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Caribbean Spirit Yacht Charters
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The Vacation of a Lifetime!
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There are two (72 gallon) fresh water tanks on "Caribbean Spirit". The tanks are connected by a hose near the bottom of the tanks and are designed to feed into each other. Both tanks are filled by a single inlet on the port tank. The fill hole is located on the forward deck (portside) near the mast. Use a winch handle to remove the fill cap. In the saloon, remove the starboard side settee cushion and look forward into the storage locker. You will see the connector hose between the two tanks and the red handle valve (photo above). When the red valve is in the horizontal position, the starboard tank is open. When filling the tanks have this valve open (horitontal) so both tanks can fill. When the tanks are topped off, you will hear water falling into the ocean by way of the overflow vents under the deck. If you are filling from a hose with very good water pressure hold the hose tightly into the fill hole or the water will back up out of the fill hole before the tanks are topped off.
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Here is the best way to manage your water useage:
Keep in mind that water is drawn into the fresh water system through the port tank. After you have filled both tanks, close the the red valve by turning it to the vertical position (photo above). This will "lock" the water in the starboard tank. When you have used all the water in the port tank the faucets will "spit" air. Now you can open the starboard tank and release the remaining (72 gallons) of water into the fresh water system. This method lets you know you are 50% through your available water, and you can plan your water refill accordingly. There is also a water level guage on the electic panel.
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In order to assure you of a trouble free charter, we have installed a back-up fresh water pump. It is very unlikely that you will have to use this, but it is there should the main fresh water pump fail. In the event of a pump failure simply move the electric panel switch labeled "Fresh Water Pump" to "off", and switch the "Backup Fresh Water Pump" to "on". Under the settee cushion (portside) you will see the pumps and valves (photo above). All you need to do is move the valve on the far right from pointing down to pointing up... and you're back in business!
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All sink drains go directly overboard by way of through-hull fittings located above the waterline. The only "grey water" that needs to be pumped overboard is water that ends up on the floor (in the heads) after taking a shower. There is a black button (photo above) located on the sink vanity that you "push and hold" to activate the shower drain pump. When using the shower pumps, be sure that the "Port/Starboard Shower Pumps" switch (on the electrical panel) is in the "On" position.
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The British Virgins Islands do not have pump out stations for "black water" (toilet waste). Fortunately, ocean currents keep flowing through the islands and this keeps the water continually changing throughout the area. "Caribbean Spirit" is equipped with Jabsco manual pump toilets and "black water" holding tanks. When within 1000 yards of the coastline, it is recommended that the holding tanks be used. This is done by closing the tank discharge valve. The valve is closed when the blue handle is perpendicular to the hose. The blue handle valve is open when the valve is "in-line" (photo above) with the discharge hose. Remember that if you use the holding tanks to retain the "black water", you will need to open the blue valve to release the contents of the tanks when you are underway... 1000 yards from the coastline. It is a good idea to pump water into the holding tanks "before and after" opening the discharge valve to help "flush out" the tank.
After your charter, be sure to return "Caribbean Spirit" to the TMM base with the holding tanks empty!
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Toilet Operation... Note that the control valve (for wet bowl/dry bowl) is the gray lever that toggles left to right. There are small pictures that indicate the "wet bowl" and "dry bowl" position. The larger grey handle is the toilet pump.
Before use, ensure that there is water in the bowl. This prevents toilet paper from becoming compacted at the bottom. If the bowl is empty, move the lever to the "wet bowl" position (left), and pump the handle up and down until water enters the bowl. Always operate the pump with long, smooth strokes for efficient and easy operation. After the bowl has water, move the lever to the "dry bowl" position (right). During use, pump as necessary to keep the contents of the bowl low enough for comfort. Use good quality soft household toilet paper, but do not use more than necessary. After use, keep the valve in the "dry bowl" position and pump until the bowl is empty. When the bowl is empty, move the valve to "wet bowl" and continue to pump until all waste has either left the boat, or reached the holding tank (allow 20-25 complete up/down strokes). Then move the valve to "dry bowl" and pump until the bowl is empty. Always leave the bowl empty to minimize odor and spillage and LEAVE THE VALVE IN THE "DRY BOWL" POSITION.
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Caribbean Spirit has a four battery "bank" that is located in the starboard engine compartment. These batteries power all the 12 volt "appliances" including all the lights, auto pilot, pumps and fans. The port engine has a single battery which is used only for starting the port engine. You can use the Link 2000 (photo above) to monitor battery condition. In the photo above you can see that the display reads 12.65 volts on the #1 (starboard side) battery bank. Press and hold #2 and the display will show you the status of the port side battery. The engines should be run for (at least) one hour in the morning, and one hour in the evening, to keep the batteries charged.
Caribbean Spirit has a 2500 watt inverter which can supply 110 volt current to the outlets throughout the boat. The Link 2000 also controls ON and OFF for the inverter. It is important to keep the inverter OFF when it is not being used. This is due to the fact that the inverter draws power from the battery bank even when there are no 110 volt appliances in use. In the photo above the "Invert" light is lit, indicating that the inverter is ON. To shut the inverter OFF simply press and hold the "Invert" button. The light will go out and the inverter will be OFF.
When the inverter light is lit, the inverter is ON and supplying 110 volt power to the electric panel (photo on right).
Batteries (and refrigeration) should be charged for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. When possible, it is best to use the inverter (hair dryers, coffee maker, toaster, etc.) at the same time you are running the engines.
NOTE: During "charging", the engines should be set at 1400 RPMs
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The first three breaker switches are only used when connected to shore power. Since most sailing charters do not involve being connected to shore power, you should just leave these three switches OFF.
After you have turned on the inverter (using the Link 2000), you will have power to the 110 volt electrical panel. To make things simple, just throw ON the switches marked "Cabin Outlets", "Outlets" and "Galley Outlets", and this will supply power to all the outlets in the boat.
You should only have 110 volt appliances plugged in when they are in use, and you should only have the inverter turned ON when you are using 110 volt power. If you keep everything unplugged when not in use, and the inverter OFF unless it is needed, you will greatly extend your battery power and also extend the life of the battery bank.
If you turn the inverter and circuit breakers ON, and you still do not have power to an outlet, check the GFI (circuit breaker) located right on surface of the outlets. If the small circuit breaker is tripped, push the RESET button on the outlet. If this doesn't work check all the GFCI breakers in the boat. The outlet you are using may be "downstream" of an outlet that has a tripped GFCI breaker.
Regularly checking battery status, and also checking to see that the inverter is OFF when 110 power is not being used, should be part of the Captain's ongoing duties.
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