43DS Generator and Bow Thruster

[rxc]

Hi there. My wife and I are new 43DS owners. We bought hull number 266(2003 model) in July, and are currently berthed in Baltimore, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. We love our new boat, and are planning to do a lot of upgrades, some quite major, because we are planning to take the boat back to France in about 18 months (spring/summer 2008). I previously owned a Catalina 34 which I upgraded considerably, and I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about boats and electrical/plumbing systems.

Two of our first major upgrades will be a genset and a bow thruster. We want the genset to run AC/heat that will also be installed, and the bowthruster to help get in/out of slips in crosswinds.

I know one boat that has installed a Northern Lights 6KW genset in the liferaft locker, but I really don't want to do this, if possible. So, I am looking for any other experiences installing a genset - what models, where installed in the boat, who installed it, and how much?

Also, if anyone has any good/bad experiences to share about bow thrusters, please post it.

I have searched thru the list, and it appears that this is a good resource for Jeanneau owners - I hope to be able to contribute some suggestions in the future, as we develop more experience with our new boat

Ralph Caruso
s/v "Petillant" Jeanneau SO 43DS#266 Ches Bay/Baltimore

[Zanshin]

I'm just completing a purchase of a 2002 43DS with a Fischer-Panda genset installed in the aft liferaft locker. This is a good location with lots of space to get at and service the generator. I've thought about getting a bowthruster for this boat but don't know which brand is best and am afraid to ask what the total price is (thruster + installation).

[Sonny]

I have seen a bow thruster with complete installation advertised for around $10,000.00 in the Northeast USA for vessels from 45- 50 feet.

Sonny,
s/y NIRVANA, SO 49

[rxc]

Zanshin,

Thanks for the reply. Did they have to take out the liferaft module and rebuild it to support the generator? I kinda think they would, because a liferaft doesn't need nearly as much support as a generator. Also, which F-P generator did you purchase?

Ralph

[Zanshin]

I have the Fischer Panda 4200 (their smallest one) and it is the 220v version. I haven't seen an original liferaft module, but the external double-vertical door is the same. I think I have picture of the installation here somewhere...

I have the pictures but can't see what sort of a support it has, sorry. But I can't recall seeing anything that looked like extra glasswork in there. I'll be back on the boat in 2 weeks if you are still interested.

[rxc]

zanshin,

If you have any photos of the installation, I would be very interested to see them. I really don't want to give up that space, but it may be the only space on the boat big enough for a getset.

Ralph

[Zanshin]

Ralph,

I'm flying out to the ship tomorrow and can post a picture; either a smaller image here or a detailed one elsewhere. The pictures I have here don't quite show the kind of detail you would be interested in.

[Zanshin]

I just got back from 2 weeks of singlehanding in the BVI and took pictures of pretty much everything except the generator! I did some work on the genset though, and recall that it sits on a wooden base attached to the boat - the far port corner space is occupied by the rear A/C unit, then the Genset and there is still enough room to climb into and work on the quadrant and rudder assembly. I had to do some contortions to get at the impeller box for the genset, though and would recommend that the same person who is going to maintain the generator installs it!

[rxc]

Zanshin,

Thanks for the info, even without the photos. Do you happen to know what brand/model generator you have? I have heard that Northern Lights are considered to be particularly reliable. I have also heard that the Fisher-Pandas cannot be run while the boat is underway, because of a shallow oil pan. I have made contact with the guy who installs these generators for the local Jeanneau dealer in Annapolis, and he says that the location you describe is the best place - evidently some people install generators under the fwd berth, but I don't like that idea, either. (sigh) So you also have your AC unit back there? How do you get back there - thru the liferaft locker opening? I was thinking about having to cut an opening from the aft cabin, because the access ports there are so small.

Regarding refrigeration, we have a Frigoboat 12v unit that only provides refrigeration in the large refrigerated box, but with the holes open, we can get that part pretty cold, and the smaller box is great for fruits/veggies. The evaporator plate should probably be located in the small box, instead, to form a freezer, but that will be a project for later - maybe I qwill add a second unit as a freezer.

[Zanshin]

My genset is the small Fischer-Panda 4200 220v. I spoke at length with Anthony (last name unknown) at one of the yards, who is the only certified FP technician in the BVI and he had ambivalent feelings about this particular model - both reliability and maintainability. He brought out his manuals to show me some of the issues he'd seen, but his issue were restricted to this particular model. I think the main issue he had was that the seawater cooling flow was designed so that if it did "blow" in the case it would immediately inundate and short out the electrics.
I could access the whole generator from both the rear as well as from the port aft cabin and I'm not too small of a person. I was able to run both air conditioners, the battery charger, the water heater and a notebook charger with the generator chugging along so I think it is correctly sized for the job at hand.

The genset cannot be run underway. But this is not due to engine lubrication but to the position of the cooling water intake and the fact that the water pump is not self-priming so one could run it dry or get vapor-lock (the latter condition happened to me and caused me to (a) learn the whole cooling system quite well and (b) spend a day belowdeck in Anegada instead of going diving on the reef)