Andiamo - Let's Go!

Excellent idea! :encouragement:
I'm surrounded by solid wood and cream alcantara as I'm writing, nothing else. And I love it.
The only s/s I can see from the interior are the window frames and the cockpit sliding door, all beautifully done btw, but I would get rid also of them if I could... :ambivalence:

Actually, on checking, the fabric is Novasuede Buff. If anyone has some off-cuts please let me know!
 
Hi Pete, here is my new T34 on her first trip out with the family today, took her from Poole around to Swanage then a loop around Poole Bay - was really impressed with how she handled both at speed and at close quarters back at the marina. You can see why they have got good reviews over the years and have retained value better than some. Spot the lack of vinyl decals on starboard side, they arrived today to apply but not sure I trust myself with the task!

Just a shame that weather's not looking so good for the rest of this week though.....

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We've decided to take on the boat's berth in Hythe; it was just easier all round and not too bad a deal when you consider all the Freedom berthing stuff. And we can cancel in two months time and just pay the monthly cost which isn't too bad (still £650 p.m. though).

We need to buy some boaty stuff (life jacket for the dog, cleaning stuff, etc). Where's best (cheapest) place these days in the S'hampton area?
 
Congratulations Pete - we have also taken ownership of an Italian Named boat - not as nice as yours..

Boats name is Ascella - I'll let you look it up but needless to say we WILL be changing names!

Steve
 
We've decided to take on the boat's berth in Hythe; it was just easier all round and not too bad a deal when you consider all the Freedom berthing stuff. And we can cancel in two months time and just pay the monthly cost which isn't too bad (still £650 p.m. though).

We need to buy some boaty stuff (life jacket for the dog, cleaning stuff, etc). Where's best (cheapest) place these days in the S'hampton area?
There are a few Force 4 shops in the area.
 
Your problem is those holes in the vinyl wall panel

IF you can match the vinyl, then that curved panel can be removed and re-covered. You need to remove the cherry cupboard unit, and to do that you pull off the two thin cherry facia pieces at the two ends of the cupboard unit - they are located by wood dowels and are glued on with black polyurethane, so can be pulled/prised off. Then you can remove the whole cupboard. The door trim is still tricky, but do-able.

But that is pointless if you can't match the vinyl, so the vinyl is your #1 task. Someone at Fairline or ex-Fairline must know, but I would expect it is no longer made anyway, so perhaps the job is to find a very close match. There are zillions of vinyls available today and surely one must match. I'll try to lake a look at JtB's targa 40 (I presume same) and perhaps then send you some samples of stocks that I have

If the vinyl is unmatchable you could just make a cherry cupboard on that wall. Sort of 125mm deep (ie shallow) but good for holding glasses. This would cover all of the existing horror. You could shorten the aft cupboard door on the existing cupboard unit to create the clearance. Any good woodworker can make this, and Martin Brain at boats.co.uk in Essex can match Fairline cherry. You would make the carcass in black veneered marine ply, with just the two doors and the port facia in cherry

You could also put the TV in the cupboard, or have the TV mounted in a cherry frame (instead of a cupboard) and make the TV swing out for viewing, just like in my master cabin, but personally I'd dump the TV and have a cupboard for glasses.

Thanks to the forum, I've now sourced a couple of metres of the Alcantara that was originally fitted to the boat. So my idea is to split the panel where I've indicated below and leave the upper (ceiling) section as is and use the Alcantara for the bottom panel. I always think that an honest contrast is better than a poor match. I think the TV location is OK where it is but i'll install a smaller locking and swinging arm to mount it on. I've still got a couple of people trying to source the original vinyl but if that doesn't bear any fruit then at least I've got the fallback plan above.

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Finally I would keep or replace the inverter. Those caravanny 12v TVs look a bit manky and if you're gonna have a TV then get a Samsung Smart TV and do it properly. Also I wonder if those 12v TVs can cope with the 13.8v that your 12v system will often run at. Plus, you can use the inverter to power a couple of 230v sockets, for charging mobile phones, drones, toothbrushes, etc

A couple of queries if I may....

Is a Smart TV actually any benefit in the Med? I'd assume I'd have to use a Firestick, Roku or RPi with some VPN.

If I go for a 12v TV, I could use a voltage regulator to ensure I get a clean 12v. As others have said, most small TV's are 12v anyway with 240v transformers so surely it's better and more efficient running them directly off 12v?

Also, wouldn't I be better installing some 12v (in) USB sockets and charging phones from there? I really can't think of anything that I'd want to run off an inverter at anchor. Remember that I only have three batteries:

2 x 135ah for Domesic supply and Port engine starting
1 x 180ah for S/B engine starting

So not loads of capacity.
 
Remember that I only have three batteries:

2 x 135ah for Domesic supply and Port engine starting
1 x 180ah for S/B engine starting

So not loads of capacity.

blimey!

not going to go v.far off grid with that setup Pete!
12V sockets where you plug a USB thing is the easy option. I went a bit further fitting VIMAR USB ports on each cabin with a 2USD transformer to drop 12-30V to 5V for the usb. If you cant I can point you to the ebay shop I bought them off.

cant you fit more batteries???

cheers

V.
 
blimey!

not going to go v.far off grid with that setup Pete!

12V sockets where you plug a USB thing is the easy option. I went a bit further fitting VIMAR USB ports on each cabin with a 2USD transformer to drop 12-30V to 5V for the usb. If you cant I can point you to the ebay shop I bought them off.

cant you fit more batteries???

cheers

V.

Yep, I can't imagine the PO would have run the big TV for long off the battery! From the service history, it looks like the batteries were replaced around three years ago. I'll have a look at them at the weekend and see if they are the same capacity as the originals.

Incidentally, whilst looking at the manual it appears the battery charger is only 12amp. A 50amp one was an optional extra. Also, the battery charger only charges the domestics, not the dedicated starting battery for the S/B engine.

I know those transformers, there's loads of them on eBay (DROK). I think my boat has Gewiss Playbus sockets and I think I could get some USB ones and mount them in the galley whilst I've got that panel off.
 
Yep, I can't imagine the PO would have run the big TV for long off the battery! From the service history, it looks like the batteries were replaced around three years ago. I'll have a look at them at the weekend and see if they are the same capacity as the originals.

Incidentally, whilst looking at the manual it appears the battery charger is only 12amp. A 50amp one was an optional extra. Also, the battery charger only charges the domestics, not the dedicated starting battery for the S/B engine.

I know those transformers, there's loads of them on eBay (DROK). I think my boat has Gewiss Playbus sockets and I think I could get some USB ones and mount them in the galley whilst I've got that panel off.

My T40 has a similar battery architecture (2x domestic, 1x start) but the domestics are charged by a 50A charger. No charger to the engine start battery, and in eight years of ownership that has never been a problem.

When I replaced my domestics I went for the max capacity that I could get in the same form factor as the OE batteries, which was something like 190ah against 135ah for the originals.

That all said, it seems like you're principally trying to solve the problem of being able to watch the tv while at sea, or anchored out. I use my tv whilst apartmenting on the boat in the port, but I can't think of a single occasion in six years in the med when we've preferred looking at the tv to looking at the view...
 
I agree, chances of watching the TV at anchor are negligible. My biggest concern will be keeping my beer cold!

But it just seems to be more logical to wire a 12v TV into the 12v supply rather than running one through the inverter (and having the inefficiency and noise of the inverter fan). I know JFM thinks the Cello TV's look manky but the later ones are OK, have a built in DVD player and are lighter and as thin as the Samsung equivalents. They're not 'Smart' but I don't think that is a benefit in the Med anyway.
 
Pete, I think as JtB said, do some research on replacement batteries whilst boat is in the UK.
Biggest AH capacity that will fit your battery box(es)
Remember a different terminal layout may require you to change the wiring (so check ££)
As for type that is a whole new debate but the first 2 options may limit you anyway.
 
I can't imagine why you want or need a DVD - again we go back to your limited storage space, how many DVDs can you store and have enough choice to watch? Getting an external hard drive and storing everything on that makes more sense to me
 
Hi Pete, I only read the your first post and have not read the following posts so you may have sorted a berth. My 2p is that the Royal Southampton often have availability on their river pontoon at Gins on the Beaulieu and I think they are quite cheap.
 
Well, another mystery has been solved. I couldn't work out why the head-linings on my cheaper 1999 T30 were much nicer than on my later more expensive 2002 T34.

The Targa 34 MkII (as mine is) was launched in around 1999 and produced until to 2006 (I think). The Targa 30 was launched in 1999 and produced until around 2003.

It transpires that my old Targa 30 was one of the first boats (#9 to be precise) built and the wall coverings and head-linings were made from a very swish seal skin type material. Much nicer than what's fitted on my later T34.

Anyhow, soon after they started using the Seal Skin there was an outcry from do-gooders worrying about (connotations of) seals being bashed on the head to make the coverings so Fairline has to revert to the cheap PVC as I have on my boat!
 
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