2010 Boating Season Plans

Being of the technical mindset, this post is dedicated to my plan to prepare for the 2010 boating season.  Obviously, I'm starting to get antsy about getting out on the water with Summer Dreams, my appropriately named '09 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer.  I didn't get as much time on her in the fall, especially for doing any customizations or upgrades.  Thinking of what I want to accomplish this summer, I feel that it's best to put in down in writing.  Besides being an excellent way to share my experiences, for the most part I'm using this to keep my on an even keel. 

First up is my overall plan:

1. Get the boat into the water.  The water systems don't have to be commissioned since I'm not planning to take her out until the upgrades are completed.  I'm hoping for mid-April, predicting that the ice will thaw by end of March since in 2009 it was March 30th.
2. Open up all the access panels and scope out all routes for cabling.  I'm told by Sea Ray that there is "tubing" for such things but I'm wary.  Basically, I got to see what's there and obviously modify this plan as appropriate.
3. Run the required cables and installing any inside equipment first including wall plates, etc..  This way I work from inside to outside.  This may take a bit of time since I might not have all the parts or cables required; also fishing cables is an exercise in patience.
4. On a sunny weekend or few days off, I will remove the anchor light and begin to sculpt the interface plate.  I'll remove the canvas for this operation.  Once I have the interface plate, the backing plate(s), and all components I'm ready for installation.  Once started it has to be complete as I can't have openings where the weather can get in. 
5. Finish the installation of the SCANSTRUT compact dual PowerTower and for the wireless antenna mount.
6. The assumption is that all the internal stuff is ready to go so at this time I can install the radome, satdome, and antenna.
7. Register the Bell TV and the Sirius radio subscriptions with the tuners.
8. Warranty work; get the cockpit carpets, transom shower, canvas snap-ons, and gel-coat touchups all done.
9. Strengthen the Vberth bed support via starboard/marine board.  I just don't think that the current support will hold up to typical usage/abuse.
10. Using a spare foam bed topper, cut out the shape for both berths and sew a zip on cover/fitted sheet.  Top with a modified duvet instead of using sleeping bags as we are now.  The point of this is to increase the comfort level while being on an extended cruise (read two weeks).
11. Plan the "Golden Triangle" trip with provisions, stops, everything... 

So that is the overall plan, now for the details.  On the electronic install side of things, here is a of electronics that is currently installed on my '09 270DA; that was purchased with the boat:

• Sony CDXH905IP Marine AM/FM/CD Stereo with digital display remote and iPod connector.
• DICE iPod cradle; does not support iPhone 3G physically.
• AudioVox FPE1508DV LCD flat panel TV, 4:3 aspect ratio, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i, DVD, Dolby Digital.
• Glomex HD omni directional ATSC antenna w/ amplifier/gain control.
• RayMarine C70 Chartplotter/MFD
• RayMarine Ray 240 VHF/DSC
• RayMarine RayStar 125 GPS Sensor 

So in my effort to outfit my '09 270DA with full electronics, here's the part list of what I've got so far:

1. Ericsson W35 Fixed Wireless Terminal
2. Ericsson W35 12/24V Power Lead
3. 1 x Marine Antenna 746 - CDMA/GSM/3G (746)
4. 5187 HD Shakespeare Stainless Steel Ratchet Mount
5. 1 x Antenna Patch Lead for W30/W35 (RG174NMCX)
6. 1 x LMR-400 Type Cable Set - 10m
7. 2 x Blue Sea Systems Medium Cable Clam
8. UNIDEN Caller-ID phone & cradle; battery powered.
9. Imtra IML Top Switching wall plates & jack; RJ11, RJ45, boxes/mounts, and trim. 
10. SNYSC1C -- Sony SiriusConnect Interface
11. SCC1C -- SiriusConnect Universal Vehicle Tuner
12. Shakespeare Galaxy SRA-40 Sirius Satellite Radio Antenna
13. KVH Azimuth 1000 Electronic Compass
14. RayMarine RD218 w/ 15m cable
15. RayMarine 33STV Satellite Dish, incl. dish/dome and ACU.
16. SCANSTRUT DPT-SR1-30 Compact Dual PowerTower.
17. SCANSTRUT SC-113 Integrated Light Bar
18. SCANSTRUT SC-111 GPS Antenna Bar 
19. Bell TV SDTV 4100 receiver/IRD
20. Xantrex XPower Inverer 175 Plus
21. Blue Sea 15A rocker circuit breaker

On my wish list is: 

1. Replace the iPod dock with a similar iPhone cradle; i.e. Carcomm CMIC-09.
2. RayMarine AIS250.
3. Xantrex Link Lite; battery power monitor.
4. Bennett Tab Position Indicator; assuming the trim tabs on my boart are from Bennett.

Here's what I got so far in terms of a detailed plan:

• Create a 8"x8" interface plate, sculpted to the radar/spoiler arch surface, out of starboard.  I picked up the equivelent material from Canus Plastics here in Ottawa.
• Mount center of the arch the DPT-SR1-30 with a RM RD218, RM 33STV, Shakespear Galaxy SRA-40 on a ScanStrut SC111, and an ScanStrut SC113 light bar. It should look this (though the RM satdome pictured is the 37STV and not the 33STV which is smaller.

• The following image depicts how the GPS/light bar will be mounted on the satdome plate.

• Next up is the Laser 746 antenna on a Shakespeare 5187 ratchet mount with a Blue Sea cable clam.
• Access to the mounts will be through the center access panel and the port LED light.
• Once the antennas are mounted, the interior mounting begins. First up will be the KVH Azimuth 1000 compass which will replace the Sea Ray stock compass. However, I have to wire power and NMEA-0183 to the C70 after I determine how the RM GPS 125 is connected, SeaTalk or NMEA-0183.
• Then I have to mount the ACU and the Bell TV/ExpressVu 4100 receiver/IRD (+ AC/DC power converter), preferably where the electrical panel cabinet, where the Sony CDX-H905IP is located. I need ~10" depth for a rack style install otherwise I may have to go funky in terms of mounting. Of course, this means I have to cable from the helm/arch/TV to here which is problematic. I just don't how the wires are routed at this point.
• The Sirius radio tuner and the Sony interface modules have to be mounted in the electical cabinet as well. There isn't much room so mentioning that I also have the Ericsson W35 unit to install as well is giving me a headache.
• Lastly, having a bunch of IR remote controlled stuff in a cabinet (with no window) is stupid. So either I have to put in a clear glass window or a IR repeater... The window sounds easier but thinking how to match trim/color is adding to my headache.
• Lastly, having to put in some data/telephone outlets which I picked up already. The first one is for the cabin and the second one is for the helm (phone only).

 

To wire/cable everything, I essentially will have to open everything up. I figure that I will have to remove the helm panels to get access to the C70, the panels in the wet bar and on the arch starboard side, the panel behind where the TV is, and the electrical panel. Hopefully, I can rent a snake camera to see where the cables go. I'm hoping that there is space to route cables from the helm to the electrical panel up and around the cabin entrance because the only other way is back to the bilge, cross over behind the generator, and up along to the electrical panel. Of course, this route is not preferred since it follows the main AC/DC bus/wires AFAICT.

Of course, mounting all of this stuff will be a task. The most troublesome will be the radome (and satdome) because of the mount. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, here's two thousand.

 

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

Cheers,
Kaoru

Posted by Kaoru [Boating] ( February 21, 2010 04:29 PM ) Permalink | Comments[0]