Forums, Electrical Systems, Navigation and Safety equipment
Problems or questions about Contessa electrical systems
00:39 16 October 2023
Jungle of wires 5 Replies
James Chew at 01/09/2013 19:30:50
Hi everyone,
I have a 1973 Contessa and throughout the summer I have an issue with getting the Nav lights to work – every time I fix them they soon fail again. I’m sure the problem is something simple but I can’t find it because the boat is full of 40 years worth of old wiring. Removing the switch panel reveals a tangle of wires like spaghetti, some of it not connected to anything, the rest of it untraceable as it disappears into dark spaces I cannot access bundled up with other wires all of the same colour.
As things are at the moment, I stand little chance of being able to fix any problem that arises, particularly at sea. My question is, is this the case with a lot of Contessas? Has anyone rewired their boat, or paid an electrician to do it? Is there some trick to improve the situation?
Many thanks.
00:38 16 October 2023
bonding sys / shaft brush 6 Replies
Tazling at 22/08/2013 01:49:31
My JJT CO32 came with 2 zincs attached one on either side of the keel, with bolts through into the sump walls, and “mystery wires” leading off into the snakes’ nest of hoses and wires heading aft. I have a feeling that they are attached, eventually, to a shaft brush that rides on the very small exposed section of drive shaft between stuffing box and gearbox.
Question: if I have (and I have!) attached a sturdy prop zinc externally, do I still need the shaft brush? I have a long-standing distrust of bonding systems :-) If my prop zinc is beefy and well attached, can I dispense with the keel zincs? They don’t seem to have been doing all that much for the prop anyway - the bronze shows telltale pinkish freckles and mottling.) The A35 had a taller rig, more waterline, deep local knowledge, and better sails… so I am not sure what got me into the lead
inquiring minds…
BTW, my CO32 squeaked past an Alberg 35 on Monday in an informal local race. The air was light and fluky (going to weather, thank goodness for small mercies) and it was tetchy, gritted-teeth helming but eventually, slowly, despite getting a late start and having a quarter mile or so to catch up, I was ahead of my esteemed rival round the first mark. That was a good day :- dumb luck in the lulls and puffs, or (I would like to think) better strategy, rigorously attentive steering, and a fine boat :) Hooray Contessa!
00:37 16 October 2023
Gremlins! 3 Replies
Tazling at 10/08/2013 20:34:09
Last night — or in the wee hours of the morning rather — my buddy boater woke me up (we were rafted in Frances Bay BC, for those who know where that is, and Johnstone Strait was honkin’ westerly, 35 kts) with the dreaded conversation opener, “Wake up, I think we might be dragging.” To leeward of us, instead of empty space, was an old log boom: not the kind of thing you want to get tangled up with at 2AM. OK, time to put some warmer clothes on and peel off, maybe go set someplace else individually.
Only problem with this already rather annoying scenario was that when I went to start the engine, absolutely nothing happened. No solenoid click even. The instrument panel lights dimmed slightly when the starter was depressed, that’s all. Yikes. Whitecaps all around and boomsticks behind us and no engine. [SKIP TO “QUESTION” BELOW IF YOU DON’T CARE TO READ GORY ANECDOTAL DETAILS.]
Rapid sanity checking revealed that all 3 batteries (2 house 1 engine) were all a bit lower than expected - 12.5vdc, which should in theory be enough but evidently wasn’t. We had motored all the way up there (the wind didn’t start up till after sundown in the channels and we were already late for the tide) for more than 3 hours, so they should have been all charged up. Jumper cables quickly hauled out to connect the engine starter battery directly, bypassing all boat wiring, to house battery #2 for added oomph. Yay, engine starts. BUT… no sign that the alternator is actually charging anything, no elevation of battery surface voltage. So, I cuss and fume and figure my alternator, for mysterious reasons, is toast. (And before you ask, no, I didn’t fool with the master A/B switch while the engine was running, I wasn’t born yesterday :))
As a bewildering aside, the way my boat is wired, the A/B switch does the same job as the jumper cable: when set to ALL it connects all three batteries for maximum oomph, and the start motor is fed off the hot side of the A/B switch. When these attempts were made, the A/B switch was set to ALL. So there should have been no advantage to the jumper cable, and yet it seemed to solve the immediate problem. [Yes, later on I inspected the back of the A/B switch and found nothing suspicious looking. Gnashing of teeth.]
Figuring I may not be able to get it started again, after asking for a big jolt from the apparently non-charging pack, I didn’t want to shut it off (in case the dragging issue continued) and decided to leave (at about 3AM, after considerable discussion). Navigated by hand-held GPS in fairly dense darkness through the fjords, then dawn reveals landforms and it’s just routine travelling (except for fuming with frustration at having our cruise interrupted). Arrive at the home port about 0630 and instead of turning in, feel compelled to investigate the b——y batteries one more time.
Much to my bogglement, battery 1 (which was selected while en route) and starter battery are all topped up at 13.5vdc. Batt 2 which was not selected is still at 12.5. So umm, clearly, the alternator while travelling was charging correctly. Much head scratching and eliminating of variables: if it is charging OK, then how did we arrive at Frances with low voltage and unable to start the engine, after almost exactly the same number of motoring hours?
Much fussing over every connector, finding some stuff a little loose that “shouldn’t” (oh how I love that word) make any difference. More head scratching. Unable to reproduce problem. Unable to come up with a convincing theory.
QUESTION: So — at long last — knowing that no one can comment meaningfully on an unknown wiring buss, my question for the forum is just this: has anyone, anywhere, at any time, ever seen an alternator go flaky rather than fail hard? I personally have not. I have known them to stop working outright (blown diode), or to undercharge under certain conditions (loose belt for one); but I have not known one to fail — apparently entirely — for a period of hours, then work perfectly a few hours later. I would like to eliminate the alternator from my list of suspects. [BTW, I checked the belt tension. It was perfect.]
If anyone here loves and understands alternators and would like to expand my folk-knowledge of the range and complexity of their failure modes, I’d be grateful. Otherwise I’m left blaming the gremlins and suspecting the alt for lack of a better theory, which is far from satisfying.
BTW, night running turned out to be anxiety-inducing (we do have dead trees floating around in our local waters here and there) but stunningly beautiful: sky full of stars, Perseid meteor shower just beginning, tiny whitecaps building and glowing with bioluminescence on jet black water; land forms looming up featureless as black paper cutouts. Unforgettable despite the lurking paranoia about “finding something” along the way.
I do so loathe and despise intermittent failures.
00:37 16 October 2023
Radar and AIS 5 Replies
Nick Howes at 23/04/2013 23:20:50
Does anyone have any reccomendations as to which Radar and AIS are best suited to the Contessa 32 ? Thanks, Nick
00:36 16 October 2023
Mast cables for nav lights - replacement. 3 Replies
George Isted at 08/03/2013 15:39:06
Short notice as I’m planning to do it tomorrow but any tips for pulling though new cables in the mast. I need to replace the masthead and steaming-light power cables. It’s an original ‘78 Kemp mast and I’m guessing there is a conduit in side and I have visions of attaching new cable to the old, pulling out the old but then nothing attached. The mast is off the boat.
00:36 16 October 2023
cockpit speakers 8 Replies
George Isted at 31/08/2012 12:59:40
Where do people have them fitted, what works well? The best options in the cockpit seem to be 1. in the coaming at the front of the cockpit 2. in the coaming at the back of the cockpit 3. in the back of the pockets Inside I’m thinking to hide some speakers in the book-shelf on either side of the cabin. Any better suggestions before I start cutting holes (will need bravery pills for that) I suppose I could fit some speakers into a washboard and slide into place when needed but not so convenient as fitted speakers.
Edited: George Isted on 2012-08-31 14:03:43
00:35 16 October 2023
Tactik base unit location 2 Replies
gregcope at 08/06/2012 13:49:45
Hi all,
Any ideas on where?
Present inking was high in the stb. Forward saloon locker on the bulkhead. I already have a hole near here and power can be run along the inside of the locker.
Does anyone have the compass and Nmea unit too? Will the shroud base interfere with the compass?
22:40 15 October 2023
Wiring from Instrument Housing 12 Replies
moongirl at 10/01/2012 19:46:32
Anyone had experience of getting wires from the Doghouse down to the Nav Station. I have managed in the past when there has been a panel blanking the coachroof winches ie halfway house but I am now faced with getting from the ‘hole’ in the breakwater down to the Nav station. Thus far I have tried an Electricians nylon rod & various stainless steel wires without success – it is probably the transition from horizontal to vertical thats preventing success. Is it just a case of patience & repeated attempts?
All suggestions welcomed!
22:39 15 October 2023
switch panel 5 Replies
clarkesco at 05/09/2011 23:25:54
Hello there,
I am currently working to modernise my contessa and am focusing on the electrics. My switch panel is old and not working properly so i need to replace it. I was just wondering if any other members had replaced there switch panel and if so which is best.
Many thanks
Michael
22:38 15 October 2023
Correct Batteries for 79 CO32 8 Replies
Andrew at 23/06/2011 18:56:14
Can anybody inform me of the correct 12v Batteries for a 1979 CO32. I would like to know the battery number IE (Type 627) I think they where 85AH?
I will also need to know terminal layout
Thanks
22:38 15 October 2023
Voltage Surge 5 Replies
Nick Martin at 10/04/2011 18:09:48
Could anyone please give us some advice about a problem that we are occasionally encountering when we fire up our Volvo 2003 27hp for the first time on a day’s sailing?
Though there appears to be no pre-heat facility, the engine fires up easily. The batteries hold their charge between our days out sailing (sometimes up to a week between trips). But shortly after the engine starts the volt meter indicates a charge of more than 17 volts surging through. We first noticed this when our Navman DSC radio sent out an alert about excessive voltage – and we quickly turned off all instruments. Within about a couple of minutes the charge returns to normal, and we can activate the instruments again. This voltage surge does not seem to happen if we need to use the engine during the trip or to enter harbour at the end.
Is this normal (in which case we need to be disciplined about not turning on instruments until the engine has settled its charge)? Does the altenator try to compensate quickly for the large load taken out of the battery on a cold start? Or does this indicate an alternator fault? Would there normally be a separate voltage regulator fitted – I used to have an old Citroen DS which had such a system!?
Having just had some fairly hefty bills for new engine mounts, morse control and other bits and bobs I am hesitant about contacting our marine engineer! Any advice from those of you who understand electrical systems would be much appreciated. Thanks.
22:38 15 October 2023
Battery xcharging - Mooring 25 Replies
gregcope at 20/02/2011 08:51:08
Hi All,
I am thinking about battery charging. I plan to keep my CO32 on a mooring, so a shore powered battery charger is not much help. Although I like wind turbines, I hate the noise some make. So a default becomes solar panels. I appreciate that in the UK the solar panel efficiency is a bit rubbish!
We presently have a twin 75Ah battery bank. I doubt this will increase by much. Our electrical load is quite low as we are not planning any night sailing, and if we do I would look to fit LED lights. No plans for Radar either. Present usage would be lighting (plan to switch some key bulbs to LED), engine starting, bit of Depth/GPS.
We presently do not have a fridge, so this is the only electric hog I can foresee.
Any ideas, suggested locations, and especially pictures?
22:36 15 October 2023
Depth Transducer Installation 15 Replies
Wisdish at 09/01/2011 20:50:39
We are replacing our aged Stowe Navigator instruments with Raymarine ST60+. However, the Through Hull Airmar Depth transducer that is supplied is a larger diameter (2") than our existing transducer (which was approx 40mm) and therefore won’t fit in the existing location forward of the keel. Has anyone any experience of fitting this Transducer to a C032?
The other option may be to use the existing Transducer with the new instruments. Has anyone tried this?
Thanks,
Mark
22:28 15 October 2023
Instrument Replacement 10 Replies
waratah912 at 08/01/2011 17:45:21
I’m in the process of replacing the original B & G instruments with Raymarine, the cables leading to the isntruments appear to be completely jammed between the deck and liner. Has anyone got a good solution? Raymarine say I can’t reuse the existing B & G cables, even though there are enough cores if I common up the screen.
22:28 15 October 2023
'waterproofing' of deck instrument display garage 2 Replies
Jon at 17/12/2010 11:42:55
Has anybody devised a successful way of waterproofing the backs of the deck instrument display? – just in case on that knock-down! My best thoughts to date are to cover the instrument backs with plastic bags and then to fill remaining space with expanding foam.
Any thoughts/ideas gratefully recieved,
Thanks
Jon
22:27 15 October 2023
Electrical Distribution Panel 20 Replies
Tiptoe at 03/09/2010 12:32:20
The time has come to renew our electrical panel. 21 years of condensation and the adding/subtracting of various bits of kit has made it somewhat obsolete.
I am therfore in the process of researching building a new one. If anybody has any top tips I would be glad to hear them. I am particularly interested in any suppliers of panels/circuit breakers etc..
22:26 15 October 2023
Wind Generator 4 Replies
Mel at 19/08/2010 10:46:03
I am considering fitting a Rutland wind generator 913. I would be grateful for any photos of the fitting if you have one and any comments on the fitting / siting. Any comments on your experience of wind generators in general or this one in particular would also be great.
Thanks,
Mel
22:26 15 October 2023
Watermaker 7 Replies
Warren at 06/05/2010 17:49:48
Watermaker. I am getting ready to go cruising and wonder if anyone has come up with a good place to mount the PUR Powersurvivor watermaker in a CO 32? As it must be below the waterline, it seems I have few choices.
22:26 15 October 2023
Tiller Pilots 18 Replies
Rob Milledge at 10/08/2009 22:20:40
Anyone got any advise on the best tiller pilot to fit.
Looking at either Simrad TP22 or Raymarine ST2000.
If anyone has experience of either I’d be grateful to have any comments.
Thanks