Stupid Questions, Chapter II

[JediJD]

I put Chapter One within the "Official 380 Thread" but with the anticipated accumulation of stupid questions, I was afraid it would make the thread cumbersome...thus, I am breaking it out a bit. 2003 380 Dancer, a little less than 300 hours. 8.1's. Shorepower. Temps dipped to low of about 28 degrees, so I overkilled and left the heaters on (at about 50 degrees) and left a lot of other buttons on since it didn't seem to hurt and I didn't want to turn off something that would freeze. (OK, there! I admitted it. New boat cowardice. Sort of the 'first do no harm' school of boating).

Question 1...Background. When I arrived at the boat today for some "putzing around", there was a noise coming from the engine compartment. It was a regular "thump thump"...not particularly loud, and of course, as a new parent...I probably over reacted. Raised the hatch, climbed down, and identified the noise as coming from the port side of the compartment, against the hull and coming from this...

.

I identified it (I think) as part of the vacuFlush system. Although I didn't crawl over and find precisely where the noise was...it definitely was coming from that group of valves and plastic containers. There didn't appear to be any leaking, or anything stuck, but I figured the noise wasn't right and I think I successfully found a breaker on the main panel in the salon to shut it down. However, an hour or so later, I turned on all the breakers and the noise had gone. Now the Question...any thoughts on what I had screwed up? Is it fatal? Is it more expensive than I want to know about? Have I provided enough information?

Question II. Background. While rummaging around the engine compartment, I noticed a red light emanating from an electrically affiliated device with which I was unfamiliar.

My gut told me that red lights were bad, but I wasn't sure about an appropriate course of action, and decided that discretion in this case might be the better form of valor. Question...red light bad? Red light good? Red light irrelevant?

Question 3. PO replaced all the bulbs in the boat with the cool Halogen 10w's (very nice, thank you PO). However, one of the covers is missing on the light next to the floor in the rear sleeping area. Is this an eBay item? If so, what is it called? Is it universal across all cruisers?

I do not want to overburden the collective good graces of the forum, so I am going to parcel out my remaining 497 questions over the next few weeks. Let it suffice to say we are still delighted, still bewildered, and I will post pictures of the progress of the cantilevered camper enclosure that is undergoing construction as we speak...as well as my efforts to get my arms around the electronics.

Merry Christmas, y'all, and thanks in advance. (Oh, feel free to pillory me for failing to read instructions, or bad grammar, or having the antenna pointed the wrong way...combination of thick skin, and...guilty, guilty, guilty...)

 

[Redhook98]

1. That is your vacuum pump for your vacu-flush head. You have a leak in the system (the bowl-ball gasket or duck-bill valves). Both are easily fixed. Fill the bowl up with water and turn on the head. If it sucks it dry, then it is the bowl-ball gasket. If the water stays in the bowl, then it is most likely your duck-bills. This is a very common issue.

2. That is your battery charger. The red light means it is in a charge state. This is most likely due to the vacu-flush running all night.

3. Can you show us a pic of the light in question? Otherwise, go to www.fpmarine.com and check with them.


I would scour your manual and learn what all of the equipment in your boat is. It's very important when you have an issue that you can at least identify where it is and in what piece of equipment.

 

[mwph]

I do not want to overburden the collective good graces of the forum, so I am going to parcel out my remaining 497 questions over the next few weeks. Let it suffice to say we are still delighted, still bewildered, and I will post pictures of the progress of the cantilevered camper enclosure that is undergoing construction as we speak...as well as my efforts to get my arms around the electronics.

Jedi - Not stupid but good questions. You included good pics & good "backgrounds". In return, you got a great, accurate & speedy response.

Thanks for taking the time to post. (Both of you).

 

[Lazy Daze]

You're dead-on about the noise coming from that VacuFlush. Inside the larger black piece is a diaphragm-type pump. The motor pumps the diaphragm up and down to create suction. The "Duck bills" (on each side of the main pump body) are a one-way valve and allow the suction/vacuum to be created/held.

In addition to what Red said, it's possible the vac-switch (look for a spring-loaded switch under that translucent white cover) is sticking. Some have had good luck cleaning it. As Red mentioned, try to narrow down where the leak is coming from. There are a TON of threads about this (just use some of the key words) if you would like some more reading material. However, if you don't know the history of your ducks, that's a good thing to have done, anyways.

The battery charger should either be in the manual or a separate pamphlet, too.

I think there's a part of your owner's manual that has the vac stuff in it - schematics and what not. If not, go to Dometic/SeaLand's website for info.

If you have the original owner's manual, that is a good resource and actually has some excellent info in it. If you don't have it, you can get it on SR's website.

The link Red provided at the end of his post should be fPmarine. Simple mix up.

You may also find your lights online - I honestly don't know the manufacturer, but try Perko or Attwood.

 

[Spookeay]

Yes there are NO Stupid Questions....
"Ask away.... you will get good and solid answers. These CSR folks are the best of the best!"

Back to my light humor.

When I got into this business I asked a million Stupid Questions. Now that I know every thing.... I make sure to only give Stupid Answers. It's my way of giving back to the community.:thumbsup:

 

[Redhook98]

You're dead-on about the noise coming from that VacuFlush. Inside the larger black piece is a diaphragm-type pump. The motor pumps the diaphragm up and down to create suction. The "Duck bills" (on each side of the main pump body) are a one-way valve and allow the suction/vacuum to be created/held.

In addition to what Red said, it's possible the vac-switch (look for a spring-loaded switch under that translucent white cover) is sticking. Some have had good luck cleaning it. As Red mentioned, try to narrow down where the leak is coming from. There are a TON of threads about this (just use some of the key words) if you would like some more reading material. However, if you don't know the history of your ducks, that's a good thing to have done, anyways.

The battery charger should either be in the manual or a separate pamphlet, too.

I think there's a part of your owner's manual that has the vac stuff in it - schematics and what not. If not, go to Dometic/SeaLand's website for info.

If you have the original owner's manual, that is a good resource and actually has some excellent info in it. If you don't have it, you can get it on SR's website.

The link Red provided at the end of his post should be fPmarine. Simple mix up.

You may also find your lights online - I honestly don't know the manufacturer, but try Perko or Attwood.

Doh! Thanks for catching the link. I wouldn't want to send him to a bad site.

 

[carterchapman]

Charles,

Since Sue (the Admiral) never reads our forum (except for your GREAT "first day/night with the new boat" article in the 380 Thread) I can get away with the following comments:

1. Vacuflush constantly running - yep, I've had it - the Admiral didn't have a complete flush of the RV TP and it caught in the ball valve and broke the seal. So the advice about checking the bowl holding water may be as simple as that.

2. I turn all DC breakers off when I leave the boat, and I leave 4 AC breakers ON: Refrigerator, Outlets (my bilge heater is wired to this), AC Converter (batt charger), and Air Conditioner. I do not leave my DC refrigerator breaker ON as I would rather have all DC power available to the bilge pumps in the event of a loss of shore power.

3. Heat. My bilge heater is constantly powered and comes on at 40°. After about Oct 15th, I set the cabin heat on 55° when we leave the boat. I do not block my bilge vents. I have capped off and drained my cockpit sink/transom shower/city water lines at the manifold (4 lines in all). We did the same to Windjammer's 340 on our dock.

 

[Redhook98]

Charles,

Since Sue (the Admiral) never reads our forum (except for your GREAT "first day/night with the new boat" article in the 380 Thread) I can get away with the following comments:

1. Vacuflush constantly running - yep, I've had it - the Admiral didn't have a complete flush of the RV TP and it caught in the ball valve and broke the seal. So the advice about checking the bowl holding water may be as simple as that.

2. I turn all DC breakers off when I leave the boat, and I leave 4 AC breakers ON: Refrigerator, Outlets (my bilge heater is wired to this), AC Converter (batt charger), and Air Conditioner. I do not leave my DC refrigerator breaker ON as I would rather have all DC power available to the bilge pumps in the event of a loss of shore power.

3. Heat. My bilge heater is constantly powered and comes on at 40°. After about Oct 15th, I set the cabin heat on 55° when we leave the boat. I do not block my bilge vents. I have capped off and drained my cockpit sink/transom shower/city water lines at the manifold (4 lines in all). We did the same to Windjammer's 340 on our dock.

Good advice. I keep the exact same breakers on for the exact same reasons. Same with bilge heaters.

 

[Pseudomind]

One thing I learned was to follow the instructions exactly whenever using the Vacuflush, hold the pedal up to add water, then flush for three seconds (Hold the pedal down for 1001, 1002, 1003)

I did not do this and had the pump just ran and ran. I got lucky. I killed the power went back and performed the instructions and apparently the pump cleared out the lines and I had no damage.

You will hear from many who proclaim that if it did not come from you, do not flush it. So I mention this rule to guests...no tampons, paper towels etc.:huh:

 

[320Bob]

...I would scour your manual and learn what all of the equipment in your boat is. It's very important when you have an issue that you can at least identify where it is and in what piece of equipment.

Like you I am a new Sea Ray owner only I have scoured the manuals so I recognized the Battery Charger which is the same brand as on my boat. Take his advice and you will be amazed at how many fewer stupid questions you will have!:grin:

 

[JediJD]

Sadly, I agree. The bad part is that I have been through every single page of the two feet of manuals that came with the boat...and all the various systems. Some of it stuck (I knew what the pigtail was if the batteries died so I could get in the hatch). Some of it didn't...(what the hell is the battery charger and why is there a red light on it). I also have very little luck using the search feature, because I usually don't know what the part is called, but I will keep plugging away. Merry Christmas and thanks to all for their input.

 

[Redhook98]

Sadly, I agree. The bad part is that I have been through every single page of the two feet of manuals that came with the boat...and all the various systems. Some of it stuck (I knew what the pigtail was if the batteries died so I could get in the hatch). Some of it didn't...(what the hell is the battery charger and why is there a red light on it). I also have very little luck using the search feature, because I usually don't know what the part is called, but I will keep plugging away. Merry Christmas and thanks to all for their input.

Your doing great. A lot of boat owners never seem to even crack open the manual. Your initial question was great. Good pics and very descriptive. I look back on my first boat or two and now realize that I knew nothing about them. Scary. You've got a great boat and they are very well laid out. Just find each part of all your mechanical systems and be able to identify them. This is especially important if you are one of the "lucky" few with hidden-away thru-hulls, and hidden wash-down pumps that you didn't realize you had. Keep it up and Merry Christmas!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sadly, I agree. The bad part is that I have been through every single page of the two feet of manuals that came with the boat...and all the various systems. Some of it stuck (I knew what the pigtail was if the batteries died so I could get in the hatch). Some of it didn't...(what the hell is the battery charger and why is there a red light on it). I also have very little luck using the search feature, because I usually don't know what the part is called, but I will keep plugging away. Merry Christmas and thanks to all for their input.

No worries, you're doing just fine. Take it slow, though. Try one system at a time. For example, the batteries and charging system. Get your manual and a a cup of coffee and poke around down in that bilge. Take your time, follow where the cables go. No need to get too involved, all you're after right now is "familiarization". Keep asking the questions, reading your manual. Looks as though you're already doing that - just keep going, it'll start to make more sense.

Everyone's knowledge-base starts somewhere - it's the ones who don't ask questions or simply just take a few minutes to try to figure things out that run into problems.

My boat's away for the winter - keep asking the questions - I need something to do!:smt001

 

[Pietro]

One thing I learned was to follow the instructions exactly whenever using the Vacuflush, hold the pedal up to add water, then flush for three seconds (Hold the pedal down for 1001, 1002, 1003)

Following the instructions is of most importance. Sometimes if you flush to quickly the ball valve does not go back to its fully closed position...and check the vacuum switch!

 

[kerslaks]

I am feeling your pain JediJD. I'm going to be spending some quality time with the manuals for the 390DA we just purchased. I've got to learn about everything from the radar to the new-fangled solenoid operated battery switches.

There are a ton of systems to learn on these big boats. Have fun with it! I always feel like the "Captain" when I pull a little gem of knowledge out when I need it.

 

[mwph]

Soon you will be addicted to CSR. If you are like me you will read threads that you (initially) had no clue about, before long you will be trying to help others. Being rather new myself, I can only offer help with minor issues. But I read all.

ps...When I read something new to me I try to "lay hands on it" the next time I am on the boat. Helps me a ton.

 

[Mr Salt]

I don't know about anyone else, but I would not leave the heads on when I left the boat. Only bad things can happen. If the water drains out of the bowl and there is an air leak the vacu-flush will keep running trying to get a vaccuum, and it can not. So it is best to turn the heads off when you leave.

 

[electricaldoctor]

I don't know about anyone else, but I would not leave the heads on when I left the boat. Only bad things can happen. If the water drains out of the bowl and there is an air leak the vacu-flush will keep running trying to get a vaccuum, and it can not. So it is best to turn the heads off when you leave.

Always a good thing to turn off the fresh water pump as well. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[The Bill Collector]

I don't know about anyone else, but I would not leave the heads on when I left the boat. Only bad things can happen. If the water drains out of the bowl and there is an air leak the vacu-flush will keep running trying to get a vaccuum, and it can not. So it is best to turn the heads off when you leave.

Heads off at night and when we leave the boat....
Fresh water left on if I want more ice from my U-Line....

Merry Christmas All, Mark

 

[electricaldoctor]

Heads off at night and when we leave the boat....
Fresh water left on if I want more ice from my U-Line....

Merry Christmas All, Mark

More ice vs potential water damage ... to each his own. :huh:

That's what I alwaays say sometimes. :smt043