--
Mark McGovern
SM #440 Cara
Deale, MD USA

Hello Amel 54 owners,

I have seen and been onboard some Amel 54's with custom Hardtops. Most are a little low in height.
We are in Martinique since March and will probably be here for some time as the Caribbean is not looking to be opening up for sailing soon.
A good time to undertake some projects. 
Do any Amel 54 owners have any recommendations for getting a custom made hardtop manufactured in the Caribbean? I would like to explore this possibility, I currently have had made a 5 bow Bimini with 6ft clearance under. I am looking for someone in the Caribbean who has made a Hardtop for a 54 or If I could find someone who does good fibre glass. I think I might be able to get a hardtop with 6ft clearance under as I have already made the changes to the boom line which had previously limited the height of hardtops and a bimini.
Would appreciate any advise from members who have any info for this project.

Best Regards

Barry and Penny
"SV Lady Penelope II"
Amel 54.  #17
Sante Anne anchorage Martinique 

On Jul 10, 2020, at 12:09 AM, Mark Erdos <mcerdos@...> wrote:



Do it – it’s only money.

 

We have one. It’s not hard to maintain and I can fill a tank to 3200psi in about 20 mins.

 

Think about all the many locations in French Polynesia where you can’t get tanks filled. Having the compressor opens up a whole new world for sailors who dive.

 

Opps! Sorry. You wanted reasons not to do it. Can’t think of any other than you might miss the storage space and your boat will list more to port than it does now.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275

Currently cruising - Tahiti, French Polynesia

www.creampuff.us

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io [mailto:main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io] On Behalf Of Thomas Kleman
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2020 5:07 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: [AmelYachtOwners] Dive Compressor on a SM

 

OK- I have hull #422 (a red line) and each day I wistfully look at that un-used dive compressor breaker on the 220 volt panel and feel like it's talking to me. My wife and I are enthusiastic divers heading (hopefully) back to Polynesia where diving would be fun and not always close to a dive shop.
There is even a comprehensive design for a sliding drawer mounting in the aft  port cockpit lazarette I like on this very site. I am in Hawaii, have access to Home Depot and shipping (the Bauer Jr II) comes from Seattle ...it's all so tempting.

The logical part of my brain, however reminds me that it's noisy, represents another system to maintain, $5000 to buy and install myself, and would doubtless raise the cost of diving based on my accounting driven cost per tank assumptions and those I've read done by others.

But I kind of want it. Anyone out there with some bit of pessimism or wisdom to stop me ?

Tom and Kirstin
SV L'ORIENT
Honelei Bay, Kauai

OK- I have hull #422 (a red line) and each day I wistfully look at that un-used dive compressor breaker on the 220 volt panel and feel like it's talking to me. My wife and I are enthusiastic divers heading (hopefully) back to Polynesia where diving would be fun and not always close to a dive shop.
There is even a comprehensive design for a sliding drawer mounting in the aft  port cockpit lazarette I like on this very site. I am in Hawaii, have access to Home Depot and shipping (the Bauer Jr II) comes from Seattle ...it's all so tempting.

The logical part of my brain, however reminds me that it's noisy, represents another system to maintain, $5000 to buy and install myself, and would doubtless raise the cost of diving based on my accounting driven cost per tank assumptions and those I've read done by others.

But I kind of want it. Anyone out there with some bit of pessimism or wisdom to stop me ?

Tom and Kirstin
SV L'ORIENT
Honelei Bay, Kauai

On Jul 3, 2020, at 3:30 PM, CW Bill Rouse <brouse@...> wrote:

Jamie,

I wish I was on your 54 with you because I have a burning question about all of this. and I have a recommendation for you.

My burning question:

If you see the schematic in my previous post in this thread, you will notice the schematic from a Frigoboat manual. The source of the voltage output from the E51385 blue box to the water pump originates in this schematic with each of the Danfoss Compressor Controllers at the F terminal. In fact, the two wires for each fridge unit come directly from the Danfoss to the E51385. The Frigoboat manual clearly states, regardless of the voltage of the fridge the output on the two F terminals is 12 volts. BTW, the Danfoss operates on 12 or 24 volts, but always outputs 12 volts to Terminal F. Have you checked the output voltage on each of the Danfoss on terminal F and the terminal next to it? I do not see any other way that the E51385 blue box can output 24 volts and if there is 24 volts on the Danfoss fan terminals, I suspect something is wrong with the Danfoss.

My recommendation:

Why don't you do this eliminating the E51385 and eliminate the limitation on amps on the Danfoss terminal F, and run a 24-volt pump??:

<Relays to control water pump.jpg>

	CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School +1 832-380-4970 | brouse@... Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550  Website: www.AmelOwnersYachtSchool.com

View My Training Calendar

On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 2:02 PM Jamie Wendell <mysticshadow54@...> wrote:

OK, my "final" update on the Flojet pump and Frigoboat E51385  interface. I cannot explain it, but the interface is definitely out-putting 24 volts to the pump at all times.
Maybe my interface is malfunctioning, so I installed a solid-state relay and a DC converter to step the voltage down to 12 volts. I used a 24-volt relay in place of the E51385 pump connection and then feed the converter and pump via the live 24-volt terminal box in the engine room. The relay simply engages the pump when the compressors call for it.

A bit more complicated than I would like but the pump runs perfectly now and obviously I no longer get the pump overload signals at the interface. The higher capacity pump may draw more power, but it really cools down the 3 refrigerator units fast.

My next task is to get the brushless motor working to replace the Flojet motor. I will drive it directly via the 24-volt terminal block and eliminate the DC converter.

Until then I am "over and out" regarding this perplexing issue with the E51385. I really appreciate all the suggestions and assistance, but will report once I have the brushless motor controller operational. That will be the gold standard.

Jamie
Phantom, A54 #44

On Jul 9, 2020, at 4:42 PM, Barry Connor via groups.io <connor_barry@...> wrote:

Hello Amel 54 owners,

I have seen and been onboard some Amel 54's with custom Hardtops. Most are a little low in height.
We are in Martinique since March and will probably be here for some time as the Caribbean is not looking to be opening up for sailing soon.
A good time to undertake some projects. 
Do any Amel 54 owners have any recommendations for getting a custom made hardtop manufactured in the Caribbean? I would like to explore this possibility, I currently have had made a 5 bow Bimini with 6ft clearance under. I am looking for someone in the Caribbean who has made a Hardtop for a 54 or If I could find someone who does good fibre glass. I think I might be able to get a hardtop with 6ft clearance under as I have already made the changes to the boom line which had previously limited the height of hardtops and a bimini.
Would appreciate any advise from members who have any info for this project.

Best Regards

Barry and Penny
"SV Lady Penelope II"
Amel 54.  #17
Sante Anne anchorage Martinique