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I am a heavy industrial electrician by trade and have needed to use a soft start for big motors when dealing with limited available power I have been thinking of using the same principles to create a soft shutdown for an alternator using a diode light bulb and a fan that is blowing on the alternator
It's nice for the size, but not 300k nice. I have an '82 Catalina 27 as my starter boat, and my upgrade boat will hopefully be much larger, and dramatically cheaper.
Not mentioned, is, in addition to the power of the unit, is the power draw of the NMEA2000 network itself, and all the sensors. How would one shut off displays while keeping the sensors online? My AIS transmitter is always on with the n2k network, as well as other non-environmental devices. Not inexpensive, subscription model. Dunno if it is for me
If you buy a proper DC-DC charger you should not have any of the mentioned problems like discharging the starter battery or having bad efficiency. However, they are more expensive. Example: The Sterling Power Bi-Directional DC-DC Charger has an efficiency over 95 % (less heat also). It will not discharge the starter battery. An additional bonus for the case of solar power connected to the house battery > the DC-DC charger will top off the starter battery as well.
Keep lead as starter and use a Argo FET . When lithium is full and the BMS stops, the Argo seamless keeps the lead chargin. Been using this setup for three years. Normalt get around 70-80 A to the house bank. So in 30 minutes I get a 24 h usage of batttery, with a 20 A DCDC you would need 2 hours. VP D1-30, 115A alt, 3x 100 Ah Renogy and 90Ah AGM. Max temp on alternator around 95-100 deg C.
Sail Magazine has a write up on the new 356. The Butler pedestal is manufactured by Edson and the starting price of the 356 is less than the price you quoted for the 316. Please check you facts. I'm a long time Pracical Sailor reader and a current C375 owner and previous 320 owner.
They are pricing people out of the market with this boat. I was initially intrigued thinking maybe 150? NO WAY I would touch that boat. I have a 320 which does just about everything that 316 does, same tight sheeting angles and even an coach roof track for REALLY tight angles LOL. Didn't spend anywhere near that. 350, 380 used best way to go.
I, quite simply, only charge my lithium bank from solar. I have placards reminding me which bank to only start or run the engine on. Boat is on a mooring so I am not connected to shore power. I installed a battery selector switch which allows me to switch the solar to charging the lead acid back as required.
Great topic but the next question is: how to inspect the keel bolts? Do I have to drop the keel or is there some testing which can be done? I have a 1994 hunter 40.5. Surface suferficial rusting is par for the course but what about crevis corrosion or other keel bolt malidies?
Looks terrific. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think you'll see this level of woodwork in a new boat for less than $300k. Oops... 316 isn't just the length. (Woodwork is not about 'pretty' it's about monotony. No one has ever fantasized being locked in an Ikea over night. One good 'detail' like the grain in the saloon table really makes an interior pleasant to be in.) I've got the same gray Sunbrella on my cushions and bimini. It holds up well of course, but doesn't fade too much. I've added patches of new Sunbrella to my very old bimini and they don't stand out at all. The flatter chart plotter on the pedestal is great. No bright reflections from aft the boat washing out the image. The raised hatches are good. What I think we all know after years of sailing is, we just try never to step on a hatch. And none of the ones on the 316 are where we'd normally walk. But that price..... Yikes. Well, there are people who have the coin. A boat to a certain level of wealth is a sure, why compromise? I wonder if they're going to sell any of these to experienced sailor/fixers? It's not that big. (So no one who's regularly sailed over 40' is going to think 'this will be easier.' ) A used boat is much cheaper and there are always things needing maintenance and fixing. I would guess that the second and third year of a boat's life are probably the most trouble free. (Might make a good video.)
Keel talk ...i live on the Heartly 44 foot 23 tons Ferrari cement..my Uncl started building when i was a boy of 13 ..i look at some of these new Design..and say if god wanted us to float in Fiberglass. glass boats he want here made fiberglass tree's
First I thought you were working for Catalina until your math prowess rounded the price up to “NEAR HALF MILLION.” Once again I ask, “What has happened to Practical Sailor?”
You didn't mention the rigging - it has only two shrouds (thus, swept back). Most larger Catalinas now come wired for electric winches too. Also, the quality of these PS videos is not as good as your Lady K videos - kinda foggy and out of focus - what's up with that?
I used your description in my recent lifepo4 install. The victron DC -DC charger sits there between AGM starter battery and Lithium house bank delivering, when it can, current to House bank. I set protection Voltage of starter battery to DC - DC charger so it cannot drop below a certain voltage to protect starter battery and it happily toggles between delivery and non delivery. The solar panels quickly bring up Lithium charge levels, so up to now the alternator is a top up in cloudy conditions.
Shore power typically runs a battery charger. On older (read before Li Batteries) boats, the chargers are set up for lead acid. You will need to change these out if you go to Lithium. There is another solution which DOES NOT NEED a DC to DC Converter .... First .... Make sure you have two (2) battery banks by removing the standard Bat 1 -> All -> Bat 2 switch and by either adding two separate switches or replace with a dual circuit switch ... Second .... Remove the old battery charger and replace it with a charge/inverter combo ... Connect the Charge/inverter to shore power and the lithium battery bank .... third - connect the old battery charger to the inverter (and to the lead acid battery) ..... and if you have solar - connect that to the lithium bank ..... You now have the best of all worlds .... Shore power charges lithium bank .... powers inverter which powers lead acid charger - which charges lead acid bank .... Solar recharges lithium bank which as mentioned can also recharge the lead acid bank via the inverter .... and while on shore power -> the charge/inverter can feed the lithium as quickly as possible (mine can go as high as 100 amp charge) I can go into detail (write an article with pictures) as I made these changes to my Catalina 270 just recently ...
Insane to have anything but a tiller on a boat that size. Why would anyone want a wheel and pedestal taking up all that space, and then force the person steering to stand all the way back there, exposed and far from winches and lines. Just crazy!
My first boat was a Catalina 22 which is an perfect first boat. Reasonable investment, trailerable and forgiving.. but teaches you. It was however a bit small for Lake Michigan and I had a Beneteau First 305 for 18 years afterward. Catalina has been consistent in listening to customers and building boats that have traditional lines with good value accessories. Agree with others this boat is a non starter on price....what were they thinking?? Re, the steering...isn't there an Edson nameplate on the pedestal? Maybe a the "Butler" is just an exclusive name for a unit made by Edson for Catalina. Thanks for a great, insightful review.
Constantly fascinated by the crowd not getting what boats cost now adays. If this was a power boat it would run 500,000 though that includes twin 300 HP outboards. Not a Catalina fan but seems like an actual reasonable boat. Looking at prices it still slays me that people think a quality Sabre, Tartan, even Beneteau from the middle 80s 90s is now worthless. It's not a car people it's hopefully a well built house!
Isn't this issue why Clark invented his Bank Manager? Clark's Adventure channel. Everyone gets along without a DC-DC converter. www.youtube.com/@Clarks-Adventure
$300,++++ sounds like a lot for a boat this size. I don't know where the French boats sit in this size range. Catalina sure have stepped up everything. Beautiful Boat. I trust them to make a good boat and stand behind them. Pedestal looks nice. It says Edson on it, below the wheel shaft? If they are going to go with their own system, I'm curious who is going to make it? Hopefully they will sub it out with a big company like Edson.
