Hopefully a trawler owner very soon!

[SteveK]

Ooh, yes, good point! Yes, if the auto bilge runs off the starter battery, then it's DEFINITELY being kept on!!

My bilge pumps run of the house bank, the one that will last the longest pumping water.

 

[Chris M]

That makes sense. I'll have to do a bit of experimenting next time I'm on her.

 

[READY]

One crazy reason for turning off the start battery if you leave the boat...
True story but hard to believe.
A few years back in a nearby slip, a not so well maintained sport fisher started taking on water. A neighbor noticed the list weeks prior but did not notify the marina office. Leak was likely coming thru the exhaust. It took on enough water to reach the batteries and or starter. One of the twin engines actually started up and now was a reverse bilge pump. Was not long before she was going down fast. Sea Tow started pumping and while she did not go down the water was knee high in the cabin.

So as crazy as it sounds it is possible for an engine to self start under some specific set of conditions if the battery is connected.

Having said all this I still don't turn off my start batteries. But another life reason to never say never!

 

[Chris M]

Oh good lord!

Here's hoping my bilge is off my house batteries then!!

 

[ranger58sb]

I was told that I had to switch to "All" to draw from both sets, and that would just divert the starter battery juice over to the house battery system. I honestly don't know if it would allow you to use the house batteries as supplementary starter batteries, but I don't see why not. It makes more sense that way anyways. Why would you want to use your starter battery up on your house circuits, unless for the fridge or something?

Exactly. What you probably should have been told instead is that combining would "add (not "divert") house battery juice over to the starter battery system." Usually a temporary realignment in a system like yours.

I think with that kind of switch, you should NOT rotate back from ALL through OFF to ON after the engine is started and running... 'cause that temporary OFF thing might hose your alternator. Others here can speak to that better than I can, though.

-Chris

 

[Chris M]

That's good to know, thanks. I don't think I'm likely to do that, simply because I've got another of those switches up on my electrical panel, where I can get a better look at it, and it says very specifically to not turn it off while the engines are running; but knowing why not will help to reinforce that.

 

[BruceK]

That's good to know, thanks. I don't think I'm likely to do that, simply because I've got another of those switches up on my electrical panel, where I can get a better look at it, and it says very specifically to not turn it off while the engines are running; but knowing why not will help to reinforce that.

Best observe the warning, switching to OFF, engines running, can burn out alternator diodes. Some switches go from "1" to "2" without visiting "OFF".

 

[rgano]

Welcome!

The boat's varnish shows the benefit of being shed-kept. You, on the other hand are about to subject that beauty to the unremitting and harmful effects of weather and sun. If you want to keep it looking anywhere near as good looking under your term of care, lightly sand and varnish all of it (even if it looks perfect) before or soon after splashing next season and again during the season or at the end of it. That vast expanse of varnished wood takes true commitment to maintain. Been there and done it.

 

[High Wire]

Nice looking boat! Good luck with her!

 

[Chris M]

Thanks!

 

[grahamdouglass]

I bought my boat, a Marine Trader 18 years ago, I threw a ton of money at it, new electronics, mast, oven, new davit system etc. in retrospect I would have done nothing and used it for a year. Figured out a plan and then do the upgrades. The survey you had done included various recommendations, anything critical might need to be addressed, but take your time, use the boat. Maybe join the local yacht club.