Hello from new member

Rick S · Post by **Rick S** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:03 am

My name is Rick and I have a 89 SF in Rockport, Texas. I decided a long time ago the 33 was perfect and searched for the right 33 for a long time. Last spring I found a boat repowered with yanmar 370's that was a good fit. I have followed the different subjects on purchasing, repowering and solving misc problems and found them all very interesting. I found this site during my search and read everything. This is a true wealth of information. During our recent scare with Hurricane Ike, I moved the boat to a floating dock for a few weeks. Once I returned to my dock in Rockport my galvanic isolator started to buzz. It was Saturday afternoon at the marina with the a/c on. Buzzer went off on the isolator. Turned the a/c off and the buzzer stopped. I am now tracing down the problem and reviewing all old post on isolators for ideas. I unplugged shore #2 and now ocassionally get a very brief buzz with only shore #1 plugged in. I am puzzled by the ocassional alarm buzz. It seems if there was a short it would not stop. I have the Quicksilver isolator which seems to be original equipment. I had the model number until someone stole my briefcase out of the truck at lunch yesterday. I will be tracing down every possibility and/or replacing my old galvanic isolator. Any suggestions are welcome. Now that I have started the questions may never end. Rick Smith

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:44 am

Hey Rick, Good name ! Welcome aboard, sounds like a great boat; the '89's are awesome and you've got some nice engines below the hatches. Can't help much with the isolator, I don't have one so I don't know that much about them. I've heard when shore power is interrupted that it sometimes blows the isolators. But I wouldn't know how to test one to see if it's working right. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:44 am

I had a Quicksilver isolator on my boat and had to replace it. Go to the Bertram 31 site. Look in the tips section and it tells all about them. It also gives a web site on where to buy them. Buzz

Rick S · Post by **Rick S** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:11 pm

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm of course biased toward 33's now more than ever and have not found one I want more. Rick

rnanaples · Post by **rnanaples** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:57 pm

I had a weak breaker that was causing me some issues everyone around the marina said no way replaced it end of problem

mistersea · Post by **mistersea** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:29 am

Rick, You have a nice boat. If that is the one previously named Poco Mas, I was hoping to buy it and bring it to Florida. Tom, the previous owner, was very nice and I told him if the deal he was working on fell through to give me a call and I would run over there and get it. Congrats on your new boat, Robert

Post by **dougl33** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:35 am

Robert, How's the 38 treating you? What kind of cruise are you getting. You have the 300hp Cats correct?

Rick S · Post by **Rick S** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:57 am

Robert, It was "Poco Mas" your correct. After meeting Tom I was more impressed with the his boat. He put a lot of time and thought into every detail of the refit. We were lucky to be buying when he was selling. Rick

Post by **dougl33** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:53 am

quote:Originally posted by Rick S We were lucky to be buying when he was selling. Glad to see there are some people making out in these sh!tty times. I almost wish I didn't own my boat right now. There sure are a lot of good deals out there.

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:12 pm

Rick, congratulations on your new mistress! I have the same galvanic isolator in my boat. I've had buzzing problems before and every single cause was the dock power, not the boat. In fact every case, it was faulty ground or corrosion in the dock power box. Never happened at home. Always in some Marina in the Keys or Bahamas. I would check there. With all the high tides from the storm , etc. there may be some salt intrusion in the power source. Gene Dugan Boca Raton, Fl. "Nauti Marie" 1989 33 FBC 2007 8.1 Crusaders

billb · Post by **billb** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:39 pm

Rick: congrats on the new boat...I am sure you will love it! I dont know anything about isolators but there is a guy named Richard Beceda, that is great for electrical stuff...he isn't cheap though...His number is 361-992-8176... give me a holler if you need anything.My boat is still over at Island Moorings probably till the end of Oct.. Have a good one!

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:15 pm

I had similiar problems, and had come to learn that there had been a recall on that quicksilver isolator. I tested mine (this was an involved procedure, found in Nigel Calder's book) and it was not doing its job at all - the diodes were completely fused and not halting any stray currents. I replaced it and all has been well since. Now... when did the buzzing and suspicions begin for me? After staying in the Bahamas for alomst two weeks hooked to shore power there. I don't know if that is a coincidence or not. Also check that your A/C is properly bonded. The isolator will only stop 1.5 volts, any more and it stops working. A faulty ground can cause currents to go over that, as can a hot marina, in which case the isolator will not protect you. The newer ones have indicator lights to let you know when this is happening. Your buzzer is probably trying to tell you that too, or is just a cooked unit (as mine was). Good luck! I'm jealous of those 370's!

Rick S · Post by **Rick S** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:30 am

This site can get addictive. I think I could hang around all day and talk about boats. Bill, I've been by your dock a few times to say hello. I did not know you were at Island Moorings. I held up there for two 2 weeks. Have the slip for a month and hope I don't need it. Have you found the new boat yet? I saw yours listed. I still have a habit of looking at all of the 33's. For a boat as well maintained as yours the new owner will be proud. Thanks for the electrical contact. My dock was under water due to Ike and I can't help but think this has something to do with the alarm buzz. I am still going to check everything just to be sure. THanks for all of the suggestions! Rick

Rick S · Post by **Rick S** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:58 am

Sean B It is interesting to both have a problem after being at a different dock. You Florida guys pay more for insurance but it sure would be nice to be able to run over to the Bahamas. Rick

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:27 am

Rick S. Welcome! Congrats on joining the Bertam family. I'm sure you'll gain many hours of enjoyment. Lots of good information sharing on this site as you've found. Another fan of Y-370's.