Altair options
Posted by Chris Randolph on April 23, 19100 at 18:20:24:
Hello everyone, and I was pleased to find this message board in my web browsing
My name is Chris Randolph, and I just sent in a deposit on an Altair. I live in
Chicago, but will keep the boat on the east coast- mainly for 3-12 day cruises
in the Chesapeake Bay area (for the near future, anyway- I still have to work
for a living!)
My question is this: I am going through the options list (I'm going with the
classic), and would like some advice on the pros and cons of the various
packages. I was actually planning on getting all five option packages, and
wonder if anyone has any comments re these. Also planning on the hardtop bimini
and surround. Additional equipment that I'm considering and would welcome
comments on include:[/i]
Heart Freedom20 inverter charger (vs Newmar)
Cabin fans (more than one per cabin, galley, saloon?)
Cockpit and fwd cushions (are these closed cell- quality?)
Asymmetrical spinnaker
How about the upholstery quality- are the mattresses comfortable?
Any recs on a dinghy for the 32? Can you fit a 9' with the standard davits?
How about factory installation of heat/ac? Thinking that I'd mainly use this
with shore power, but anyone have a generator on a 32 and have comments re this
This might help extend my sailing season somewhat
Any comments re upgrading the electrical system beyond the "galley package"?
I realize that I'm asking a lot of questions, and I'll be talking with Rory and
the Chesapeake Catamaran Center dealer, but I'd love some feedback from owners
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Follow Ups:
Re: Altair options Kevin Smith 18:39:49 4/30/100 (0)
Re: Altair options Martin McKim 12:04:22 4/25/100 (0)
Re: Altair options Dan Hofmann 05:13:56 4/25/100 (0)
Re: Altair options Ron Wolff 09:04:35 4/24/100 (0)
Re: Altair options Dale Koonce 08:59:41 4/24/100 (1)
Re: Altair options Chris Randolph 05:31:07 4/29/100 (0)
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Re: Altair options
Posted by Kevin Smith on April 30, 19100 at 18:39:49:
In Reply to: Altair options posted by Chris Randolph on April 23, 19100 at
18:20:24:
Chris:[/i]
You say you are in Chicago. I am in Chicago as well. Phenix is now docked at
Burnham Harbor ... moving to the new DuSable Harbor by Navy Pier on May 15
If you'd like to come down and take a look at my configuration and have a chat,
let me know
- Kevin Smith
s/v Phenix, PDQ32 #7
Chicago
Follow Ups:
Re: Altair options
Posted by Martin McKim on April 25, 19100 at 12:04:22:
In Reply to: Altair options posted by Chris Randolph on April 23, 19100 at
18:20:24:
Congratulations on your new purchase. We own hull #31 and have some of the
factory options, including instruments, refrigeration, hardtop and solar panels,
all of which we regard as essential. I've also fitted a Heart/West Marine 15
inverter/charger, salon fans, radar and chartplotter. Future upgrades include
generator, air conditioning and watermaker
The addition of extra weight will impact sailing performance, but isn't
everything in life a compromise? The same applies to factory fitted options
They will cost more than doing them yourself, but the factory will do them to a
high standard, warrantee them, and save you the risk of raised blood pressure
and prematurely greying hair
The standard upholstery is covered in Sunbrella, which is ok, but can't really
be described as sumptuous or plush. We find the standard mattresses too thin and
will be having a custom one made for our cabin, which will fold to allow easy
access to the storage area below
Finally, I've found the people at PDQ and Chesapeake Catamaran Center to be both
fair and easy to deal with. Feel free to contact me for any further information
on our boat. There's also an owners club that worth joining.
Follow Ups:
Re: Altair options
Posted by Dan Hofmann on April 25, 19100 at 05:13:56:
In Reply to: Altair options posted by Chris Randolph on April 23, 19100 at
18:20:24:
Congratulations! We have Duet hull 22. We have the clasic with 6 inch foam an
electric plug in the sleeping quarters (port side) is a good idea. We have most
of the options the others mentioned. We added our 2 extra 6 volt batteries in
the bottom of the step going into the cockpit. It is empty and a good place to
put that extra weight. We can also store all our dock lines in that spot. Rory
can tell you how they put in a hatch. We have two solar panels. We have an Apex
with a vinyl roll up floor. I got rid of the RIB because of the wieght. The
boats are very weight sensative if you are looking for sailing performance. We
also have a Genecker with a snuffer shoot and it works well down wind
We also have an owners association if you are interested in joing. Let me know
at Duet@coastalnet.com We put out a News letter every quarter
Dan Hofmann
Follow Ups:
Re: Altair options
Posted by Ron Wolff on April 24, 19100 at 09:04:35:
In Reply to: Altair options posted by Chris Randolph on April 23, 19100 at
18:20:24:
Welcome Chris!
I have Altair #29,Light Flight. Don't remember the packages. We love the hard
top. (Solar panels on top.) Freedom 20 works well for us. 2 cabin fans plus one
in each of the berths works great here in GA. Talk to Simon at PDQ about a
Spinnaker. I just ordered a symmetrical. Wife and I find the mattresses very
comfy. Chesapeake Cat Ctr. put in Heat/AC. We love it and use a lot at dock
only. Can't stand Generator noise at anchor. Best Wishes on the new boat!
Follow Ups:
Re: Altair options
Posted by Dale Koonce on April 24, 19100 at 08:59:41:
In Reply to: Altair options posted by Chris Randolph on April 23, 19100 at
18:20:24:
Hi,
I've got a 32, hull #36 so it is only two years old
Have you definitly decided against the diesels? If not you should re-consider
Iv'e got the diesels and they are great. Very low fuel consumption and they do a
great job of recharging the batteris
Get the inverter. It is not a hard installation job. I installed mine with a
Link 2000. I also upgraded the house battery bank. The two golf cart batteries
were not cutting it even with very low usage. I installed 6 6-volt golf cart
batteries and now I have plenty of power
The cabin fans are a must. I have one in each cabin and one in the galley. Make
sure that they install a quality fan not the cheap ones. I've got the cheap ones
and they make quite a racket when running
I'm not sure what the spinnaker costs as it was not offered when I got my 32. I
just ordered one from JSI. IU haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet but
I'm sure that I will this summer on the Chesapeake Bay
The upholstery quality is OK. It is the standard Sunbrella fabric. We went to a
Sunbrella dealer so that we could look at all the options as to color, stipes,
etc. You should also consider upgrading the mattresses to 6" rather than the 4"
standard. We really appreciate the extra 2 inches
As to the dinghy. We have a 10' 6" RIB on the standard davists and have bnot had
any problems. I did add a new block on the engine end of the dinghy so that I
could get a better lifting ratio
I don't have any reccomendations for you about the heat/AC. I don't have either
As to the elctrical system, I got the standard for an LRC and it is adequate. I
will say that PDQ does an excellent job of labeling everythin. I have tried to
also label everthing as I install something or add (like a microwave) anything
You may want to get a lebeler so as to keep up with the jobs. It has certainly
helped me
Any more questions, just let me know
Dale
Follow Ups:
Re: Altair options Chris Randolph 05:31:07 4/29/100 (0)
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Re: Altair options
Posted by Chris Randolph on April 29, 19100 at 05:31:07:
In Reply to: Re: Altair options posted by Dale Koonce on April 24, 19100 at
08:59:41:
Thanks to everyone for their comments! That's just the sort of information I
need. As I start to work through some of these choices, I'll have some
additional questions, I'm sure
Thanks again,
Chris