PDQ OWNERS FORUM

We are still learning our boat and we have a few questions. What is the preferred location to store gasoline for the dinghy's outboard? Is it the starboard forward lazarette or on the floor of the dinghy under the Bimini or someplace else. We were using the fuel tank in the outboard (6 hp Yamaha 4 stroke), but the gas only lasted about half an hour, so I bought a 3 gallon external tank so we wouldn't keep running out of fuel.
When equalizing the house batteries is it sufficient to turn off the starting batteries and generator battery at their respective switches before equalizing?
How do I rotate the image on the GPS monitor to get the direction we are heading at the top of the monitor rather than North? Thanks, Eileen and Jim "Eagle Ei"

1. A bridge deck locker that is sealed from the cabin and that vents overboard.
2. Above decks.

If you have ever had a can leak below deck while you are away from the boat, even the tiniest seep of vapor, will confirm how desperately dangerous and murderously smelly it can be. I made that mistake ONCE, 25 years ago. A tiny leak in a confined space, and my mom very nearly passed out. A spark and I wouldn't be writing. A different boat, but after that, I have never had a jerry can in the cabin or an ordinary locker.

The PDQ 32s have a proper vented cockpit locker. I don't know about the 36s. Should be a standard boat item.

Eagle Ei,

Do you have the Raymarine E80 or E120 series chartplotters? On my E120, I use the "soft" buttons at the bottom. I think it is Navigation, then Presentation Options, then you have the choice of N (north), C (course), or H (heading) defining UP on the display. I can't give you exact directions, but that should help you find it. Hopefully, you got a set of manuals for all that stuff with the boat. If not, you can still download a PDF from Raymarine.

As for equalizing the batteries, you will see voltages up to 16 or so, which could damage some DC equipment. It is best to turn off the main DC breaker at the panel during equalization. That means no refrigerator or anything during the process.

Good luck with your boat!

hi,

get a 6 gal external tank and leave it in the dinghy. that has been enough for us cruising in the abacos. when we go to exumas, where gas fillups are few and far between, we carry an extra 6 gal "jerry" can on the flybridge, outdoors.

probably bad procedure but we have equalized without shutting anything off.

not sure which chartplotter you have. ours is an raymarine rl70c. if that's what you have, press MENU, then CHARTS(softkey), then ORIENTATION(list), choose North|Course|Heads. i'm not on the boat, so this is from memory.

The starting batteries need to be isolated at the battery combiner. They are sealed batteries and cannot take the high voltage when equalizing. Some combiners have a switch but mine don't. I have to remove the fuse right beside them. The generator battery is a non issue as it is completely separate and is only charged by the generator. I keep my extra gas strapped on the stern seat. we don't sit there and have removed the cushions.

Kent Overbeck
2005 PDQ 34 Rising Tide

Kent brings up an important point I failed to mention. Turning off the switches to the engine start batteries DOES NOT disconnect them from the house bank because the combiner will keep that circuit closed. Thanks, Kent!

That is also true whenever someone is working on an engine's electrical wiring and you want all power off. You must open the circuit at the combiner, too, to make that happen. Then remember to switch the combiner back to auto so it does its job.

5/27/17 Thank you Thinwater, John, Duane and Kent. I'll give it a try. Jim "Eagle Ei" MV34.

I'm getting ready to equalize batteries for the first time. I'll turn off the 12v Panel.

I have a Pathmaker Combiner. Do I need to physically disconnect the starting batteries, or will switching the Combiner "Off" work ?

by putting the combiner sw in "no combine" position you're ok. no green light on combiner.

Thanks John !