2017 SO 389 Issues/Questions

[sjsflyer]

Hi all,

We just purchased a 2017 SO 389, new to the forum!  A few things need to be addressed on her so looking for some advice please:

The galley countertop is plywood with a white Arborite laminate (shame on Jenneau) and the edge around the sink (see photo) is delaminated. The real (but expensive) fix is to go Corian like it should have been done in the first place.  Has anyone dealt with this?



2) Jenneau through-hulls are notorious for dezincification and we have one (A/C intake) leaking already. Will probably replace all with Groco this winter. Any thoughts here?

3) Stock 16x14-3L prop turns 3500 rpm WOT.  Our Yanmar 3YM30AE is rated at 3200 rpm unlike the earlier 3YM30 rated at 3600 rpm.
Of course I will check tach calibration before re-sizing but I thought I recall reading that Jenneau did not increase the prop pitch when the "AE" series engines were installed?  BTW, Flexofold recommends the 16x14-3L which was interesting...

A heads up on any other potential areas of concern would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[zaphod]

Our boat has Corian counter tops, but I have seen arborite on sisterships, so I am guessing Corian was an option that the original owner did not select, so Shame on the original buyer! (Shame on Jeanneau for even offering the option I suppose!) Regardless, that repair is pretty easy to do. Just search up YouTube.

Why do you feel you need to re-prop? Are you not getting enough speed out of the boat? I don't think it is a big deal if the engine can over rev a bit at wot, assuming it is not a tachometer calibration issue. We rarely run anywhere near full throttle.

[NZL50505]

On your corroding through-hulls consider replacing with new-generation composites like these:

www.trudesign.nz/marine

I’m working through them all - a few at a time each liftout.

[MalcolmP]

Corian has problems too. Our 2008 39i has corian and along with a number of others, I am aware of have developed stress cracks, which are very difficult to resolve.

[jdl01]

Congrat's on your acquisition of a SO389. I replaced my below waterline thru hulls with bronze groco's after eight years and found moderate deterioration inside the factory installed valves. It is an unfortunate replacement which must be done, but with the age of your boat I don't think you need be rushed into hauling your boat for this job immediately. Time it to match other hull work within the next couple of years.
Corion was not offered as an option when we bought our boat new in 2012. There is no centre support for the sinks; hence there is some flexing in the counter top when heavy weight is placed on the sink [ encouraged by the provision of sink inserts to create a continuous counter]. It was a poor choice to put the edge molding joint at this centre location which enjoys the greatest deflection. If you do choose to reglue the molding, avoid any future heavy weight at the centre point of your counter.
The cheap plastic Quik horizontal windlass corrodes quickly and requires annual greasing maintenance - see manual for Quik.

[sjsflyer]

Thanks all for the input!
As far as the prop, a little under-wheeled is better than being over-wheeled.  Too much under and you start to lose efficiency though.
On the countertop I will try some white PVC edge banding.
Regarding the through-hulls, yard quoted about 6-8 hours for each (5) plus the parts.  She's on the hard for at least another 6 weeks.
The A/C intake through-hull has to be replaced since its been leaking so...

[svejk]

We replaced all of our thru hulls with Groco bronze.  And it's not just Jeanneau that uses the marine brass, it's most European manufactures (even Halberg-Rassy!).  Has to do with some commission awhile back declaring marine brass was sufficient as it only had to last 5 yrs.  At 13 yrs my engine thru hull broke during replacement.  Fortunately, we were on the hard. 

[dbostrom]

Feb 9, 2022 21:42:52 GMT MalcolmP said:

Corian has problems too. Our 2008 39i has corian and along with a number of others, I am aware of have developed stress cracks, which are very difficult to resolve.

Late to this party but raising my hand. 2010 39i Corian top was fractured in numerous places not least because Jeanneau screwed directly into Corian for certain fasteners, a deadly decision given that wood screws are quite effective wedges*. The right way to do it is with inserts and machine screws but unfortunately apparently not everybody on the assembly line got the memo on that.

It's quite possible and doable to have a permanent top made of solid material. There are a couple of threads here covering that. In terms of "boat bucks" this project does not reach catastrophe.

* Head-smacking hindsight: for those with Corian tops and who've not yet seen fractures, it would be well worth pulling the incorrect fasteners and retrofitting inserts. For our boat, the clips holding up the sink were installed with wood screws/accidental wedges. 

[zaphod]

Apr 5, 2022 1:16:05 GMT dbostrom said:

Feb 9, 2022 21:42:52 GMT MalcolmP said:

Corian has problems too. Our 2008 39i has corian and along with a number of others, I am aware of have developed stress cracks, which are very difficult to resolve.

Late to this party but raising my hand. 2010 39i Corian top was fractured in numerous places not least because Jeanneau screwed directly into Corian for certain fasteners, a deadly decision given that wood screws are quite effective wedges*. The right way to do it is with inserts and machine screws but unfortunately apparently not everybody on the assembly line got the memo on that.

It's quite possible and doable to have a permanent top made of solid material. There are a couple of threads here covering that. In terms of "boat bucks" this project does not reach catastrophe.

* Head-smacking hindsight: for those with Corian tops and who've not yet seen fractures, it would be well worth pulling the incorrect fasteners and retrofitting inserts. For our boat, the clips holding up the sink were installed with wood screws/accidental wedges. 

I'm afraid to mess with unscrewing hardware on my counter top for fear of creating cracks by disturbing the hardware!

I did take the cutting board off the Corian sink cover and found it was fastened using brass inserts in the Corian, so hopefully they did that everywhere!

[dbostrom]

Yeah, it's weird. Certain parts (the refrigerator lid, the cutting board) were done correctly, others not. 

I picture that somehow there was a gap in communicating methods/materials to  workers responsible for particular jobs. 

On our boat it was the sink fasteners that did in the top. I _think_ the sink could be supported with battens instead of clips, thereby avoiding directly invading the Corian with retrofit (in case I've ignited an unquenchable worry).

[sjsflyer]

Turns out the tach reads fast (3500 tach rpm = 3380 engine rpm) so prop is fine.  This is typical of Yammers so I'm told.
BTW, does anyone know where the galvanic isolator would have been installed?  Searched today in the usual places but no luck.

[zaphod]

My boat didn't come with a galvanic isolator. I would be curious to know if others did.

[puravida35]

May 6, 2022 23:38:37 GMT sjsflyer said:

Turns out the tach reads fast (3500 tach rpm = 3380 engine rpm) so prop is fine.  This is typical of Yammers so I'm told.
BTW, does anyone know where the galvanic isolator would have been installed?  Searched today in the usual places but no luck.

If installed, it would probably be very near the electrical service entrance on the boat, just inside of shore power breaker in stern locker. At least that’s where it is in my SO439.

[jdl01]

My 379 did not include an isolator. My subsequent installation was at the main junction box behind the port side settee. It's an easy installation with no major wire splicing and lots of room to work. This spring's haulout says it was a worth while installation - little zinc detrioration.

[zaphod]

I wonder if the reason Jeanneau doesn't install galvanic isolators is because they do not bond the ac ground to the dc negative. On my boat there is no connection between the engine and prop shaft and the ac ground, so presumably there is no possibility of galvanic corrosion being caused by the shore power.

[puravida35]

May 8, 2022 3:09:22 GMT zaphod said:

I wonder if the reason Jeanneau doesn't install galvanic isolators is because they do not bond the ac ground to the dc negative. On my boat there is no connection between the engine and prop shaft and the ac ground, so presumably there is no possibility of galvanic corrosion being caused by the shore power.

I think the same is true on my boat. Sadly, I didn’t realize that until after the dealer installed one during commissioning. Presumably it does no harm even if not needed.

[zaphod]

May 8, 2022 14:06:11 GMT puravida35 said:

May 8, 2022 3:09:22 GMT zaphod said:

I wonder if the reason Jeanneau doesn't install galvanic isolators is because they do not bond the ac ground to the dc negative. On my boat there is no connection between the engine and prop shaft and the ac ground, so presumably there is no possibility of galvanic corrosion being caused by the shore power.

I think the same is true on my boat. Sadly, I didn’t realize that until after the dealer installed one during commissioning. Presumably it does no harm even if not needed.

Yes, it could certainly do no harm. ABYC says the ac ground should be bonded to DC negative but the Europeans seem to disagree. I still haven't decided whether I should follow ABYC guidelines and make the change, or just leave it as is.

[sjsflyer]

We found the 50A isolator mounted under the electrical panel area.

We stayed on board for the first time this week and it rained in the morning.
There was a lot of water dripping through the headliner just forward of the compression post.
Talked to a rigger that does a lot of Jenneau work (for dealer too) and he's seen it many times on these boats.
Probably coming down the cable channel (conduit) and/or through the deck plate.  Either way he said the only permanent fix is to unstep the mast a bit to gain access to the problem area.
Anyone have leaks here?