Galley
Refrigerator - Nova Kool LT6, 12vdc and 110vac.
Update 3/2004: The Nova Kool unit has performed flawlessly in the two years that we
have had the unit installed.
Update 4/2007: Still going strong!
Stove - Seaward Hillerange 2 burner propane stove with oven
Update 3/2004: We installed the stove in 10/2002 to replace a three burner stove
that was too big for our galley. The Seaward continues to work flawlessly, we’ve been
very happy with this unit. BTU output could be higher, though. 4 out of 5 stars.
Trident 12vdc propane control system with solenoid valve
Barbecue - Magma Newport propane grill
Update 3/2004: This is the best marine bbq I have ever had. I’ve tried the Force 10 units as well as the round ones from Magma, and have always had problems with either
uneven cooking or the flame blowing out. The Newport from Magma is just unbelievably
reliable. There is ample cooking surface, even heating throughout, and most
importantly, the flame has never been blown out by the wind. I’ve even grilled when
the wind was blowing 25 to 30 knots, and no problems. It’s the best. 4 out of 5 stars.
Plumbing - Scandvik double galley sink with custom cutting board covers
Two manual water pumps for fresh and salt water
Jabsco Sensor Max VSD 4.5 GPM water pump
Jabsco Macerator pump for emptying the holding tank
Henderson manual bilge pump
Other Equip - Food Saver vacuum sealer
French press coffee maker
Three pressure cookers of various sizes
Electrical
Battery Banks - House bank: 6 Lifeline AGM 6vdc batteries. 660 AH total
Update 3/2004: We have had these expensive batteries for 13 months now, and I am
beginning to become very disappointed in them. When they were first purchased and
installed, we were able to get close to 300 amp hours out of the batteries before they
reached 12.2 vdc (50% discharged). Now it seems that we can only pull about 115 amp
hours before they reach the 12.2 vdc mark. A loss of 200 amp hours is just not
acceptable to me. I tried to exchange them under their warranty, however the place that
I purchased them won’t let me. I’ll be contacting Lifeline this next week to see what I
can do.
Update 04/08/2004: Talked with the folks at Lifeline about the batteries, they
suggested that I equalize the batteries for three hours at 15.5 volts. Completed that
the other day, and the batteries are behaving like they should again, just like new. I’m
hoping that this will fix the problem for the time being, but was told I should equalize
about once or twice a year. Glad the problem was remedied. 3 out of 5 stars.
Update 4/2007: Highly disappointed with the Lifeline AGM batteries, only got
three years from them. Lifeline AGM batteries must be charged 100% everytime they
are charged to the any life out the time, read their site, they state so. We
“upgraded” to 6 Trojan T-105s and are much happier!
Engine Start: Lifeline AGM group 31
Charging - Xantrex TrueCharge 40+ with temperature sensor
Update 11/15/2006 : We upgraded the Truecharge 40 amp battery charger to a Xantrex
Freedom 1500w inverter 70 amp battery charger to give us quicker charging and less
generator run time. The batteries now charge almost twice as fast!
2 Siemens 35 solar panels
Update 3/29/2004: Today I removed the two 35w solar panels and replaced
them with a Kyrocera 120w solar panel. The foot print is slightly larger,, but the
output is now twice than what we were seeing, about 45 amp hours per day on average.
The new solar panel along with the wind generator should keep up with our electrical
demands from the battery, minimizing the need to run the engine for battery charging.
Update 4/2007: Still putting out as if they were brand new!
Fourwinds II wind generator
Update 4/2007: This guy still works great, no problems, no maintenance
Balmar 100 amp alternator and regulator
Monitoring - Xantrex Link 2000 battery monitor
Ample Power BatMon for solar/wind output monitoring
Ventilation - AquaCal 16K btu reverse cycle air conditioner
Update 6/2004: The AquaCal unit was less than a year old, and performed so badly
that we ended up pulling it and replacing it with a Cruisair 16k BTU system. The issues
we had with the AquaCal is it was extremely noisy, the blower was undersized, and it
needed recharging twice since we purchased it less than a year ago. The blower only
blows at 400cfm, almost every other 16k BTU air conditioner out there blows greater
than 480cfm and most, including the Cruisair, are greater than 510cfm. The new
Cruisair is very quite and performs much better. Lesson learned, you get what you pay
for (the AquaCal was cheap, financially and in performance (my opinion)).
Guest 12v fans
Panels - Blue Sea DC battery switch/parallel panel
Newmar AC/DC panel with analog meters
Lighting - 9 halogen 12vdc brass dome lights
5 halogen 12 vdc brass reading lights
1 engine compartment light
1 lazarette light
2 exterior 12vdc flood lights (1 forward, 1 aft facing)
1 Petromax pressurized brass oil lantern
1 Den Haan Clipper brass oil lantern
Electronics
Communications - Standard Horizon Intrepid VHF radio with DSC, Position
repeating from GPS
Update 08/15/2007: Upgraded to a Northstar VHF 721 with 701 remote mic to integrate
better with the rest of the system. The remote mic also has a bunch of new features that our old
Standard Horizon didn’t have.
Standard Horizon RamMic remote microphone for above
with intercom features
Icom IC-M1V handheld VHF radio
Update 08/15/2007: The Icom handheld has not held up and failed us within the first year.
After several issues and repairs we purchased a new Standard Horizon handheld VHF radio
Cobra FSR radios
Cruising Solutions Mariner 500 headsets
Icom M706-MKII Ham radio
Pactor IIusb HF modem
Navigation - JRC 1800CP color radar and GPS chartplotter with
repeater capabilities
Update 6/7/2004: We have been very pleased with the JRC 1800. It’s color display is
very easy to see in daylight, and overall the unit it user friendly. I only wish that
inputting waypoints was easier. 4 out of 5 stars.
Update 08/15/2007: While the JRC 1800 was an excellent system we found it to be more cost
effective to upgrade our system than to buy numerous C-Map chart chips for future cruising
areas. We upgraded to a Northstar M84 multifuntion display with chart plotter, radar, fishfinder,
and AIS receiver. With a much bigger screen, more features and excellent integration we’re very
pleased with our decision. With the new C-Map Max chart chips we can get much better
coverage, one Max chart is equivelant to about 6 of the old style NT+ chips.
Data Marine Wind Speed/Indicator with NMEA output
Update 4/2007: Upgraded to Navman Wind instrument, very nice unit
Data Marine Speed/Log/Temperature with NMEA output
Update 4/2007: Upgraded to Navman speed/log/temperature unit
NavMan 3100 Depth sounder with NMEA output
Standard Horizon DS45 depth sounder
Raymarine ST4000+ autopilot integrated with GPS and
Wind instruments
Navman 3380 G-Pilot below deck autopilot system
Raymarine ST60 Maxview Repeater at nav station, repeats
all NMEA information
Garmin Vista handheld GPS
Garmin GPSMAP 72 handheld GPS
Compaq laptop computer with MapTech navigation
software
Entertainment - Sansui 15” LCD TV with built in DVD player, a/c and d/c
powered
Dantronics Triax UFO television antenna with amplifier
Update 6/07/2004: We’re not very pleased with this antenna, especially for what it
cost. We actually get better reception with rabbit ears in the cockpit. 1 out of 5 stars.
Sony AM/FM/CD automotive style stereo
Sony portable cd player
Bose speakers
Engine and Mechanical
Engine - Yanmar 3QM30F fresh water cooled diesel engine, 30hp
Fuel System - Racor 500 primary filter, dual filter system with selector
lever
Alage X fuel conditioner
Integrated fuel polishing system, 150 gph
Plumbing
Head - Raritan PHII manual head
Update 7/2004: We replaced the Raritan with a Lavac Popular head.
Update 8/2007: In three years we have not had to deal with any rebuilds with our Lavac head
Water Heater - Seaward 6 gallon water heater. 110 vac and used as wind
generator shunt. Also heats via the engine when it’s running.
Bilge Pumps - Rule 3500 gallon/hour (primary)
Rule 2000 gallon/hour (secondary)
Henderson manaul bilge pump
Y-valve on engine raw water pump intake for emergency
bilge pump
Sump Pump - Rule 800 gallon/hour
Copyright S/V Bruadair 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.
No reproduction with out expressed consent in writing.