Antares 30, Newbie Questions

[bumpy_the_dog]

I've just bought an Antares 30, I'd appreciate some advice from more experienced owners,

1. The owner's manual recommends that before connecting or disconnecting shore supply the "on board cut-off device" is isolated. What and where is this?

2. Is it possible to fit a different/bigger anchor to the existing bow roller?

3. There are separate switches for the engine starting battery and for the domestic battery. Plus a third switch marked "common negative". What exactly does this third switch do?

4. The survey recommended that the existing seacocks be changed for DZR Ball Valves, any thoughts on this?

5. The clips for the foredeck cushions are secured with self tappers straight through into the balsa core. I guess that as Beneteau are one of the few small boat manufacturers to survive the full business cycle you've just got to accept this is as far as the purchase price stretches. I'll do a better job bedding in these clips, but are there any other economy measures you've found that you've put right or upgraded?

Thank you!

 

[baldyash]

Congratulations---a great boat(but I'm bias!)
1) Well I've never done this.Its in the lazerette Stbd side towards the stern & there's another under the panel in front of the helm seat(floor).This has the power switch feeding the immersion heater.
2) I have a standard Brittany anchor which I think is about 15-16 KG. Bow roller is designed for it but I think someone has fitted an alternative
3) Not sure--I've never switched it off. Always use one or other or both of the others.
4) No thoughts!
5)I installed a second Plotter on the flybridge----much better.TV in the forward cabin.Galvanic isolator

 

[bumpy_the_dog]

Thanks Baldyash, much appreciated!

 

[Divemaster1]

Congratulations!

Have posted on item 4 before, and think a fair bit on "why" is described and depicted in the following article...

http://www.paulstevenssurveys.com/upload/Seacocks.pdf

 

[bumpy_the_dog]

That was a sobering read, thank you Alf.

 

[Anders_P42]

Congrats.

2) Rocna 15KG fits well, I went with Kong swivel and Wichard 10mm counter sunk Alan head shackle that goes over bow roller better.

5) Also went with stern thruster following other comments, she handles great with bow and stern thrusters. Galvanic isolator, cockpit LEDs, got French 240V sockets changed to UK ones.

Anders

 

[bumpy_the_dog]

Congrats.

2) Rocna 15KG fits well, I went with Kong swivel and Wichard 10mm counter sunk Alan head shackle that goes over bow roller better.

5) Also went with stern thruster following other comments, she handles great with bow and stern thrusters. Galvanic isolator, cockpit LEDs, got French 240V sockets changed to UK ones.

Anders

Thank you Anders. Does a Rocna slot straight in with no adaptation of the existing bow roller? What's the benefit of a galvanic isolator? By the way, travel adaptor plugs, which is what I have in the 240v sockets, look really clunky, so I reckon you made the right call.

 

[bumpy_the_dog]

Anders, did you use the 8mm or 10mm Kong Swivel?

Thanks

 

[Anders_P42]

Sorry bumpy I missed your last reply.

I didn't modify my bow roller, I think Scott did (Sydneysider). If you take up the anchor slowly over bow roller, then anchor seems to self right. I've only anchored four times so may have been beginners luck.

I bought 8-12mm kong swivel, but copying someone else's set up I also put a couple of links 10mm chain between kong and the wichard shackle like this.

Anders

Galvanic isolator fitted by Joe at Osmotech.

 

[Sydneysider]

Thank you Anders. Does a Rocna slot straight in with no adaptation of the existing bow roller? What's the benefit of a galvanic isolator? By the way, travel adaptor plugs, which is what I have in the 240v sockets, look really clunky, so I reckon you made the right call.

Hi Bumpy,

Firstly, Concrats on the new boat, you will not regret the Antares 30, it has the feel and features of a bigger boat in a compact design. Probably the most worthwhile modification I have made would have been moving the flybridge helm seat back rearward to give more room.
I widened my bowroller slightly at the end to give the Rockna 15 a bit more room, to self right when storing.
I would recommend the fitment of a galvanic isolator, as without one, the hard underwater metals on your Beneteau will attract and erode the softer underwater metals (alloy sterndrives etc) as you have a direct link through the earth on the shorepower, and the electrical activity will cause the paint to flake off your underwater metal and prematurely foul.

Regards Scott

 

[bumpy_the_dog]

Thank you Scott and Anders, that was very helpful. The boat's fitted with a galvanic isolator but I didn't understand what it was for so that's appreciated. And the photo of your anchor layout is perfect, I'll use that as a blueprint if you don't mind!

 

[Anders_P42]

I copied someone else, vyv_cox user name who runs this company. Good read this site, proper tests on chain, shackles and swivels.

http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Swivelconnect.aspx

 

[Magoo44]

Bought a 2012 30 last year. Has anyone had a problem with the front windscreens coming loose? Mine have opened at the bottom with movement at sea.
Not sure what to do about it and how they are attached.