MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE DETAILS

AIR CONDITIONING There are two air conditioners on DREAM AWAY. One is a 9K BTU system made by Eastern Marine Corporation (no longer in business), which is located in the master stateroom, under the bunk. This unit has electric heat when needed. The second air conditioner is a 16K BTU CruiseAir StowAway system with a digital SMX control system. This unit is located between the main salon and the mid-cabin. Because of its location, the CruiseAir unit can actually cool or heat the entire boat, comfortably. This unit is a reverse cycle unit.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS There is an automatic Kidde FyreWatch automatic extinguishing system in the engine room. This system uses the new FE-241 extinguishing agent. There are four FireMaster USCG approved fire extinguishers aboard DREAM AWAY. A 1-A:10-B:C unit is located in the master stateroom, a B:C 1 unit is located in the garage, a B:C 1 unit is located at the companionway just outside the galley, and a B:C 1 unit is located in the mid-cabin.

HYDRAULIC STEERING DREAM AWAY has Wagner Type N hydraulic wheel steering. In 1997, all new pressure hoses were installed from the pump in the cockpit to the ram at the rudder. This also included the "T" hoses to the autopilot electric hydraulic pump. In November of 2004, the manual hydraulic steering pump was cleaned and rebuilt. A by-pass valve was installed at the hydraulic ram on the rudder. This by-pass valve allowed the use of the emergency tiller. In January of 2005, the hydraulic ram that drives the rudder shaft was rebuilt; and, the Raymarine Type 2 autopilot electric hydraulic pump was also rebuilt. In March of 2007, a new emergency tiller was purchased and installed. This new tiller was as long as could be accommadated in the aft cabin. In January of 2012 a new Aqua Meter Compass was purchased for the aft cabin. This compass will be used as the steering compass, if the emergency tiller has to be used.

BILGE PUMPS The main bilge pump is an electric, automatic, submersible Rule 2000 gph bilge pump that has a three-way switch. This pump is located in the bilge. The switch is the auto/off/manual type that has a spring-return from manual, and is located on the binnacle. It is wired directly to the house battery, through a fuse. It also has a float switch located at the base of the pump. There is a Rule 3700 gph electric, automatic, submersible bilge pump. This pump is located in the bilge. This pump also has a three-way switch that is the auto/off/manual type with a spring-return from manual. The manual switch for this pump is also located on the binnacle, and is wired directly to the house battery, through a fuse. The float switch for this pump is located on top of the pump. The Rule 3700 gph pump has an audible alarm that sounds when the float switch activates. There is an Edson 18 gpm model #217 brass manual bilge pump located in the galley, under the deck. This pump has a 1.5" inlet located in the bilge, and a 1.5" outlet that is connected to a seacock on the hull under the galley sink. The pump lever provided with the pump is way to short to be effective if you had to actually use the pump for any length of time. I have two longer pump handles stored in the garage, that can be used. These handles enable you to stand up, and still actuate the pump. There is a electric Jabsco model 36600 bilge pump, located in the galley under the sink. The 3/4" pickup is located in the bilge, and a 3/4" outlet that is connected to a seacock on the hull under the galley sink.. This unit is switched on and off at the electrical panel.

ENGINE The main engine is a Ford Lehman 65-horsepower diesel engine (engine number 4D220). In 2002, an AMSOIL dual-filtration system was added to the engine. This system, using synthetic oil and the dual-filtration, makes it unnecessary to change the oil. One just changes the filters and keeps the oil topped off! In 2003, the injector pump and the injectors were rebuilt; and a new double-pulley was installed on the Powerline alternator (Series 24), which, in turn, necessitated a new pulley being installed on the front of the engine. The new pulley has one sheave for the water pump, and two sheaves for the alternator. There is a main engine over-temperature and a low oil pressure indicator/sound alarm located in the cockpit, on the binnacle. The engine and transmission have been cleaned and painted along with the newly cleaned and painted bilge. The transmission's heat-exchanger was replaced in June of 2003. The old-heat exchanger was repaired and kept as a spare. A new engine heat-exchanger was installed in 2007. The replaced heat-exchanger was also cleaned and repaired, and kept as a spare. A new Norscot drip less shaft seal was installed in 2003. This drip less seal is lubricated from a reservoir of transmission fluid. In conjunction with the Norscot drip less shaft seal, a new propeller shaft was also installed. A new cutlass bearing was installed in 2003, during the March 2003 haul out. The main engine instrument panel is in the cockpit.

GENERATOR In March of 2004, a Northern Lights 5 KW generator was installed. This unit had 48 hours on its engine when purchased. When I installed the generator, I installed a second AMSOIL dual-filtration system on the engine. This system, using synthetic oil and the dual-filtration, makes it unnecessary to change the oil. One just changes the filters and keeps the oil topped off! This second AMSOIL system is the same as the one installed on the main engine. I did this so I only have one set of spare filters for both engines. In 2003, the injector pump had been rebuilt and the injectors were tested and found to be good. The generator's Control Panel is installed in the aft cabin, above the vanity and below the mirror. There is a generator over-temperature and low oil pressure indicator/sound alarm located in the cockpit, on the binnacle.

WATER MAKER In November 2004, I designed, constructed, and installed a water maker. This unit was built with advice from friends, and from a company called Great Water, Inc., from whom I also purchased some parts. I have named the unit a "JK15", because J and K are my initials, and the unit can produce up to 15 gallons of fresh water per hour. The construction and installation of the water maker are covered on the Water Maker Installation page.

In 2009, I completely refurbished the water maker because I was having some problems with the obsolete CAT high pressure pump. I had to replace the pump, and the new pump was a different size. This meant a lot of changes, which I undertook. I have not updated the web page to reflect the changes, but it is on the list.

SCUBA COMPRESSOR In January 2009 a Bauer Junior II SCUBA compressor was purchased for DREAM AWAY. This is a 110 VAC unit, so it is powered by the onboard generator.

TENDER, DINGHY AND OUTBOARDS On board DREAM AWAY we are well equiped in this area. We have a Livingston 10' hard tender that is our main transportation when anchored out, or in the Rio Dulce. We also have a West Marine AL-290 inflatable dinghy as a backup. the Livingston is kept on the Davits on the stern of DREAM AWAY. The West Marine AL-290 is stored in the forward deck box.

We have a total of three outboards on DREAM AWAY. Two 15 HP Yamaha two cycle outboards and one six HP Mercury outboard, also two cycle. The Yamaha outboards have been very reliable, and they can be fixed almost anywhere. Two years ago I was able to get an electric start kit for one of the Yamaha's. I installed the electric start kit on the best outboard, and installed a battery and battery box in the Livingston tender. Now Kitty is able to start and drive the Livingston tender on her own.