Sunday, May 31, 2015

Saturday 053115– in Spencerport NY
Weather/Sea   rain/ cool
Captain - John C. Kwak
It is a rainy cold day in Spencerport with fog on the canal, because the canal water is warmer than the air. Therefor we are staying here for another night.  A good time to write the following report.
This is a report on the air conditioner installation and operation.
At the Defender sale in March 2015, I bought a 12000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioner/heater.
It is made by WEBASTO, FCF SERIES, FCF115:V0012000GS so it only runs on AC 120 volt power.
Because it runs on AC we only run it when the boat is hooked up to shore power. Dutchess does not have a generator.
The unit is installed under the port bunk in the salon with the air duct run into the wet locker and up to a discharge on top of the locker about 12” from the deck. This heats and cools the salon effectively and the Vee berth if the door is open.
The unit has a separate control box that comes with the control cable attached to the air conditioner you only have to make a power cable and connect to the water pump and a power cable to connect to the AC panel and 20AMP Fuse. They recommend 30 Amp fuse but the 20amp fuse that I had,  seems to be holding fine. I checked the amperage with fan and pump running it draws only 13 amps.  This unit is heated and cooled by using the water around the boat. Therefore it has a water pump that is turned on by the control unit.
Dutchess had an extra 1” thru hull that I did not plug because it was too close to the forward looking sonar.  I plugged 7 thru hulls  in the hull in the early stages of refit and changing the plumbing but that is another story! This thru hull had a FORESPAR Marelon OEM Thruhull and valve installed by me which was plugged off in case someone opened the valve.  Because I had no purpose for this valve at the time it was installed it did not matter that it had a vertical hose barb with only 2” under the floor boards. So now that  I wanted to use this valve for the cooling water I could not connect a hose on the barb. I called FORESPAR makers of the Marelon valve and they promptly decided that I needed the horizontal hose barb. They sent me 2 new top units, I unscrewed the vertical hose barb and installed the horizontal barb. Only 4 bolts that screw into captive nuts in the base and some skinned knuckles and all was well.
Now to make the hose connections, well the valve is 1”male, the strainer is ¾”female,  the pump is ¾” female and the air conditioner is 5/8” male.  So 1” hose to a 1”to3/4” reducer, ¾” hose to strainer, 3/4” hose to pump, ¾” hose a to ¾” to5/8” reducer , 5/8” hose to air conditioner.  OK we have water to the air conditioner now it has to be discharged thru the hull. There is an existing 1” discharge for the Macerator pump which can only be used 3 miles off shore, so not too often. I decided to plumb into this hose using a 1”by 1“ by ¾” plastic tee, a 1” plastic ball valve with 1” hose barbs from the macerator pump and a ¾” plastic ball valve with  5/8” hose barbs for the discharge from the air conditioner.  The 1” discharge thru hull is exits about 6” above the water line but it is plumbed as high as possible using a 1” Forespar vented loop. This prevents outside water from siphoning into the boat.
We started the air conditioner 4 days ago but no water came out of the discharge, I loosened the hoses at the unit and let some air out until the water flowed and retightened the hose clamps.  Turned the unit on and EUREKA it worked and cooled the salon nicely. Today is nasty and cold so we tried the heat cycle and it works marvelously.

Isn’t it nice when a plan comes together and it actually works?

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Saturday 053015– in Spencerport NY
Weather/Sea – light breeze warm
Captain - John Kwak
Crew – Paul Berthe
We traveled yesterday from Newark NY mile 226.67 to Fairport NY 246.58 or 20 miles and today to Spencerport mile 269.93 or 23 miles. All the mileage info comes from Skipper Bob books “ Cruising the NEW YORK CANAL System” highly recommended  for cruising anywhere. I bought separate books for each of the Great Lakes. From Newark to Spencerport we locked thru locks 29, 30, 32, 33 and went under one lift bridge. Newark free dock with nice bathroom and shower, Fairport $11.00 never found the bathroom but free pump out, Spencerport free dock with nice bathroom and shower.
The boat travels at about 5 knots in the canal or around 6mph the bikers on the path next to the canal go faster. We wave at all the joggers, walkers and bikers. At every stop we entertain a number of lookers they seem to find the boat interesting as well as our cruise.
I have also activated SPOT which is a satellite GPS locater device which sends my location to a server for you to access. I paid for a 2 year membership so that should last the Great Circle Cruise I hope! When I remember to turn spot on it leaves a trail of where I have gone.
I went for a nice bike ride yesterday and today went shopping on the bike. I bought an old milk crate at a junk store and lashed it to the baggage carrier. The bike riding is better  for my body  than walking for some reason. Paul Berthe my Canadian crewman is into long hikes.
I called the First Buffalo River Marina to schedule stepping my mast but they said it was to large for them. So am looking for a marina that can handle my heavy 56.6’ mast, that is boating!!!!
Captain John 

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Hello from DUTCHESS to all followers,
Dutchess is now in Newark NY at mile 226.67 on the Erie Canal. The miles start in Waterford NY and end in  Tonawanda at mile 338.74 so 112 miles to go.
We won't stop in Tonawanda but will head up the Niagara River to  a marina to step the mast.
Don't go down the Niagara River because then you find the Niagara Falls!!!!
Only did a 6 mile run today from Lyons to here. Stayed one day in Lyons to rest up.
The day before we had done a 48 mile run from Baldwinsville to Lyons it took almost 9 hours and we only locked thru locks # 25, 26. Today we did locks 27, 28A, 28B only 7 locks to go.
Had a strange noise from the engine room only in idle forward. Checked it out today and found all 4 coupling bolts loose, tightened them and all is well. Need to retorque them at the Marina though.
They had not been touched since DUTCHESS was launched in 2012. They were checked but always tight. Check check and double check all systems, that is boating.
John,

Sunday, May 24, 2015

blogging help

OK we are  getting this together thanks to Nancy Fritz and Mike Quick.

Brewerton NY in the Ess-Kay Marina May 24th, 2015

Dutchess Sailing - May 24th, 2015 - 
Hello to all crew and friends,

Crew is Captain John, first mate Paul Berne, deck hand Dick Fritz, Galley person Nancy Fritz. We are presently in Brewerton NY in the Ess-Kay Marina. This is the west end of Oneida Lake. They charged us 1.00 per foot for the night so 44.00 but charged 8.00 for pumping out each holding tank so 16.00.

Fuel here cost 3.05 per gallon but we have used only 35 gallons since leaving PYC. We stopped in Amsterdam paid 1.00/ft, Canajoharie free dock, Utica paid 40.00 , Sylvan Beach free dock and now Brewerton. The free docks usually have no facilities so we stop in marinas for showers and food shopping. Paul and I used the loaner car in Ess-Kay marina and restocked the boat today. Nancy cooked a splendid spaghetti dinner tonight. The last lock was number 22 only 12 to go. Lock 23 is the last lock where we go down and then they all go up to Lake Erie. Next stop is Baldwinsville where we part company with Nancy and Dick. Then Paul and I will have to manage by ourselves, oh well!!!