new Prairie 29 owner

flagold · Sep 14, 2010

straycat wrote:

Good to hear from you. We watched a lot of your U-Tube posts and enjoyed them. Sorry to hear about the lupus. It can be nasty. You seem to be in control. Thanks for the tips. We may go the Honda route or with a quiet air cooled diesel, but that last is big.
The 8000 seems to be big enough for the volume of the cabin and berth. What's your experience with the house unit? Be well Rick & Donna

Donna:

The 8000 will cool the cabin and berth up to 95 degrees, beyond that, it will cool the cabin alone. *The unit we installed is an:

Everstar Model MPM-08CR-BB4, volts 115, BTU 8000, Watts 980, Amps 9.3

We run our Honda 2000 on the roof, it is quiet up there and the exhaust vents over with the roof extension (close the transom door)

We chose the stand up unit for the reasons others have given, it only requires a circular hole cut in the rear bulkhead for exhaust, there is no hose needed for exhaust, we fit ours flush to the bulkhead and secured the unit. *It operates flawlessly on the Honda. *As for space, it uses little of it, and certainly isn't the eyesore that a window unit or roof unit would be (certainly when removed). *An added plus is it will run on a standard ac line to the boat so we can work in comfort when it is at home (we don't have a 50 or 30 amp dock service at the house). *One thing to consider is the unit will exhaust so much air that the cabin (and berth) will have suction on it, so you will need to plug the sink and other openings or it will suck air into the cabin through them and create a bubble bath for all (or worse). *Bigger (more btu) would certainly be better, but we weighed the cost (these units were/are very inexpensive) and by limiting ourselves to 8000 the generator still runs in the "eco" mode and runs all night long.

Again, if it is a super hot day, we do have the reverse cycle air and won't hesitate to fire that up, but it takes both generators to power and we have opted at times to cruise with one generator and sleep in the cabin.

Happy cruising!

*

sailormike · Sep 16, 2010

Sorry Donna it has taken me so long to get back to you. It has been a busy week and an intresting one as well. Well I can whole heartedly say do not buy a water tank from Plastic Mart they do not tell the truth and do not stand behind there products. The new tank cam in 6 weeks after it was ordered and a a rotomolded tank when it was supposed to be a welded baffled tank. Filled tank up outside the boat to test and make sure all is well and I found that the best that I could measure there is at least two inches of bowing on the sides. The top is caving in at least 2 inches and the tank is trying to collaps. Now have to fight to try to get money back. enough with that makes me flustrated to talk about it. As for the transom door it was allready installed when we bought the boat I believe the first owner had it installed. Yes I did the water lines in Blue and Red PEX piping. its Great stuff to work with. Here is a website that has plenty of pictures of the boat on it and my work I have done to it. www.missdotdee.net

straycat · Sep 17, 2010

Tried to get on your site for the photos of your boat and found it confusing. *Still want to see them though. *I was curious to know what the interior layout of your boat is like. *Is your galley on the port side of the boat or is it a "L" galley. * We need to do something about a dining area and we have a leather sofa on the starboard that is quite comfortable. *It is always interesting to see how these boats have been adapted to the individual owners. *Donna

Sortie · Sep 17, 2010

Donna, Got on his site easily, need to go to missdotdee.net. His layout is like yours, galley on port side.

He done an excellent job, very appealing. Think you will enjoy.

Thanks for shareing Sailormike.

John

straycat · Sep 17, 2010

Tried again with www.missdotdee.net and was not able to find it again. *Maybe it is my computer! *

Donna

sailormike · Sep 18, 2010

Donna it has to be you computer it works on all of mine and my smart phone is it not coming up at all. Our layout is like yours love seat sleeper couch to the right and L shaped galley to the left. We use folding teak tables for dining.

Codger2 · Sep 18, 2010

It works on my computer also.

straycat · Sep 18, 2010

I will try it from my brother's computer. *As for my galley, it runs only on the port side.. no "L" *Leaves a smaller area for dining and there is a new beautiful teak table that folds into thirds. *The seating however is a lare storage bin, like a pool deck box. *While it affords us much storage, and does have cushions, I think I would prefer a more stationary unit with deep drawers. *Our catamaran had this type of storage and I found it more convenient for storage. *The table base is screwed to the floor but the table can be raised up to remove it. I don't want to have to remove cushions every time I want to get at something. *Donna

straycat · Sep 18, 2010

What a great bot. *You have done incredible upgrades on the boat. *I was able to see all on my brother's computer. *I like the fact that your galley sink is in the center of the galley... ours is in the corner. *but we will live with her as is for now. *Just great work. *Is your sofa a love seat that opens out to a bed? *Is your berth big enough for two? *Did you add the storage on the starboard side in the birth area? *I'll most likely have many other questions for you including the oak floor in the salon .. Looks comfy! * Donna

PrairieJack · Sep 18, 2010

I have just finished the Air Breeze install and the installation of the two 170 watt solar panels.* They make more than enough power, I can run everything except the A/C.*
I have a question, I need to replace my cutless bearing has anyone of you done this?*
Would like to hear how it was done. Any tricks or tools needed.* I have done it on my sailboat, but never on a trawler.*

sailormike · Sep 20, 2010

straycat wrote:

What a great bot. *You have done incredible upgrades on the boat. *I was able to see all on my brother's computer. *I like the fact that your galley sink is in the center of the galley... ours is in the corner. *but we will live with her as is for now. *Just great work. *Is your sofa a love seat that opens out to a bed? *Is your berth big enough for two? *Did you add the storage on the starboard side in the birth area? *I'll most likely have many other questions for you including the oak floor in the salon .. Looks comfy! * Donna

Yeah we love the little boat and it.*She was lived on for 8 years by the first owner whom bought her new and he is responsible for alot of the custom work. Him and Bill Estes whom is a master craftsman did most of the work to my knowlage. Yes the love seat couch is a pullout bed. We didnt add the storage to the right in the V-berth it was there when we bought her but most likely it was there.

Jack when we did our cutlass bearing it was done while we were haulded out up at Bill's old place I'll ask him if there are any special tools

*

sailormike · Sep 29, 2010

Figured I would post some pictures of the old original tank and the new unsable plastic mart tank.

sailormike wrote:

Sorry Donna it has taken me so long to get back to you. It has been a busy week and an intresting one as well. Well I can whole heartedly say do not buy a water tank from Plastic Mart they do not tell the truth and do not stand behind there products. The new tank cam in 6 weeks after it was ordered and a a rotomolded tank when it was supposed to be a welded baffled tank. Filled tank up outside the boat to test and make sure all is well and I found that the best that I could measure there is at least two inches of bowing on the sides. The top is caving in at least 2 inches and the tank is trying to collaps. Now have to fight to try to get money back. enough with that makes me flustrated to talk about it. As for the transom door it was allready installed when we bought the boat I believe the first owner had it installed. Yes I did the water lines in Blue and Red PEX piping. its Great stuff to work with. Here is a website that has plenty of pictures of the boat on it and my work I have done to it. www.missdotdee.net

*

sailormike · Sep 29, 2010

Here We go I got the New Well built heavy duty tank Made by Duraweld* http://www.dura-weld.com/*Gerth is a very knowlagable guy and I highly recomend his work. Also I Ordered the tank on a monday and it shipped on friday and I had it on a tuesday Built better than spec. If you need a custom tank give them a chance.

straycat · Oct 31, 2010

Captain Mike, we want to second your praise for Dura Weld. A couple of years ago we needed a new waste tank to replace our aluminum tank that had failed at the nipple junction. Dura Weld made the tank of solid high density plastic, extra thickness and with all the fittings in exactly the right place. When we drove over from the west coast of FL, they pressure tested the tank right there. Highly professional, easy to talk to and real craftsmen. The dimensions were critical because of the space limitations on the Packet Cat, and the tank slide in like an otter after a fish. Peace, love and joy, Rick & Donna, Straycat

straycat · Oct 31, 2010

By the way, did you ever find the Prairie owners site? We'd be interested in joining. Rick & Donna

sailormike · Oct 31, 2010

Sorry guys it has been a while since I posted I have finally got the water tank installed and now have the water system totally back up and running I was having a few issues with my accumulator tank and the water pump turned out that the accumulator tank had a bent broken schader valve in it from the factory I fixed it and pressurized it and that part of the equation is working much better. I had to replace the water pump however didn't like the way it was preforming or the lack of flow and pressure. It would putout about 25 psi with one faucet open the new shurflo variable speed 5.7 is 65 psi the fresh water works great now. I also had to replace the anode rod in the water heater and that was a task. I get tired of having to paint the bilge so often so I put down dri-dek mats. Oh one to the next dilemma which was that during that little tropical storm that hit us my front hatch started leaking around the glass. had to re bed it and now I need to do it again I used the wrong sealant. oops well in that process I found a section of*de-lamination*on the cabin top I repaired with epoxy and glass and sanded down the original molded in non-skid and laid down a new layer of Awl-craft 2000 with griptex in it.

sailormike · Nov 4, 2010

Dinata Misovec
Atlantic and Prairie Owners Association
dinata@gmail.com

She will help you right out

healhustler · Nov 6, 2010

Hey guys, I know I don't belong on the Prarie section here, but I gotta tell you that I'm seeing some of the nicest big/little boats ever thought of. *I've been looking at 29's from time to time on Yachtworld just in case we ended up with an old house (30 ft. of dock space) that we had rented before down in Key Biscayne, FL. *Turns out that we didn't but I really REALLY liked SLO POKE up there in Baltimore, and I was starting to fantasize about having a 29 of my own. *But I have to say that you all have some of the neatest, funest boats on this entire site, and it's great to see that Slo Poke got such a great, loving home. *Sailor Mike......I never imagined that so much could be done to make a 29 a better, more versatile boat. *Good going guys, and thanks for the lessons. *I'll be reading with joy and awe as your projects proceed.

farmerbill · Feb 5, 2011

hi'
If there is a Prairie owner association or similar web site I'd like to know about it.* My wife and I purchased a 29 and would love to participate.

Bill & Cyndi

sailormike · Feb 5, 2011

Please contact Dinata Misovec at dinata@gmail.com she runs the praire trawler group and newsletter

Madeirabch · Oct 29, 2011

Another new Prairie owner to the list in Melbourne, Florida. I just took possession of Miss Hanna, CC/29-012. She's a sound boat but a little rough around the edges from disuse over the past few years. I have on the list a number of projects on the books to bring her back to her old glory. I hope to get some questions answered as I go along. The sanitation system needs to be reworked since it has an old non-working Electra San . I will also be working on some deck painting to give the old girl a fresh look.

Page Proffitt

Melbourne, Florida

Sortie · Oct 29, 2011

Hi,

*Welcome to the Prarie 29 family. We are just up river in Merritt Island. Working on our sanatation system as well.

*

John

flagold · Nov 5, 2011

I guess that includes me too, think I've said it before, but we're going to install a Nature's Head (Airhead similar) instead of trying to re-work the plumbing.

PrairieJack · Nov 6, 2011

I have had an Air Head on both my sailboat and now my Prairie, I think it's the best way to go. No pump out, and help things grow. I love it.

Jack

flagold · Nov 6, 2011

PrairieJack wrote:
I have had an Air Head on both my sailboat and now my Prairie, I think it's the best way to go. No pump out, and help things grow. I love it.

Jack

*Thanks for that info, Jack, makes us feel better about the decision to do it. *

Another project we've done (in the last 2 weeks) is tackle the flooring in our Prairie:*

[video=[MEDIA=youtube]0lVHC8GQMzE[/MEDIA]]

I hope that goes through, we've tried to post it twice and get hung up in the spam filter.

Thanks again, Matt

-- Edited by flagold on Sunday 6th of November 2011 04:59:15 PM

PrairieJack · Nov 7, 2011

Great job on the floor Matt. I know you will see how great the composting head is. Easy install, bolt down and run air discharge with fan. I ran mine up through the storage above the sink to a hole (old vent,had to enlarge) in the hull, and finished with a clam vent cover. Jack

Sortie · Nov 7, 2011

Jack. Thanks for the information. Sounds as if you are a believer. System seems to make a lot of sense. Any difficulties in the install?

*

John

-- Edited by Sortie on Monday 7th of November 2011 08:38:25 AM

PrairieJack · Nov 8, 2011

I am a believer, no smell, no pump out, and it makes the flowers grow. Very easy install, just bolt down and run vent line. Has a small muffin fan 12v, that runs 24/7 to help remove the moisture. If you need more info let me know. This is the one i have installed.

http://www.airheadtoilet.com/

Jack

flagold · Nov 8, 2011

The alternative composting toilet: http://www.natureshead.net/ (there's some big threads on the airhead/nature's head but in fact they're roughly the same, the two heads of the companies were at one time apparently partners that split up).

Baker · Nov 12, 2011

I am willing to bet if you put this in the proper area of the forum you would get more information on it...the head stuff.

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