MV/34 ideas

[Old PDQ Message Board]

MV/34 ideas

Posted by Brian and Nancy Strong on November 28, 2003 at 09:39:00:

We have just completed leg 2 of our initial cruise on MV/34 #32 Dana Louise. She
is now at Bay Point
Marina in Panama City Beach, FL for the holidays and
we will continue south in January

Here are a few tips to pass along regarding what has
worked well for us that might be helpful for others:[/i]

1. A 110 V outlet topside has us using a double
sided electric grill up there instead of propane. This
is a big convenience and we use it regularly

2. We use a convection microwave oven for cooking. It is a spaceaver and makes
pizza practical

3. Although we installed flame suppressors for the
Yanmars I believe our best safety step has been to
install two Radio Shack wireless thermometer senders
[$25. each] to provide engine room temps at the helm

This is the best early warning system I can think of

4. Phantom roll screens at bow window and stern door
provide excellent through ventilation anchored
anywhere. These are available thru PDQ but more economical installed by a local
distributor. Their www site lists sources

5. The best nav software by far for the river parts of
the loop is the $29. Microsoft Streets DVD which had
us gps'ing an auto icon the entire route. We also used
the $600 softcharts loop charts side by side and the
river charts are inferior - although they are still a
bargain just for the NOAA charts

6. Our Garmin gps provides better and more complete
info than the Raytheon 300

7. Oil changes are fast and simple using the cylinder
unit that your Yanmar distributor uses

8. The bow flood/spot lights located under the brow
are essential for any night river travel

9. Nancy and I use ToysRUs headsets for anchoring and
up/down conversations - real marriage savers

Running at night is safest with helming from up and
partner watching chart progress from down so driver
has full night vision

10. We found that four 6 foot 2x4 fender boards lashed
to 8 fenders and 4 more fenders at the corners [to
power out against dock/lock walls] allowed us to do
2500 miles without a scratch or concern. All these
lines go to bronze snaps [$1.50 each in qty] so all
adjustments are very quick - no knots

11. I use two laptops side by side on the helm
countertop so moving the compass was essential. I feed
a 17 " monitor/tv on an 'arm' from one with lid
down and use the other Verizon data link - helpful for weather info etc. With a
Shakespeare
amplified TV antenna we found we always had at least a
few usable channels so the arm setup allowed us to swivel the screen and enjoy
it from anywhere in the salon

We hope some of these prove useful. We are new to the POA so look forward to
meeting other members at future events. Like most of the MV owners our
background is sail so can enjoy the sailors' experiences also

Brian and Nancy Strong - MV/34 #32 Dana Louise

Follow Ups:

Re: MV/34 ideas - XM radio [or Sirius] Brian Strong 17:30:19 12/11/03 (0)
Re: MV/34 ideas Rick KIlmer 14:13:16 12/01/03 (1)
Re: MV/34 ideas TV etc Brian Strong 17:17:38 12/03/03 (0)

--------
Re: MV/34 ideas - XM radio [or Sirius]
Posted by Brian Strong on December 11, 2003 at 17:30:00:
In Reply to: MV/34 ideas posted by Brian and Nancy Strong on November 28, 2003
at 09:39:00:

I failed to mention this and it has proved to be a wonderful low cost
[relatively] alternative to sat TV for keeping informed. The bonus for us is we
leave the music channels on when we are running for 'jazz all day'. For those
who follow the markets the Bloomberg and CNBC channels are handy reference
points when you are interested

I had a Terk marine XM antenna installed but frankly I would not bother. I
tested the Delphi auto kit antenna and it works fine with a lot less effort and
expense. .....Brian

Follow Ups:

Re: MV/34 ideas

Posted by Rick KIlmer on December 01, 2003 at 14:13:00:
In Reply to: MV/34 ideas posted by Brian and Nancy Strong on November 28, 2003
at 09:39:00:

Brian,
What brand and model monitor/TV do you use? Does it work well in direct
sunlight, or do you keep it shaded?
Have you thought about using "follow me tv" with a dish service? I have been
thinking of going this way. Your thoughts will be appreciated

Rick

Follow Ups:

Re: MV/34 ideas TV etc Brian Strong 17:17:38 12/03/03 (0)

--------
Re: MV/34 ideas TV etc

Posted by Brian Strong on December 03, 2003 at 17:17:00:
In Reply to: Re: MV/34 ideas posted by Rick KIlmer on December 01, 2003 at
14:13:00:

We use a 17" Lcd TV built by Sampo and sold at Costco. It is mounted on an
articulating arm with a standard vesa attachment built by lcdarms.com

This setup is mounted at our lower helm out of the sun and used for laptop nav
output when running and watching tv/dvd etc otherwise. It is brighter than a
laptop lcd but not designed for outdoor use

We do not use sat tv but rely on xm sat radio for keeping informed and music
listening. We are primarily 'marina hopping' and have found ota and cable tv is
sufficient for our viewing habits

If we planned to liveaboard in the Bahamas etc I think we would spring for the
sat tv assuming coverage there

We do have extensive experience with laptop use aboard as we cruised the inside
passage up and back on a 26' Glacier Bay cat. The lcdarm setup is expensive but
well worth it when the seas get up and all needs to be well secured

Brian

[MV Dana Louise]

This our every 5 years update, now from
CT. We plan the slowest loop since the first canoe.
Project update:
large monitor above lower helm for nav
new shafts at 1000 hrs due to wear
switched from Trinidad to micron paint
leather fly helm seat avail west marine
port teak foldup table for spouse
backed stove with ss heat plate
made plastic holder for laptop nav portside
of fly helm
built clear lexan 29x29 combo swing up rain roof
and serving table over aft door


Regards, Brian and Nancy

Louis the lab now 7