After couple of fluorescent tube decided to stop working, we decided to upgrade the couple fixture with modern looking one.
I was looking for a high water alarm for a couple of years fitting the very tight bilge of our Catalina 36. After 2 failures in less of 1 year of Rule-A-Matic Bilge Pump Switch. I decided to try something new!
Here are the parts I installed:
I went for BGI after a very responsive answer from their support team to one of my request before to order. Also one of the sexy feature was the bluetooth connection.
One very interesting feature about the BGI device is the fact you get some of the data through bluetooth, not sure yet what is the added value, but always good to have extra data about your sytem. To be honest it’s one of the feature who made me to go for this device.
So far I am very happy with the install and feel a huge improvement based on what I used to have before. I love the panel.
Now I feel I can have a good understanding of what was going on with my bilge after any time away from our boat.
The next step is going to try to figure out how to connect the high water alarm output to my Victron Cerbo GX. Thank you to BGI support who gave me some good insights how to make it happens!
My NMEA 2000 network is still pretty small, but I think it’s the good time to start to document it.
Right now we have:
I already ordered my AIS transceiver, so I guess it will be the next equipment I will have to add to this diagram.
Few more items I see adding in the future:
Tired to have to replace my belts twice a season, I decided it was time to fix this recurring alternator belt issue. The PO installed an alternator too big for my M25XPB engine. So after some research and a lot of help from Mainsail on Catalina 36 forum and on https://marinehowto.com I decided it was time to start with this project!
Pulled the trigger and I bought a Balmar regulator MC-614H and an alternator CMI-105-ER on https://marinehowto.com/.
Very happy with Rod customer service during the decision process and the very fast delivery.
As soon as I received all parts, the first question was to decide where to put the regulator. I decided to take advantage of the space available on aft of the engine, against the central water tank. Another option was to put the regulator on the port side of the engine bulkhead.
As soon as the regulator situation was fixed, I realized the alternator didn’t fit as expected. Time for a quick conversation with Rod @ marine how-to, I can’t say enough how helpful Rod has been in the success of this project). Rod explained me I was able to make one of the alternator bolt shorter, 30 seconds with the dremel and I was good for the next step!
Next issue 🙂 After a quick grinding, it fits perfectly!
Almost too easy! The alternator arm decided to break inside the engine block, after some clean up and rethreading, I was able to get a new bolt in.
After few tests, it looks like the 17420 is a good fit! Time to order a couple of them for spare.
The tuning of the Balmar MC-614 is pretty challenging, I just followed RC recommendations for your alternator and your battery. You can find everything about Balmar Tuning in the article below.
Checking the RPM, I realized it was not showing up, after a bit more help from Rod I started a quick troubleshooting session to realize one fuse failed during the setup.
The week-end of Thanksgiving was a perfect time to validate the new alternator setup. Everything worked as expected! Next step upgrade our battery bank for our next long cruise to Catalina.
The 2 cabin boards near the engine came with the boat in a pretty bad shape, they were in need of some love. I decided the risk was very low to exercise my varnishing skills on these boards. The result happened to be way better than I expected.
Update March 2019. After this rainy winter and couple of leaks, it’s time to do the forward cabin floor board.
Update March 2019. I replaced CitriStrip with Klean Strip for the forward board, way easier to apply.
Start with 4 coats of clear coat of epoxy. I usually apply the 4 coats of epoxy in less of 48 hours.
Continue with 4 coats of undiluted Epifanes Varnish.
Update March 2019. 2 years later the Epifanes Varnish was still ok, but added a bit of mineral spirit before to apply it.
Here more pictures from the haul out.
