Search found 46 matches

by Stray Cat
Thu May 14, 2009 5:04 pm
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Electrical Question
Replies: 4
Views: 6181

Re: Electrical Question

Oops!
I just re-read the original post.
The breaker can not be reset when the load is shorted.
Check out the control relay box...
by Stray Cat
Thu May 14, 2009 4:50 pm
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Electrical Question
Replies: 4
Views: 6181

Re: Electrical Question

Are you working from two dockside power cables when not in parallel mode? The genset, the inverter and a single shorepower cord must be in parallel mode to power the 'Bus B' branch. Is the dockside breaker on for the cables for both shore power 1 and 2? When a dockside breaker trips, it doesn't flip...
by Stray Cat
Thu May 14, 2009 3:43 pm
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Starboard Berth Modification
Replies: 3
Views: 6579

Re: Starboard Berth Modification

I am going to venture a speculation, clearly I have not tried such a modification. I did just move the 200 amphour house battery bank (80 lbs total?) from the stock aft 'midships position to a pair of 820 amphour, 328 pound each batteries, mounted symetrically port and starboard in the lockers in qu...
by Stray Cat
Tue May 05, 2009 7:30 pm
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Charter Possibities
Replies: 8
Views: 11628

Re: Charter Possibities

Yes, of course. The regular courtesy Vessel Examination we in the Coast Guard Aux. (and Power Squadron and state officials, etc.) do is rather cursory and as you probably know involves the presence and use of basic safety equipment. That exam is voluntary and no enforcement is involved. It is for pr...
by Stray Cat
Tue May 05, 2009 11:23 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Charter Possibities
Replies: 8
Views: 11628

Re: Charter Possibities

I hadn't heard that -- and it doesn't quite square with my understanding. The Jones Act was written and enacted to protect American shipping companies, ship/boat builders and all the other American stakeholders from foreign competition. That is why, for example you cannot ship anything from one Amer...
by Stray Cat
Sun May 03, 2009 11:00 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Charter Possibities
Replies: 8
Views: 11628

Re: Charter Possibities

As I understand it, the Jones Act only allows commercial fishing and charter operations in the US by boats built in the US. This info came to me from the Coast Guard documentation center when I documented Stray Cat. Anybody know more about this?

Gary
by Stray Cat
Sun May 03, 2009 10:37 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Questions on PDQ 34
Replies: 3
Views: 8065

Re: Questions on PDQ 34

Looks like most of your issues were well addressed, except the windlass controller in singlehanded situations. On the foredeck prepare for singlehanded anchoring by releasing any chain stoppers you have, paying out enough rode to get the anchor to hang vertically, and then passing the tethered hand ...
by Stray Cat
Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:26 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: water pump removal
Replies: 8
Views: 10606

Re: water pump removal

I think the GM crankshaft mounted pump is a centrifugal pump,used to circulate the closed system antifreeze coolant, and it cannot self prime. The seawater inlet line has to go over an anti-siphon loop to prevent a leaking hose sinking the boat, and the seawater pump has to be after that loop, so on...
by Stray Cat
Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:24 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Time for new House Batteries
Replies: 12
Views: 14565

Re: Time for new House Batteries

Stray Cat is just completing several major upgrades, including the entire DC system. The original ProSine inverter/charger failed some time ago, and we were exceptionally put off by the Xantrex response. We bought a Victron Phoenix MultiPlus on nearly universal recommendation, and for it's great fea...
by Stray Cat
Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:40 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Pumping the Holding tank overboard
Replies: 4
Views: 6405

Re: Pumping the Holding tank overboard

Gee fellas, I hope you are only pumping blackwater overboard outside the twelve mile offshore limit, as the fines for getting caught are in the several thousands of dollars. I know the stuff dilutes and dispurses quickly, but just knowing that there are boaters out there discharging causes waterfron...
by Stray Cat
Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:13 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: water pump removal
Replies: 8
Views: 10606

Re: water pump removal

We are just finishing several major upgrades on Stray Cat (MV34-012) and we had a heck of a time replacing the raw water impellers, particularly on the port side engine. The yard owner, who is also the Yanmar rep. is checking out mounting a separate pump, facing forward, where the second alternator ...
by Stray Cat
Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:48 pm
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: Stuffing box
Replies: 1
Views: 3757

Stuffing box

Has anyone changed the packing in their shaft stuffing boxes without hauling out? I need new packing, but am not quite ready to haul out. Of course the folks who have dripless shaft seals don't have this problem, but some number of the older powercats do. Lots of boats can be successfully repacked i...
by Stray Cat
Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:03 am
Forum: PDQ Powercat Forum
Topic: window coverings
Replies: 5
Views: 8663

Window coverings / shades

I strongly urge you to try an awning like shade mounted almost horizontally just above the windows, instead of the more customary vertical window covers, curtains, or blinds, particularly those mounted inside the windows. I don't want the heat from the absorbed sunlight inside the cabin at all, so I...
by Stray Cat
Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:07 pm
Forum: PDQ General Forum
Topic: Propane cook tops
Replies: 12
Views: 14519

I solved this exact problem on my Princess cooktop. The fix was suggested in a sketch and note I got when my boat (hull MV34 #12) was picked up at the Whitby. It seems that the plastic knobs got pressed too far onto their shaft and distorted when I put something heavy on top. Or perhaps the knobs we...
by Stray Cat
Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:10 pm
Forum: Destinations / Trip Reports / Crew
Topic: West Coast winter
Replies: 0
Views: 3863

West Coast winter

This is part of my reply to Jim, who suggested: "spring is coming and you can ..... enjoy your boat again" Actually we west coast folks leave our boats in the water all winter, we don't have ice in the harbors until you get well into Alaska anyway. Many of us use our boats through the wint...