New member, many questions!

[Kevin S]

Hello everyone! Just recently getting back into sailing after a long hiatus. I got bit by the sailing bug about 10 years ago, and after much research, decided the 26x would be a fun boat to learn on, so I bought a used 2001 model. Boy, hindsight is 20/20, isn't it! Despite the "learning curve" I succeeded. Due to life being life however, the boat has been sitting on it's trailer for the last 3+ years with little more than hull and engine maintenance being done. I never did any of the mods I had planned on.
This year things are awesome and the boat is going in in a couple weeks. Over the last month I have been doing research on what I would "need" for dock life. Shore power is the obvious 1st choice. I currently have 2 batteries, 4 pos. fused switch panel and batt selector switch. That's how I bought the boat. The shore power unit I have is an "all in one" set from EzAcDc company. I wouldn't buy that one today, nor would I recommend it, but it's what I have. The first question is; where is the best place to install the shore plug? I was thinking the port side, just aft of the black window stripe, on the white part. Looking at it from the inside though, I'm not sure how to snake the cables down thru to under the galley unit (I will be mounting the main breaker panel on the aft side of the galley, above the battery seat). I will worry about running the plugs after I resolve this issue.
Second question: I've poured through this forum (and others) looking for where to mount my GPS antenna. A flat, unobstructed location is what the manual says. I thought directly on the deck just fore of the mast. That way I could still use it for the times I steam without the mast up.
Thanks in advance, and please remember I have a 2001 26x. I love (spelled e-n-v-y) your M's, but I need to do what's practical for my hull layout.

[Chinook]

On my 2002 26X there is a cover plate which is screwed and glued into place just above my head when I lean into the king berth area, just behind the battery box. If yours is like mine, the plate is hard to remove, since it was sealed with 5200 caulk. A putty knife and slow steady pull did the trick for me. Once it's off, you can pull out floatation blocks and gain access to wires coming off a shore power outlet. Easy run to the battery box from there. As for me, I have never installed a shore power outlet and simply run a heavy electrical cord into the cabin between the sliding and complanionway hatches, and the plug in to the charger plug fitting. As for GPS antenna, I favor keeping things as simple as possible. The Garmin 541 I have includes a builtin antenna, and it receives fine, even with the sunbrella surround in place. With limited space to install things, avoiding the need for a separate GPS antenna seems a good idea.

[JohnCT]

Kevin
I'm in CT also, spend a lot of time on the sound.

Feel free to contact me

[Kevin S]

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure of which panel you are talking about, but I did take a pic. I think that is further down the gunwale than I want to drill. Reading your post did prompt me to get my fat a@@ back out and look at it from a different angle. I'm thinking behind the stripe and follow fore through the double hull to the down channel (?) fore of the galley, than back under the galley to the aft partition. Not sure where to mount the isolator yet. I was thinking under the galley against the hull wall, but I'm not sure where the double hull starts. (just inspired me for my signature!).
as far as the GPS.....hmmmm, not too sure yet. I have a 6 pin cannon plug that I am replacing the stock mast plug with. I have no problem with shooting wires, so mounting comes down to fabricating brackets and such. As far as GPS goes; When I bought the boat many moons ago, I picked up a GPS on sale through Amazon. Got a Humminbird 955c for $499 w/o the cards. My son and I just mounted the unit yesterday. Running power is easy. Figuring out where to stick the puck is another story. I thought of fabricating a small pole to mount right where the boom rest goes, but wasn't sure if that would work.
OK hope I did the picture thing right (my son not helping me with that!) Pic 1- Plug mounting location (right in center of pic, aft of black stripe) Pic 2- The inside of that area; behind fuse panel Pic 3- under the windows and down this channel(?)

[Kevin S]

Is this the cover you mentioned?

I need to update my contact info for my profile. Lots of great advice (and People) on here.

[JohnCT]

If you need help, let me know, I'm getting back to work after an unplanned "vacation" from life.

I do a lot of marine work

[RGF]

I mounted my shorepower on port side where i could reach it by removing the fuse panel. Ran wiring down hull liner and vertical stiffener "chase". Galvanic isolator is mounted on board mounted in starter battery area. Just one possibility.....
Sorry, can't help with the GPS mount. Mine is built into my Raymarine E7D. If i add one I will probably mount it on my radar arch.

[DHK79]

On my , I mounted the external GPS antenna with a rail mount to the aft of one of the rear cockpit rails (behind where the bimini folds). The antenna cable was run through a clam shell near the top of the gunnel, fed up through the pedistal, and out another clam shell.

Doug (DHK79)

[Kevin S]

Thanks for all the advice. Installed shore power plug aft cabin port side and managed to (JUST!) reach the aft part of the galley within the 10' limit. Started rewiring the DC to accommodate the GPS and new mast top light. Once I started shooting wires, I found the previous owner had used 18 ga wire as the primary to the switch panel, and the grounding buss was a bolt with the wires attached via ring terminals, and a nut to hold them all in place. Soooo....2 days later.... all I have to say is thank god for fish tape! Now we have 10 ga pos and neg wires running to the switch panel, all lights are now using 16 ga, and today I will be installing a proper grounding buss under the galley. Still need to figure out how to deal with securing the batteries. I saw on here someone had built a shelf in the bottom of battery area, but I'm not that talented at making things from fiberglass.
Does anyone have an opinion on bilge pump systems, and do you need a pump for each side of the water ballast tank?
Thanks!!

[Chinook]

I'm pretty sure that ground wire setup you describe wasn't installed by a PO, but rather by the factory, which used lamp cord wire to wire the boat. Behind the little stock fuse panel the ground wires were ganged together with ring terminals and a bolt/nut like you mention. My opinion on bilge pumps is that they really are of marginal value on a 26X. You don't have to worry about leaking packing gland around the prop shaft, and there aren't the usual collection of thru hull fittings to be concerned about. The real risk of substantial water in the bilge would be due to a hole in the hull, and that would likely exceed the capability of any bilge pump you're likely to install. You'll be relying on the boat's flotation foam at that point. Just my opinion.

[Russ]

My opinion on bilge pumps is that they really are of marginal value on a 26X. You don't have to worry about leaking packing gland around the prop shaft, and there aren't the usual collection of thru hull fittings to be concerned about. The real risk of substantial water in the bilge would be due to a hole in the hull, and that would likely exceed the capability of any bilge pump you're likely to install. You'll be relying on the boat's flotation foam at that point. Just my opinion.

Agreed.

There is no place for seawater to enter (no thru hull fittings). The only water is rain water which a sponge works well. A pump isn't going to get all the rain water out and you'll need a sponge anyway. There is no single lowest point (bilge). So why bother. You get a hole in the boat, have a VHF ready to call for help.

--Russ

[Kevin S]

LOL Chinook; "lamp cord wire" That is a spot on description! In any event, it has all been replaced with marine grade 16 ga wire. As far as the bilge water goes...I am definitely getting rainwater in the bilge, on both sides to the outside of the ballast channels. Center part is dry. Guess I'll have to start tracking down the tired screw holes and patching them.
Any advice on a battery charger/conditioner? Right now I'm using an automotive trickle charger for the sake of expedience. I have seen some charging systems in the forums but I'm not sure if I need anything so elaborate. I will not be overnighting (outside of the marina) this year, and probably not anytime in the near future. I currently run 2 batteries, but the few luxuries, wine fridge, tv, stereo, mini a/c, are all 110 and mainly for dock use. No inverter yet so....
Anyway, we launch on Monday the 13th, so I'm sure by Tuesday I'll have a list of more stuff that needs attention. Having fun though. Thanks for the help.

[Chinook]

The most likely source of rainwater entering the bilge is where the chain plates go through the deck. The shrouds act like rain gutters, and the chain plate joint moves enough to allow small gaps to develop. Silicon sealant was originally recommended to me, as opposed to 3M 5200 or even 4200 because it's easier to clean out and redo. A few years ago I tried a product called Sugru, which is a moldable putty like material. It seems to be doing a good job. Regarding chargers, I recently looked into replacing my 13 year old charger, which was installed when I first bought my boat. Todd at Blue Water Yachts recommended going with the ProMariner ProSport 12 charger, which can charge two battery banks, and which is smaller in size than other comparable chargers. Inches count when trying to fit things like chargers into tight spaces.