Ordering Saturday! Input?

[Valkyrie]

Hi Everyone!

Well, we're off to Baltimore on Friday to order a 22 Cruiser form Cutter. I've been haunting this site for a few months now and have read many of the postings, but am open to suggestions on equipping Valkyrie.

I'll list the options we want, but welcome input based on your experiences, especially on dealer-installed equipment not offered by the factory.

Cutter's package includes: compass, DS, dual batteries, spin-off filter, swim platform/ladder, anchor pipe and Lenco trim tabs.

We're adding: Honda 90, trailer, Garmin 182C and VHF, shore power, high top, 2 wipers, reversible seat, camper canvas, window covers, cockpit floorboards, windlass with Delta anchor and 150 chain rode, and Wallas. Delete icebox in lieu of door and shelf.

Suggested items from this site: bilge pump for cockpit. Recommendations on cockpit lighting welcome.

We intend to fish from the boat, as well: Lake Erie, SC off Beaufort/Hilton Head and the Keys in the winter. I'm considering having flush-mount rod holders added to the cockpit gunwales, possibly two per side, for trolling and to keep them from cluttering the cockpit when underway. What degrees of offset would you recommend for the flushmounts? One would also be used for a Magna grill. Any suggestions for rod storage? I want to keep the cabin top clear for a home for the inflatable. Downriggers might be added at a later date.

The Delta anchor: Cutter includes a 9# in the anchor package, but my sailing experience prefers heavier ground tackle, so I'm wondering about the 14#. ( I used to carry a 20# plow, 16.5# Bruce with 40 feet of chain and 300 feet of line on each, with a Danforth for back-op on a 23" cruiser. Yes, it had a huge anchor locker that could almost double as crew quarters!) I realize that all-chain rode will drastically increase the system's catenary, so the 9# might suffice. Ideas?

Transom: at this point I'm unsure about a kicker, Cutter advises against it, due to weight and reliability of the Honda 90. My father-in-law has a little-used Yahama 15 that he wants to give me, but I think the shaft is only 15", too short for the CD, I'm told. The engine is 700 miles from here so I can't measure it. However, I might use it for an inflatable. With the 90 mounted on the centerline, would there be room next to it for the 15 without a trim problem? I assume that the trim tabs would handle that. Let me know if I am wrong. Spirit wasn't quite fast enough for trim tabs to be added.

The Wallas: have read about it here, but am unfamiliar with the operation. Does it light and get up to speed quickly for cooking? I had propane on Spirit. Also, I think that I read it can be used with kerosene. True? Is one preferable over the other?

I probably have forgotten something and will use a follow-up if needed. Any input/suggestions are welcome. This site has a wealth of information and I have already learned a great deal from all of you.

Thanks for all of your help. Marcia and I are both very excited and really looking for to the Baltimore Show. Hope we can meet some of you in the future.

Best regards,

Nick

[terraplane]

I have a 22 on order from Cutter . Pretty much the same list as yours.
There are pros and cons on the Wallas, but i felt the pros far outweighed the cons...I have a local friend who has one and loves it.
I ordered the cockpit bilge pump, with On/Off as the switch, for those "special moments" ifit is needed. Just my own quirky need. Probably won't need it.
I am not putting a kicker on. I figure a membership in BoatsUS towing will be cheaper and i don't like the extra weight and clutter..

I had originally ordered the camper, but held back on it for now. I didn't particularly like the look of it...and I realized the only open sun space was that cockpit. We enjoy the idea of kicking back after anchoring in that space..But, we'll let a summer of use decide us.

On Wallas, lots of people recommend the Clean Heat stuff..i think it is a very clean burning kerosene.

Enjoy the boat show...eat oysters, crabs, and rock fish is now coming in.

tom/terraplane

[katkt]

If your going to be boating in chilly weather,
the Wallas stove doubles as a heater when
you leave the top down. There is a fan on the inside
that blows across the surface under the top.
We haven't cooked any thing on it yet, but the heaters
a champ
Do a search on the fuel in the forum, some of the
members have tried different types, we just use diesel.
It doesn't heat up near as fast as the propane stove,
but there is no open flame.
Best of luck with the new boat.

Gordon

[rogerbum]

[Alyssa Jean]

Nick, If you are adding a windlass you won't have any need for the anchor pipe. Save the $130 +- for something else. I started using diesel in the Wallas but have changed in the last year to kerosene. It is a little more refined and you can get 5 gal for about $18 if you look around. Last overnight a few weeks ago I had the Wallas on fairly high for 26 hours straight. Used about 1 gal of fuel. 36 degrees outside and 69 inside. I cook on it all the time. Does a great job of both.

[Da Nag]

[Byrdman]

Nick: Welcome aboard! Great to add another "east side" owner. In Alabama myself on a TomCat now. You will love the wallas. Basically, being of the diesel design, think built tuff for many years of reliable service and needs a short heat up and cool down time. May want to have it wired straight to one of your batteries, as in the wallas manual. Mine is not, and I have to be careful if I leave the boat real soon and it has not shut down all the way...or..if I want to switch the battery selector and happen to be cooking...or heating.. I have also notice a "surge blink" when operating the wallas and the auto pilot at night, along with the running and anchor lights while idling along.. the surge being caused by the auto pilot making an adjustment. I may have something loose somewhere too..? It does have a shut-down routine, and its manual warns against interrupting that "system" of a shut-down... If you burn it until back in the slip, and depart the boat quickly, it will need to shut-down, needing electrical draw from "a" battery. I like to leave my battery selector to OFF when I leave the dock & hook to shore power. Also, it likes a HOT battery to get it fired up, and have had to use "BOTH" on the battery selector when I have stayed on the hook and ran too much "stuff" overnight. I like the Klean Heat (Home Depot) for about $6 gallon... To me...it seems to run better when the wallas operates on low for several hours, which is often needed here in the south just to knock the chill out of the air...or to cook omelets... I cook a lot on mine. My twin Honda 90's do not go slow enough, even with only one running to slow troll for freshwater fish...so I would like about an 8 hp motor... plus, it is even quieter than the 90...for that quite little sun set or sun rise cruise....while cooking.. and does give YOU power ILO having to depend on someone else for a tow if main power goes for what ever reason. I like redundant systems..and being independent. I do not like the thought of my C-Dory having to be towed for anything. Have offered to pull around some of my SeaRay owning dock mates to help them enjoy their boat further away from the dock than 2 miles (yes I love the economy of my Hondas..particuarly when compared to their deep V-bottom V-8 or twin V-8 power burns) Also, watch the C-Dog site too for information...and an "east side" gathering that is being put together for the Nashville/Mt. Juliet TN area in Apr05. Again welcome. You will love these boats...and these folks!!
Byrdman in Bama...on FreeByrd

[katkt]

Nick what Byrdman says about the cool down cycle is correct, if the
Wallas is wired direct it will perform its own cool down cycle when
you turn the switch off. It operates much the same as a house furnace.
In a house furnace when the thermostat signals the furnace that it
is hot enough, the power or gas shuts off but the blower continues
until it reaches a safe temperature. When you turn off the Wallas, if
it is wired correctly it will remain on and operate the blower if the lid
is closed, when it reaches a safe temperature the blower turns off.
When you pick your boat up have the dealer check the Wallas,
windlass, and shore power wiring to make sure it is according to the equipment specs. All I'll say along that line is that by the time I
discovered the problems, I was to far away to choke the responsible
parties . Don't let this make you nervous about your choice in
boats, its just a word to the wise.

Gordon

[Valkyrie]

Thanks for all of the info guys. I'm learning a lot from your experiences.

Nick

[Captains Cat]

Nick, don't forget that one of the pleasures is the stuff you add AFTER you get the boat..... Concentrate on the stuff you need right now and the stuff that comes from the factory (wipers, deck plates, seat, etc) and not on the gee-gaws....You don't need to make all those decisions now or lose sleep over them.

There's lots of birthdays, Christmases, arbor days, etc (any excuse to buy stuff for the boat) to come.

See you on the Bay!

Charlie

[Valkyrie]

Charlie:

Good point. Thanks!

Nick

[El and Bill]

Nick --
Where are your batteries going to be mounted?? Not in the cockpit, between the fuel tanks, I trust. If you get pooped, it could immediately short your power when you need it most. Those starboard of those two 'fish wells' mounted aft, with a secure hatch cover and vented interior, is our opinion of the right place for batteries. Not in the cabin, not on the cockpit sole, up high, dry and protected.

[Chuck S]

I'm the guy who justified the single engine by saying he'd flown single engine planes for 20 years without problems. Few twins can fly on only one engine with less than a super pilot on board, the extra engine isn't a spare. A set of twin 25s on my 16 Cruiser would look very yachtie, though.

Light aircraft are required to have an annual inspection by a licensed mechanic annually (or every 100 hours if used to carry passengers for hire or in flight instruction). These, of course, can fall out of the sky.

Aircraft engines have a rigorous preventive maintenance schedule with 1000 hours being a common time for a minor overhaul. At 150mph that's 150,000 miles.

I'm comfortable with Honda's maintenance schedule which coincidently is also based on 100 hour inspections. Ya don't do the inspections and preventive maintenance? You're gonna have problems. I don't care if its an airplane or your lawn mower.

Frankly the Honda outboards are much more modern technology than most light aircraft which use 1930s technology engines.

-- Chuck

[Captains Cat]

I recall some folks saying that, with an aircraft, you always have enough fuel to get to the scene of the crash. Fortunately, that's not the case with our C-Dorys. We've always got Tow-Boats US or whatever it's called. I've never had to use them but have sat for awhile waiting for a sympathetic friend to come by and offer help. Never with my CD with twins on it, but with my Bayliner ( ) hate to even admit it but it happened. Even with two batteries and a full bottle of scotch.

Listen to the Duster-Oracle, he's got more experience than most of us put together and he's been flying too!

Nick, put on your snow tires, snow 5" plus predicted for Sat AM through Sun AM.

[Valkyrie]

Charlie:

Thanks for the weather report. We plan on bugging out of here tomorrow afternoon before it hits. Forecast for northern Ohio is from 2 to 10 inches depending on how it tracks.

We'll take either the F150 or Explorer, both have off-road tires. Hopefully the roads will be good by the time we leave Annapolis Sunday morning.

Talked to the factory today. Jeff told me that they will be putting Bennett trim tabs on new orders. Also, factory options include overhead handrails for $181 and a rail across the transom for rod holders, etc for $128.50. We're planning on getting both. A radar arch is now available, too. Price unknown. I didn't ask because radar is not on my list.

Nick