Components of a New Boat

[FritzN]

Today, I received the specifications for a new Caliber 47 that I’m thinking of buying for a 20-month retirement cruise that I've been planning for over a year. I'd like to know of any strong opinions that you have about the following components – positive or negative:

Autopilot: Simrad AP26 w/AC40 course computer, RC36 rate compass, LeComble & Schmitt Linear hydraulic drive, Edson bronze tiller arm

Bow Thruster: Vetus 95kg

Gen set 6kw Northern lights AC

COMNAV (Nexus) NX2 system: Server w/speed, depth, wind transducers, 2 large Multi XL displays over companionway, wind data display over companionway, multi repeater at nav station

Inverter/Charger: 2500W Xantrex Freedom 25-12, (1) Xantrex Link 1000 controller/battery monitor

Radar: Furuno 1834c/NT VX2-10.4" color radar/chart plotter w/4kw antenna, 30m antenna cable, GPS/WAAS antenna, pod at helm, Questas gimbaled mast mount, stainless sailguard

Radar: Furuno 1720c/nt VX2-7" color radar/chartplotter repeater at nav station

Refrigeration: (1) Frigoboat keel cooled compressor w/ refrigeration holding plate & Temptech digital controller & (1) Frigoboat keel cooled compressor w/ freezer wrap around evaporator plate and Temptech digital controller

SSB: Icom IC M802 w/AT-140 antenna tuner, MD-75 flush mount kit, SCS Pactor III email/weatherfaxmodem, fine isolatorm ferrite cores

VHF: ICOM IC-M502 VHF Transceiver w/ MB-75 flush mount kit, HM-127 remote mic, OPC-990 mic extension cable, Metz antenna, materials

Watermaker: Spectra Catalina 300 MPC 12 gph w/MPC300 digital control, anti growth Z Brain option

Windlass: Lofrans Project 1500

Thanks,

Fritz

[camaraderie]

You're buying a NEW Caliber47 an all this equipment for just 20 months? You'll take a hell of a hit on depreciation but I guess you know that. Anyway, my comments on your choices are in bold where I have some knowledge. Great boat...Good luck!

Originally Posted by FritzN

Today, I received the specifications for a new Caliber 47 that I’m thinking of buying for a 20-month retirement cruise that I've been planning for over a year. I'd like to know of any strong opinions that you have about the following components – positive or negative:

Autopilot: Simrad AP26 w/AC40 course computer, RC36 rate compass, LeComble & Schmitt Linear hydraulic drive, Edson bronze tiller arm
Excellent choice. Have similar an performance is way better than my previous RayNav 6000
Bow Thruster: Vetus 95kg...can't beat them...but do you really need one?

Gen set 6kw Northern lights AC

COMNAV (Nexus) NX2 system: Server w/speed, depth, wind transducers, 2 large Multi XL displays over companionway, wind data display over companionway, multi repeater at nav station

Inverter/Charger: 2500W Xantrex Freedom 25-12, (1) Xantrex Link 1000 controller/battery monitor Have one...excellent. Suggest Link2000 to let you control 2 battery banks which you will need with that thruster for sure!

Radar: Furuno 1834c/NT VX2-10.4" color radar/chart plotter w/4kw antenna, 30m antenna cable, GPS/WAAS antenna, pod at helm, Questas gimbaled mast mount, stainless sailguard

Radar: Furuno 1720c/nt VX2-7" color radar/chartplotter repeater at nav station

Refrigeration: (1) Frigoboat keel cooled compressor w/ refrigeration holding plate & Temptech digital controller & (1) Frigoboat keel cooled compressor w/ freezer wrap around evaporator plate and Temptech digital controllerDepends on where you're headed. But with a big battery bank and generator, you could do a cold plate system powered by oe of these which only runs maybe an hour a day with a single box. Very cool!

SSB: Icom IC M802 w/AT-140 antenna tuner, MD-75 flush mount kit, SCS Pactor III email/weatherfaxmodem, fine isolatorm ferrite cores Have exact same setup using Sailmail. SSB is great. Would not do pactor again as it is easier to get -mail via globalstar + you have voice and emergency capabilities. With the Pactor at 900 bucks and sailmail at 250/ year you can buy a phone and lots of usage and not be limited to just e-mail and just 10 minutes a day. Phone was a savior in emergencysituation for us. IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC>>>Disregard the pactor comments.

VHF: ICOM IC-M502 VHF Transceiver w/ MB-75 flush mount kit, HM-127 remote mic, OPC-990 mic extension cable, Metz antenna, materials

Watermaker: Spectra Catalina 300 MPC 12 gph w/MPC300 digital control, anti growth Z Brain option. Nothing wrong there but again why? With the tankage on the Caliber you can just fill up where water is available.

Windlass: Lofrans Project 1500

Thanks,

Fritz

[Cruisingdad]

This is always one of those things that gets Sailnet members yelling at each other... but here are my personal opinions. They are only personal opinions... so take them as such.

1) Prefer Garmin and Raytheon over Furuno. I personally do not like their junk. Everyone will type nasty comments to me about this, but I have always seen Furuno as the Me-Too versus the Try-First. I used to just like Raytheon, but have started to really like the Garmin stuff lately. I have owned a few of their products and have been impressed. All my large boats have had Raytheon though, so I stick to it as that is my comfort.

2) Bow Thruster. Agree with Cam. Why? Course, there are sure a bunch of times when i wish I had one.

3) Refrig: Agree with Cam. Cold plates are cool (no pun intended).

4) Genset. No. I would go with a smaller Matervolt or Fischer Panda. I have owned both. At 6KW, you will have to put a hell of a load on that thing and it suck a lot more juice. NL is a great unit... but go with the smallest unit you can. I use a 3.5 Mastervolt and have two ac systems and a wife and two kids that do not realize the lights turn off too. Your genset is too large. You can look back at previous threads on sizing a genny, but in general, you need to size it so that you are running at about no more than 80% load on average. Underloading it can actually be worse. Make your electrical budget and size you genny as small as possible. You do not have to run both AC's at the same time. Once you get south of Tampa (in my opinion) you will only run that thing to recharge batts and when it is raining (to run ac).

5) Icom's. Yes. Yes. Yes.

6) Watermaker. Yes. Spectra is awesome. Most expensive $, least expensive in amps. Dissagree with Cam. Buy it and an icemaker! But he and I have dissagreed on that one before. He has good points, I do too. My attitude is that if you got the money, do it. But, that is up to you. If you are going to get the Spectra, spend the money on the autoflush. I think it is 2k more on that unit... but as much as you are spending, what the hell is 2k?

7) Inverter/Charger. Xantrex. ABsolutely.

PS Really like the Caliber. A lot nicer boat than I thought it would be. Was on my first one about a month ago. You will be happy.

- CD

[longwaterline]

Too much equipment. You want a condo, not a sailboat.

[labatt]

Originally Posted by longwaterline

Too much equipment. You want a condo, not a sailboat.

Why not both? I'm not trying to start a flame war here, but is there a rule somewhere that says if you own a sailboat you have to rough it? On my last boat I got the same reaction - why buy electronics/mechanicals/etc. for it? Just sail it! Well, because I actually like to be comfortable too! And I love gadgets.

In June of 2009 my family and I will be leaving for a 12-24 month cruise (still figuring it out). We're going to buy a brand new boat with all of the trimmings. It will be between 50-60 ft (we're currently looking at a Passport 515CC), tri-cabin with an aft king bed, genset, bow thruster, lots of instruments, SSB. It will probably have a wireless ethernet network along with satellite Internet, and we'll probably also have multiple LCD flat screen TV's along with a good sound system so we can watch movies in comfort on those rainy days. It will also have manual backups and abilities for most of these systems (i.e. windvane steering, solar and wind gens, etc.). We will be doing tons of sailing, home schooling our kids, and living on the boat as a home for an extended period of time. Why can't we have all the comforts of our land home in our sailboat?

I understand that each person has their own needs, but there is absolutely, positively NOTHING WRONG with being very comfortable on a sailboat. If you are careful about making sure that you don't give up safety for comfort, and you balance the additional weight with modifications in other areas, you should be fine.

Chris

[camaraderie]

Hey Labatt...I'm with you...comfort is the way to go if you can afford it. My comments on the thruster and water were more because I don't like the additional complications they add. I actually had a thruster on my boat when I bought it and pulled it out and have never really felt the need for one...the extra battery needs and the space that the thruster takes up were more valuable to me a storage space. On the watermaker, I've just found that:
1. You have to run your generator more.
2. When you're in most harbors you can't use 'em
3. They are hell on maintenance especially if you leave the boat a while.
To me it is more convenient to put a hose in every couple of weeks.
I have similar feelings about washer/dryer combos.
Now as to multiple flat screens, color plotters, surround sound systems, icemakers,microwaves and multiple air conditioners....Bring 'em on!

[yotphix]

No proof or even indication of anything Cruisingdad but Furuno is heavily represented on commercial vessels and cost no object large yachts with various devices. I have used Furuno product extensively and always found it to be reliable and interfaces to be intuitive. I could be wrong but I think that furuno was the leader in plotter/radar combos not to mention ssb, weatherfax etc.

[labatt]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

On the watermaker, I've just found that:
1. You have to run your generator more.
2. When you're in most harbors you can't use 'em
3. They are hell on maintenance especially if you leave the boat a while.
To me it is more convenient to put a hose in every couple of weeks.
I have similar feelings about washer/dryer combos.

I agree on the watermaker - I know too many people who have them break down. If I was doing transoceanic or "rural" cruising though, I'd probably get one. In our case, we're doing the east coast of the US, so water should be plentiful. I'm not 100% sold on a bow thruster, but with our next boat being over 50 feet I can see it being helpful. On that note, when I was at the Annapolis show Cabo Rico was showing a 54' aft cockpit. I stood behind the wheel. I swear you need binoculars to see anything off the bow! With that boat I'd definitely want a thruster. On the washer/dryer - depends on how many people are aboard. We'll be cruising with our 2 kids so we'll be generating a lot of laundry. Throwing it all in the inflatable to bring to shore 2-3 times a week gets old quickly! We'll be on the hook most of the time so no easy on/easy off the dock.

By the way - you like Garmin charts over cMap charts? I've got a 398 on my current boat and I'm not in love with the g2. Maybe the chartplotters use the new cartography better.

Chris

Didn't mean to steal this thread

[camaraderie]

Labatt...It wasn't me who liked the Garmin over the Cmap. I actually have a RayMarine plotter that uses CMapNT+ . They are great for the USA but they are pitiful for the Bahama and Caribe. I know RayMarine has switched over to Navionics now but I really don't have anything to compare the CMap to.
On the washer dryer...talk to a few people that have been cruising with one before you invest. I know several cruisers that pulled theirs out due to performance issues....but I certainly sympatize with the dinghy trips & long walks to laundromats. The nice thing we found in the Caribe was that there were always local women who took in laundry for a reasonable price so we didn't have to hassel with it.
Our boat is 52' and we spent most of our time on the hook as well which is one major reason I didn't keep the bow thruster. You don't need it when pulling up to a fuel dock. The only time it is really needed is in a tight marina slip where you have cross winds or currents. When you think about how many times a year you will use it and compare with the cost, extra batteries, charging and space lost (with 2 kids you will need it!)...especially with a center cockpit where you have 30 feet in front of you....well...just something to think about.

[labatt]

Originally Posted by FritzN

VHF: ICOM IC-M502 VHF Transceiver w/ MB-75 flush mount kit, HM-127 remote mic, OPC-990 mic extension cable, Metz antenna, materials

You might want to look at the Uniden line of VHF's. They now have the wireless remotes as opposed to wired. Advantage - if you have 2 wireless and one fixed they can act as intercom's (think about communicating with someone during mooring), you can use them anywhere on the boat. Disadvantage - you need to charge them and they could get lost (though they have a belt clip), plus they cost more.

I've got the Uniden UM625CBK fixed mount and it's wonderful. I thought the color would be a gimmick (though I got it anyway) but it's great because the contrast is excellent! The Uniden triplescan is nice - tune to the regular channel you want, hold down 16/9 for 3 seconds and it will automatically rotate between channels (no need to set up custom scans). It's got NOAA weather alert functionality. It's pricey but I really like it.

Chris