleys and I can get all of the pulley bolts loosed except for the Alternator which I plan to take to a local alt shop and have them pull the old pulley off and install the new one.

The only question I have is: Is this the correct sized kit? ( Balmar 48-USP-M25 Pulley Kit)

TIA.

Paul

12

Main Message Board / Re: Pigtail to Honda 2200 generator

« on: October 15, 2022, 07:23:44 PM »

Paul-
Why did you not just use your shore power cord with Smartplug plugged into the boat and the 30A twist end into the Honda? Or, with an adaptor on the 30A end that plugs into your Honda household plug outlet?

I didn't want to run the 50' cable to connect the Generator ( at the back of the cockpit ) to the Boat Receptical ( just about 8' from the generator) :)

13

Main Message Board / Re: Pigtail to Honda 2200 generator

« on: October 13, 2022, 05:03:51 AM »

I upgraded our shore power connection to a Smart Plug

Then purchased a second Smart Plug and made up a pigtail, about 10' long, to connect our Honda 2000 using a regular 30Amp shore end plug.

Paul

14

Main Message Board / Re: New Start Battery

« on: October 13, 2022, 04:58:58 AM »

Alex, do you have Solar too?
Currently I have 1x170W, 2x65w and Victron 100/20 MPPT and that also charges the House Bank. ( Upgrading to 510w in the Spring )

I'm guessing that if the house bank V is high enough due to Solar Charging then the B2B will kick in also. Of course, if the Start battery is fully charged it won't be an issue.

Paul

15

Main Message Board / Re: New Start Battery

« on: October 13, 2022, 04:47:39 AM »

That sounds like the exact system I'm setting up for the Start Battery.  The Victron Orion Smart TR 12/12 18Amp B2B charger is on it's way. ( From eMarine in Fort Lauderdale but they're waiting for delivery )

BTW, my system is on Victron World, I'm in South Florida. I think there are only 2 of us, me and Vitality.  https://vrm.victronenergy.com/world/# no password required.

If it arrives early enough, the B2B will be installed before we head out for a 4 day cruise up the ICW next Friday. ( with the new battery )

Paul