TC255 Discovery Upgrades

Discovery · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject:

I have made a couple more improvements to Discovery in anticipation of our winter cruising to Florida and the Bahamas.

I added a Scotty 1106 Depthpower Downrigger.

and

I also added a Waeco Coolfreeze CF-50 AC/DC, fridge/freezer, on a slide out tray, in the rear port cabinet.

Now if it would only warm up enough to wash and wax the boat, change the oil in the three Honda's, and get things loaded. We will be leaving from Utah on Dec. 26th and slowly heading east and south. Destination Florida the first week of Jan. Also hope to join others in a Bahamas crossing in Feb. or March.

thataway · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject:

Nice looking installation of the refer/freezer. We hope to see you about the 10th of January.

Gene Morris · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:32 am Post subject:

Brent..Your installation of the freezer looks great. There is an access port on the floor inside that cabinet for the wash down valve. Is that an issue or do you just leave the valve open?

Margaret

Discovery · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:49 am Post subject:

Thataway,

We will plan to stop by when we reach Pensacola. The 10th should be about right. We have to go via Yuma Arizona. Got to get Grandma set up in her winter digs, before we can leave for a few months. Then follow interstate 8 and 10 all the way east.

Gene,

The hatch is accessible with the tray pulled all the way out. We just leave the raw water valve in the open position. To clean the water strainer however, I will have to set the Waeco off of the tray, to reach it .

Discovery · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject:

Can't stand not to be working on the boat, so I added a couple more modifications to Discovery.

The AC switch panel has been a problem in the past. Occasionally the switches get switched by peoples feet, or placing things on the floor under the dinette. More than once, I have thought I was charging the batteries, when on shore power, only to realize the switch had been inadvertently turned off. Fixed that! I covered the panel with a 1/4" piece of plexiglass, spaced out 1". Just enough room to get a finger behind to throw a switch, but only if you intend to.

I also built a bait prep/filet board. It is made from 3/8" and 3/4" starboard type polyethyelene plastic. It's mounted on a Scotty Rail mount base. This cutting station will also double as a place to put things when cooking on the Magma BBQ Grill, which mounts to the left.

Best Day · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject:

Very nice looking additions. It looks like someone is good with the tools!

Bill

Byrdman · Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:14 pm Post subject:

Very nice additions. You have for sure been busy. Watching your travel times into the FL area... We might just have to have us a little get together around Bob's place.

starcrafttom · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:03 am Post subject:

Quesion about the slide out that hold up the fridge. How much weight can that slide out support? Susan has been after me to figure out a way to have the portapoty side out from its spot in the v-berth. It would have to support 220 lbs if I sit on it. having a block of wood that can be placed under the far front lip as you pull out the shelf might allow this shelf to support my weight. I figure that will free up some space behind the porty potty.

Discovery · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:40 am Post subject:

Starcrafttom,

The slide out is rated at 500#, and has a forward travel of 26". I don't recall the manufacturer, think it was a German company. I bought it on ebay. The slide is 3" high, and 3/4" thick. You can find drawer slides of about any size and weight rating , on the internet. The ones at the local hardware store are usually fairly light duty. I'm sure a slide out for the portapotty is a doable project.

starcrafttom · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:55 am Post subject:

thanks I will have to look up the slides. I didn't think they would hold up that much. Mounting to the fiberglass with out backing plates might be a limiting factor. i will have to see.

Papillon · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

F.Y.I.
Dixie & Brent are in Naples today. They docked at the Naples City Dock last night and came to visit with Judy & I today. Judy was recovering form some minor surgery so we left her home to rest and went out for some late afternoon lunch. It was such a pleasure to see them and the boat projects up close and personal. We hope to see them on their return trip in a few months to our area.

We are pictured here viewing George and Penny's Slide Show on the laptop.

Best Day · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject:

Hi Brent and Dixie,

What kind (make) of TV mount is that? I could use one of those to mount my new TV. Also how do you like the performance of the SeaWatch 2025 antenna?

Thanks,
Bill

Discovery · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject:

Another addition to make Discovery more user friendly.

I added a 12 Volt charging line from the tow vehicle.

This shows it with the line unhooked.

We have both a Norcold Ref. and a Waeco Freezer. There is enough 12 volt power to run both under normal cruising. We found while towing cross country that they put too large a demand on the battery bank. We do have the solar panels to charge the batteries, however on cloudy days it wasn't enough. With the 12 volt line from the truck we now can load up the freezer and refrigerator at home, and arrive at our destination with fully charged batteries. Even if it's 2500 miles away. I bought the items to do the project while at Wefings in Florida, getting the hydraulics fixed. I hooked up the charge cord while in Wefings back lot. It worked perfectly across country, back to Utah.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

Looks like a nice addition, Brent... another RV idea adapted to our boats. I told Joan that I'd get her a cable TV jack installed... that would fit nicely right beside that 12v plug of yours. Wink

Wild Blue is out of the water, washed up nice and pretty, and tucked away in storage for the next week or so. We're looking forward to heading your way.

Best wishes,
Jim