500/520 DB official thread

[tshannoz]

Yes you will be happy with the Phifertex but like Carter I also have a white opaque cover that snaps over the Phifertex screen so when we are not using the boat it keeps things even cooler.

My big issue is the bridge and finding a means to block the sun.

Great idea. So you have a separate set of snaps or double snaps for the overlay mesh? I love that plan for long-term breaks in use.

I think I’m going to have Gioia find some Phifertex and make a new screen. I’m looking forward to finding cool pattern too. Yours looks great.

And yes, the bridge gets intolerably hot. I’m curious if anyone has a good solution for that

Tom

 

[ttmott]

Great idea. So you have a separate set of snaps or double snaps for the overlay mesh? I love that plan for long-term breaks in use.

I think I’m going to have Gioia find some Phifertex and make a new screen. I’m looking forward to finding cool pattern too. Yours looks great.

And yes, the bridge gets intolerably hot. I’m curious if anyone has a good solution for that

Tom

Yes - they are called Gipsy snaps
https://www.sailrite.com/Fabric-Brands/Phifertex

 

[carterchapman]

My big issue is the bridge and finding a means to block the sun.

Tom - we have Phifertrex screens inside our bridge enclosure that are held in place with velcro. They take 5 mins to put up and take down. We fold them up and place them under the bridge rear seat when we are running.

 

[ttmott]

Tom - we have Phifertrex screens inside our bridge enclosure that are held in place with velcro. They take 5 mins to put up and take down. We fold them up and place them under the bridge rear seat when we are running.

That sounds easy enough. I was thinking similar using white ripstop parachute fabric; very light. My friend on his 550DB puts up those mylar backed things like you put in a car's windshield but they don't look like part of the boat... He says it drops his bridge temperature from the 120's to 90's. Mine gets so hot the AC won't cut it when the sun is blaring through the side glass.

 

[tshannoz]

Tom - we have Phifertrex screens inside our bridge enclosure that are held in place with velcro. They take 5 mins to put up and take down. We fold them up and place them under the bridge rear seat when we are running.

 

[tshannoz]

Great idea. I think we all would love to see pics of this setup if you get a chance. Thanks so much.

Tom

 

[ttmott]

Tom - we have Phifertrex screens inside our bridge enclosure that are held in place with velcro. They take 5 mins to put up and take down. We fold them up and place them under the bridge rear seat when we are running.

Also I've sent an email to Be Cool Solutions on their Aluminet product.
Here is is on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Be-Cool-Solutions-Reflective-Aluminet/dp/B01BD21W1E?th=1

 

[carterchapman]

Great idea. I think we all would love to see pics of this setup if you get a chance. Thanks so much.

Tom

Tom - we are in our "Hurricane Hole" (Chattanooga/TN River), so we don't need to use it (covered slip). We use it in FL all the time. I'll put up a couple of panels and take some pictures for you this weekend...

 

[carterchapman]

Great idea. I think we all would love to see pics of this setup if you get a chance. Thanks so much.

Tom

Found some external pics - My 58 is in the foreground with dockmate’s on my stbd side for comparison. Hopefully you can enlarge ad see some more detail...

 

[Havana Shamrock]

I think having the windows ceramic tinted was a great option as we can remove the shade and still have uv protection we tested before and after with a heat gun and it did very well. Cost was $700 I’m guessing cheaper than an additional cover to have made.
Here’s a few shots of the view.

 

[ttmott]

Found some external pics - My 58 is in the foreground with dockmate’s on my stbd side for comparison. Hopefully you can enlarge ad see some more detail... View attachment 110985 View attachment 110986

Thank You Carter - I need to get something like this in place.

 

[carterchapman]

Thank You Carter - I need to get something like this in place.

Artful Canvas in St. Pete did my enclosure. They sewed 6" velcro strips about 8 places on the enclosure and matched them up on the shade cloth.

 

[ttmott]

Artful Canvas in St. Pete did my enclosure. They sewed 6" velcro strips about 8 places on the enclosure and matched them up on the shade cloth.

Have you heard of Aluminet? It is a reflective fabric used mostly in agriculture. It not only is reflective but light weight, also breathes and lets a given amount of light through. I was doing a search for reflective fabrics and came across it.
https://green-tek.com/energy_reflective_shade_cloth/

 

[carterchapman]

Have you heard of Aluminet? It is a reflective fabric used mostly in agriculture. It not only is reflective but light weight, also breathes and lets a given amount of light through. I was doing a search for reflective fabrics and came across it.
https://green-tek.com/energy_reflective_shade_cloth/

I have not. We used reflective aluminum inside cockpit windows when the airplane was unoccupied, and found the reflective heat was damaging the windows...

 

[rlynch03]

Found some external pics - My 58 is in the foreground with dockmate’s on my stbd side for comparison. Hopefully you can enlarge ad see some more detail... View attachment 110985 View attachment 110986

I like this also Carter… appreciate a few inside pics when you get a chance…

 

[rlynch03]

Four common candidates for you by my ranking. Others may differ.
1 - Victron Phoenix 12/50 (https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Phoenix-Battery-Charger-EN.pdf)
2 - Mastervolt Chargmaster 12/50-3 (https://www.mastervolt.com/products/chargemaster-12v/chargemaster-12-50-3/)
3 - Victron Centaur 12/60 (https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Centaur-Charger-EN.pdf)
4 - ProNautic ProMariner 1260P (https://www.promariner.com/en/63160)

A note on Victron - like Garmin or Raymarine they do periodic software/firmware updates so adding the communication interface is recommended.

Tom your list definitely opened my eyes to a couple other units I wasn’t thinking of…thank you much!

I probably would have went ahead with the ProMariner 1250 however they seem to be back ordered around the country.

So, I contacted Victron and I am considering the Centaur for the money however, I am told I will need the Skylla if I want the ability to view the batteries status on N2K. I could go with the Phoenix or Centaur and add a Bluetooth monitoring for my phone but in an effort to minimize and pull as much as possible to the Garmin screens I might take the plunge.

The Skylla (12v-70a (3)) also allows me to custom configure all sorts of configurations and parameters via laptop and it will also charge lithium batteries if I consider that down the road.

 

[carterchapman]

I like this also Carter… appreciate a few inside pics when you get a chance…

Wilco - I'll put a couple up this weekend - lots of guests coming - but Labor Day W/E for sure

 

[ttmott]

Tom your list definitely opened my eyes to a couple other units I wasn’t thinking of…thank you much!

I probably would have went ahead with the ProMariner 1250 however they seem to be back ordered around the country.

So, I contacted Victron and I am considering the Centaur for the money however, I am told I will need the Skylla if I want the ability to view the batteries status on N2K. I could go with the Phoenix or Centaur and add a Bluetooth monitoring for my phone but in an effort to minimize and pull as much as possible to the Garmin screens I might take the plunge.

The Skylla (12v-70a (3)) also allows me to custom configure all sorts of configurations and parameters via laptop and it will also charge lithium batteries if I consider that down the road.

Absolutely; I was thinking you only wanted a plug and play charger - If you really wanted to start moving to modernization then consider supplementing with a Cerbo GX and Touch 50 display as that integrates with Garmin via NMEA2000. Victron has Garmin approved apps for the MFDs. The Cerbo is Victron's central hub for control and monitor of all their devices.
https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/cerbo-gx

 

[rlynch03]

Absolutely; I was thinking you only wanted a plug and play charger - If you really wanted to start moving to modernization then consider supplementing with a Cerbo GX and Touch 50 display as that integrates with Garmin via NMEA2000. Victron has Garmin approved apps for the MFDs. The Cerbo is Victron's central hub for control and monitor of all their devices.
https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/cerbo-gx

Yep I was looking at the Cerbo to tie in to N2K. I don’t think you need the Touch50 unless you want another display. A couple sensors are probably needed to truly monitor the batteries state when doing this set up…temperature sensor and a shunt for monitoring.

It is more than double the cost to go from the Centaur to the Skylla and all the add ons needed. I thought it was worth the step up until I realized all the additional components and work needed.

Need to pull the trigger today for our trip away this weekend. Fortunately there is a great little local store that has a full stock of Victron and lots of components on the shelf.

 

[ttmott]

Yep I was looking at the Cerbo to tie in to N2K. I don’t think you need the Touch50 unless you want another display. A couple sensors are probably needed to truly monitor the batteries state when doing this set up…temperature sensor and a shunt for monitoring.

It is more than double the cost to go from the Centaur to the Skylla and all the add ons needed. I thought it was worth the step up until I realized all the additional components and work needed.

Need to pull the trigger today for our trip away this weekend. Fortunately there is a great little local store that has a full stock of Victron and lots of components on the shelf.

It all doesn't need to be installed now. You do need a means to configure the Skylla but their "dongle" can do that with a laptop. Then the issue becomes you get a taste of the cool stuff and the sucking vortex opens up your wallet.... Trust me I know.