C-28 Mod's

[Bob/Bradenton]

A couple mod's that I've done to this some what, brand new boat: (2019 C-28)

-Moved the underwater blue LED lights to under the swim platform. Same effect but now no barnacles.
-Cut the entire fiberglass area out from under the rear seat. So instead of two very small ports, now I have full access to the very important gear that is under that seat. Especially the Trim Tab/Engine Hatch hydraulic pump, which there is no way to properly access/re-fill it with those small ports. Now, full access. Use a cheap "Ketchup" plastic bottle to refill the ATF fluid in the pump. No spills.
-Replaced both Trim Tab actuators. About $100/each. Blew out the bottom of one, no idea why. Had the boat hauled to do that but it could have been done in the water. The top of the Actuator where it goes through the hull is not under water. And there is enough slack in the inside line that it can be pulled out of the transom for the new Actuator.
-Replaced the auto-sensing rear bilge pump with a separate flapper type pump. Made a mount for both.
-Added a digital voltmeter (cheap on Amazon) to constantly read the House Battery voltage. One back by the inside sink pump switch (taps into that power source) and one at the helm. Easy and can be constantly monitored.
-Added a Galvanic Isolator. Cheap and easy to install in the Thruster/Engine Start Battery compartment. Somewhere there is a huge leak, either on the boat or my dock and within three weeks all of the new zincs were gone. Now with the Isolator, they are fine. (But I do keep the boat unplugged from shore power now).
-Added a fan to each side facing the pilot and mate seat. This is Florida, need the air flow. Easy to install.
-Added mounts on the helm for an iPad and iPhone. The iPad is used as a GPS backup and the iPhone mainly for Pandora linking to the Fusion radio.
-Added the same type of fan in the Head.
-Restitched the entire Bimini top. All of the threads (wrong thread used from the factory?) gave out and it was falling apart. Almost new boat.
-Larger spade type Ronca anchor. That tiny Bruce style would not grab the hard sand here. Now works great.
-Changed out the stock AGM batteries. The House side would not hold a charge so I replaced all four with InterState G-31's, Deep Cycle for the two House and Starting for the Thruster and Engine Start.
-To change the charger parameters, you have to access the charger, which is installed way back next to the hot water heater. Very dumb place for the factory to put it. Extended the wires and moved it next to the Auto-Pilot pump. Easy to change now. Plain sight.
-Moved the Solar Panel/Rack forward. Another very stupid factory design. If the sun is from the rear, the radar dome blocks the solar panel. Plus the four hatches won't open all the way, almost not at all. Extended the cables and moved the rack forward. Easy to do. Now no shading and all the hatches can open all the way.
-Replaced the bow thruster prop/leg. Under warranty but I had to haul the boat to do the work. Easy to do. Access to the inside bow thruster motor is good, but you are hanging upside down. Buy the special ratchet wrench if your boat didn't come with one.
-I remove the 15 amp helm fuse to fully turn off the fridge. I will add a heavy duty switch at that fuse panel to do the same.
-Removed that stupid Wine-Cooler. It doesn't really cool since it is a Peltier effect chip. It draws 4 amps when it is ON and it will be ON most of the time. Very inefficient. Now, lots of storage space.
-When I first got the boat I had added traditional St. Croix swing davits to the swim platform. I have photos if anyone wants to do this. But took them back off since it added another five feet to the boat when the Dyer Dhow was swinging on them and I'm in a condo "small boat" dock.
-Painted that dark blue (faded/2 years) swim platform storage box top "white". Looks a lot better and no waxing.
-Added zincs to the Trim Tabs. Salt water use.
-Added a pancake zinc to the rudder, lower edge.

Just thought that I'd outline some of the mod's that I've done to my new boat. Bob/Bradenton

 

[Rockjumper]

Bob,

When you installed the isolator did you move the batteries out of the way temporarily and tuck it back in the corner? I'm installing one in the next week or so and haven't decided whether to put it where you did or, under the stove.

Had to replace the stern thruster gear leg on my C28, it's a PITA, think my ribs are still bruised. It's disappointing those things fail so quickly.

 

[Bob/Bradenton]

Hi Rock,

I didn't need to move the batteries out of the way, lots of room in front of them on the small bulkhead that crosses the boat.

That's where I mounted mine. Just clip the wire ties and let the wire bundle separate. Located the Ground, added some more wire to it of the same gauge and mounted it on that cross bulkhead. Very easy. The advantage of mounting there is that you can easily track the Ground wire. As I recall, there are a couple 110 volt lines under the oven and if you get the wrong Ground, the Isolator won't do anything. Bob/Bradenton

 

[oberrys]

Bob,

I too removed the wine cooler and use the space for storage. Did you find a suitable door for the space?

Shaun

 

[CaptT]

Hey Bob, you really did a lot of great improvements on your boat!
I'm thinking about painting the top of the swim platform box too. The Florida sun fades it faster than I can wax it! What paint did you use on it to get it to match the boat's white color?
Thanks, Terry

 

[Bob/Bradenton]

HI Terry,

My boat is the dark blue, therefore the dark blue storage compartment top.

It kept fading so I lightly sanded it and painted it white with normal spray Krylon. Just wrapped with newspaper and a bit of tape and sprayed away. (Non windy day). I kept the bottom, blue. No paint.

After six months, it's still "white", not like the constantly fading blue.

Bob/Bradenton

 

[Bob/Bradenton]

Hi Shaun,

I kept the former Wine Cooler space open. I keep cleaning supplies in there and having them somewhat exposed, doesn't seem to matter much. I'll probably install two eye-screws and a short bungee cord across the front to keep them from falling out in a rough sea condition.

I did head over to DollarTree and buy a couple of the dark grey floor mats and cut them up and glued them to the inside of the box to cover the plywood and raw fiberglass.

Bob/Bradenton

 

[Gypsy]

Bob,
I to have a 2019 C28. Just finished two improvements you might be interested in. I installed windshield washers. When you get an occasional salt water spray and it dries, the windshield get a film on it that is difficult to see through. I found myself throwing water on the windshield so that the wipers could do their job. Now I just press a button. I mounted the reservoir behind the mirror in the head. Easy to fill with the sink hose. Easy to hook up power. Not so easy to rout the hose and install the spray nozzles.
The other thing I did was to install a rear view camera with a remote monitor that I can view at the helm or on the dash of my truck when hauling the boat.

 

[Bob/Bradenton]

Hi Bill,

Great idea on the windshield washers. I wanted to do that but had no idea where to mount the tank. I assume that your tank has its own motor/pump. Any links on where you got yours.

Regarding the rear view camera, I installed a "Golf Cart" rear view mirror on the center wood post between the two windshields. I was originally looking for a boat rear view mirror but those are way too small. A golf cart mirror is huge. Very good view.

Thanks, Bob/Bradenton

PS: One more mod that I just did was the purchase of a standard hooped boat boarding ladder. I use it to climb onto the boat roof. The hoops go over the cabin top railing and there is enough grab there that it is easy to climb up and down.