NW Explorations
DREAM CATCHER OPERATING MANUAL
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11
1B4: Engine Room & Utility Room
Preferred access to the engine room is through
either the floor hatch by the helm seat in the
salon leading directly to the Engine Room, or
by going forward and lifting the stairs at the
aft end of the companionway, which will lead
you through the utility room first. AC and DC
breakers in the ship’s power panels turn on the
lighting for both; with the AC breaker on, the
AC lights are controlled by a switch under the
forward, starboard corner of the hatch. The
rooms have full stand-up height to access all
engines and systems.
Note: If you are going to be in the engine room a long time, use the under-stair
access and
leave the hatch down to prevent falling in!
Assuming you enter from the companionway, you will pass through the Utility Room.
To starboard is a small sink, then the Washer and Dryer. On the opposite wall there is
a cabinet for supply storage. On the aft wall a door leads to the engine room.
In the engine room, as you proceed aft, you
will see the forward bulkhead ladder from the
salon hatch with an AC outlet immediately to
starboard of it; a handheld fire extinguisher, and
the wiring interconnection panel, under which
is the horn air compressor and a connection
for an air hose (stored in the 20kw generator
compartment). On the wall is the starboard
engine’s coolant expansion tank, and below
it are that engine’s seawater strainer. Moving
aft from the wiring panel are “black boxes” for
the electronics, the dinghy davit main switch (normally “ON”) and then the boat’s
NewMar battery charger. Mounted on the floor outboard of the engine is the 8KW,
first of two, Westerbeke generator; just above and aft of is an air conditioning air
handler.
On the aft bulkhead of the engine room, to starboard, is the sight tube showing the
fuel level in the starboard tank, and by it, and engine room exhaust fan. Just inboard
of these is the “room” that houses the 20KW, second, Westerbeke Generator and the two small batteries, one each used
to start each Westerbeke.
Below the generator room is a worktable, and below it are the fuel manifold and a number of thru-hulls/sea strainers
for the air conditioning cooling water, the generators’ cooling; and salt water wash-down water. A large electric pump
provides air conditioning water. Mounted on the bulkhead itself are several battery main on-off switches for the starting
and propulsion batteries, all clearly marked. Also on the wall under the table is the fuel manifold.
The salon floor engine room hatch.
Note strap to hold it open. You may
prefer entering by the forward stairs.
Looking down the E/R
companionway steps
The hand-washing sink.
The electric washer in the Utility Room.
