New Cranchi Zaffiro 34 Owner

vas said:
some comments based on general el. experience and not related to the cranchi:

if generator runs all loads without issues within the boat, it's obvs that the problem lays between the pillar and the switch (if there is one!) that handles the shorepower vs generator powering of the craft.
I'd start from the easier, check the shorepower cable, plugging it only on dock side only tells us that the three wires are most likely not shorted between them, nothing more.
So need to check each of the three, then I'd open up the socket where it fits on the boat and check for dirt/dump/whatnot that could possibly lead to activating the breaker on the dockside.

Before going any further, I'd try to also:
  • either plug the boat in another dock line
  • borrow another shorepower cable from a fellow boater in your marina and check it out (or use your shorecable in another boat and see if it trips that pillar)
It may well be an issue of the cable or the pillar.

I give you 95% chances of figuring out what's wrong by these steps.

cheers

V.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the insight. This particular cable has a "repair" plug on the pedestal side as well...I'm going to open the plug and ensure it is wired correctly. The boat side seems to have a 50A connector on it. Are 30A and 50A connectors physically different in size? I did some more reading last night on how the GFCI actually works and yes, without making connections on both ends, it won't test correctly.
PXL_20230323_145655937_2.jpg
PXL_20230323_145705715_2.jpg

It has a "Engine/Shore" and "Generator" switch on the panel in the cabin(Item A). It would also seem it has it's own GFCI at 30mA shown as item #1 on the schematic?
 

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Re. pics....

1) That red key / box is NOT OE, so could be for anything.

2) The 2 smaller switches on the socket... OE there is normally 1 switch there which powers the water pump in the engine bay for 'cleaning up' (the one with the long hose on it). Haven't a clue what the 2nd switch on that socket is for, again not OE.

3) That's the engine bay water pump we've been talking about and well established what it's for

4) That's a type of filter wrench.... possibly to open the filter on a water pump or such

5) These are 'through hull' sounders. Guessing the previous owner replaced with something else since the wires are snipped. The OE bilge pump is a big red one located at the lowest point of the engine bay, pushed against the forward bulkhead (I don't see it in your picture)

PS. Your engine bay is dirty. It should be clean like this.... (See the red bilge pump)

ojr9S7o.jpg
 
alt said:
Re. pics....

1) That red key / box is NOT OE, so could be for anything.

2) The 2 smaller switches on the socket... OE there is normally 1 switch there which powers the water pump in the engine bay for 'cleaning up' (the one with the long hose on it). Haven't a clue what the 2nd switch on that socket is for, again not OE.

3) That's the engine bay water pump we've been talking about and well established what it's for

4) That's a type of filter wrench.... possibly to open the filter on a water pump or such

5) These are 'through hull' sounders. Guessing the previous owner replaced with something else since the wires are snipped. The OE bilge pump is a big red one located at the lowest point of the engine bay, pushed against the forward bulkhead (I don't see it in your picture)

PS. Your engine bay is dirty. It should be clean like this.... (See the red bilge pump)

ojr9S7o.jpg
Click to expand...
Yeah...the entire bilge is filthy in this boat due to neglect for about 2 years...luckily it was fresh water. I'm going to haul her out in a few weeks (I have a trailer) and give everything a thorough scrubbing and cleaning without having to worry about anything discharging into the water. Is that your 37? I think I could eat off of it. I think I know where they put some of the extra length too! Lots more room in there than a 34!

So I solved the red key mystery: This boat came with the optional generator. The generator battery sits on the starboard side (opposite the generator on the port side) and that key is the battery disconnect since the stock battery switch in the cabin only disconnects the two engine batteries. Looking at the wiring schematics, it seems there is no house battery on these boats. Is that correct?

The bilge pump has been replaced at some point but is in that position in it's aluminum holder.

I'm guessing the utility pump is shot, I'm going to try to check for power to it with a test light and see what happens. It would be super handy for cleaning up that bilge with the boat on the trailer.

I'll start another response with more photos...you'll cringe at the bilges.
 
FloridaCranchi34 said:
Appreciate the insight. This particular cable has a "repair" plug on the pedestal side as well...I'm going to open the plug and ensure it is wired correctly. The boat side seems to have a 50A connector on it. Are 30A and 50A connectors physically different in size? I did some more reading last night on how the GFCI actually works and yes, without making connections on both ends, it won't test correctly.
View attachment 153651
View attachment 153652

It has a "Engine/Shore" and "Generator" switch on the panel in the cabin(Item A). It would also seem it has it's own GFCI at 30mA shown as item #1 on the schematic?
Click to expand...

New 50A 125V to 30A 125V Adapter and new 30A shore power cable are on the way. I took the other cable apart today but couldn't see anything that should have caused an issue.
 
PXL_20230323_203950063_2.jpg

What is this pump and how is it controlled? It's on the starboard side aft near the transom. It looks like it's a macerator pump of some sort to pump the black water tank overboard through the transom...however I could not find a Y valve today in the bilge near the shower sump pump, just the two seacocks. One for the toilet fill and the other was blocked off.
 
FloridaCranchi34 said:
Is that your 37? I think I could eat off of it. I think I know where they put some of the extra length too! Lots more room in there than a 34!
Click to expand...

Yup, thats how my engine bay looks at the start / end of every season. During the year you get some belt dust, but a wash own with some soapy water gets rid of all of that.

When I bought the Z34, I thought there was loads of space. Then I bought the 37 and WOW! Huge difference. That extra 18" forward of the engines makes a serious difference and makes working on the engines tolerable. Infact, one huge reason I don't want to change from this boat is the engine bay access.
 
FloridaCranchi34 said:
View attachment 153679

What is this pump and how is it controlled? It's on the starboard side aft near the transom. It looks like it's a macerator pump of some sort to pump the black water tank overboard through the transom...however I could not find a Y valve today in the bilge near the shower sump pump, just the two seacocks. One for the toilet fill and the other was blocked off.
Click to expand...
That's a macerator pump alright and the install looks messy. I'm guessing the holding tank / macerator was an aftermarket fit, so couldn't tell you where the Y valve is.

Presently when you flush, where does the outlet go? It shouldn't be hard to find the Y Valve (if there is one).... just follow the outlet, you'll find it eventually. Could even be a fancy electric one (doubt it) with a switch somewhere.
 
PS. You'll see I replaced the OE diesel pre-filters with Racor 500's and removed the OE soundproof lining in the engine bay.... over time that foamy stuff just started to fall apart when you touched it and made a huge mess. I ripped the whole lot out and replaced it with that stuff.... it's proper fire retardant (there's some layer in the middle of it) and very easy to keep clean as you can wipe it down if you do happen to spill something. It was VERY heavy though!
 
alt said:
Yup, thats how my engine bay looks at the start / end of every season. During the year you get some belt dust, but a wash own with some soapy water gets rid of all of that.

When I bought the Z34, I thought there was loads of space. Then I bought the 37 and WOW! Huge difference. That extra 18" forward of the engines makes a serious difference and makes working on the engines tolerable. Infact, one huge reason I don't want to change from this boat is the engine bay access.
Click to expand...

I'm 6'2" and 240...I nearly got stuck in the engine bay doing a visual inspection of the area behind the A/C compressor! Yours would be a dream!
 
alt said:
That's a macerator pump alright and the install looks messy. I'm guessing the holding tank / macerator was an aftermarket fit, so couldn't tell you where the Y valve is.

Presently when you flush, where does the outlet go? It shouldn't be hard to find the Y Valve (if there is one).... just follow the outlet, you'll find it eventually. Could even be a fancy electric one (doubt it) with a switch somewhere.
Click to expand...
I'm 99% sure it's going into the holding tank. It was on a lake before so I doubt it was set up to discharge overboard. I don't really plan on taking it the 12nm off the coast required to pump overboard, I just like to know how all the systems are hooked up, if they are functional, where they are and how they're controlled. I'm an aviator by trade.
 
alt said:
PS. You'll see I replaced the OE diesel pre-filters with Racor 500's and removed the OE soundproof lining in the engine bay.... over time that foamy stuff just started to fall apart when you touched it and made a huge mess. I ripped the whole lot out and replaced it with that stuff.... it's proper fire retardant (there's some layer in the middle of it) and very easy to keep clean as you can wipe it down if you do happen to spill something. It was VERY heavy though!
Click to expand...
The much thinner silver on your forward bulkhead? Was it a specialty marine product? I looks very similar to automotive sound deadening.
 
So I got the owners manual for a Z34 from the main Cranchi office in Italy. This is answering many questions but creating others.

The key is in fact the factory setup for an installed generator.
The gray switch panel next to it is the "microbilge pump" as mentioned.
There are three configurations for blackwater. The first discharges everything overboard via the sea cock in the lower hull in the shower sump area. My seacock there is plugged. Next is config A which gathers all gray and black water into the holding tank and then it's emptied via the fitting topside. Finally is config B which has a Y valve in the shower sump area. It discharges either the toilet directly to sea or to the holding tank, and all gray water over the side. Additionally, it has a macerator pump where mine is so that one can pump the holding tank overboard. However, it fails to mention how to actuate that pump. Is there a switch on the Y valve or something?

So I seem to have Config B, but modified.
 
vas said:
guess like the one I used that has a intermediate layer of some v.heavy thing a cross between plastic and lead. V.heavy indeed, v.expensive, but v.good at it's job
Click to expand...
That's the stuff! I had to get it to have my boat coded. Initially in was grinding my teeth, but now that it's in, i'm very happy to have it... lightens up the engine bay, easy to clean etc... but yeah, I do remember my eyes watering when I saw the price of it (I was in my 20's and in college!)
 
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FloridaCranchi34 said:
The much thinner silver on your forward bulkhead? Was it a specialty marine product? I looks very similar to automotive sound deadening.
Click to expand...
It's over 1" thick! Very heavy, very expensive but damn good. I think it's actually marketed at the marine market (hence the price, probably!) - The only Irish supplier I cold find was an online chandlery.

TBH I wouldn't hesitate purchasing it again if I ever bought a boat with that dreaded 'Music Studio' foam - after time the moisture dissolves it... turns to dust when touched (may not be a problem in Florida!)
 
alt said:
It's over 1" thick! Very heavy, very expensive but damn good. I think it's actually marketed at the marine market (hence the price, probably!) - The only Irish supplier I cold find was an online chandlery.

TBH I wouldn't hesitate purchasing it again if I ever bought a boat with that dreaded 'Music Studio' foam - after time the moisture dissolves it... turns to dust when touched (may not be a problem in Florida!)
Click to expand...


I'll definitely keep my eye on it! Seems like it's doing pretty well so far but the boat barely has any hours on it.

I have a new GP pump, a shower pump, a shore cable and adapter, new nav lights and some new boat hook clips on the way. Should make for a fun weekend.
 
Alt,

One more question...where is the seacock for the raw water pump to the engine? The hose curves back and under the engine...is it back there somewhere? I haven't yet stood on my head to see back there.
 
FloridaCranchi34 said:
Alt,

One more question...where is the seacock for the raw water pump to the engine? The hose curves back and under the engine...is it back there somewhere? I haven't yet stood on my head to see back there.
Click to expand...
There is no seacock. That hose goes into your out-drive (the water pick-up is your out-drive). Standard for out-drive configurations (with some exceptions)
 
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