We Almost Cooked Our Electrical System… So We Fixed It (MJ Sailing - Episode 375)
Save $30 on your Airlock purchase of $199 or more by using code MJSAILING or our link below. If you’ve ever dealt with that musty “boat smell,” this is one of the easiest ways to keep your air fresh and clean on board.
https://www.airlockusa.com/?sca_ref=11115718.vGu5Y94mh5w&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=affiliatelink&utm_campaign=prom
This week we’re diving deeper into the electrical system on our catamaran build—and realizing just how much heat these components can generate if we’re not careful.
As we start laying out the electrical cabinet, Matt walks through the placement of our DC-to-DC converters, solar controllers, and Victron components, all while trying to manage airflow, spacing, and long-term serviceability. With multiple high-load systems running in a confined space, keeping everything cool becomes just as important as getting it wired correctly.
We’re also making progress on the hybrid system, mapping out cooling lines, mounting components, and figuring out the best placement for heavier items like the isolation transformer to help keep the boat properly balanced.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a build episode without a few setbacks. A missed paint step means pulling everything back out, and some of our original layout plans had to change once we saw how everything actually fit in place.
It’s all part of the process—but step by step, the systems that will power this boat are starting to come together.
We hope you enjoy!!
Much love,
Jessica & Matt
Amazon Wishlist
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here!
https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing
Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/
Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.
To join the Patreon ranks, please visit:
/ mjsailing
or
Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing
or
Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
Delivery address:
Kentmorr Marina
910 Kentmorr Road
Stevensville, MD 21666
Thank you!, Matt & Jessica
Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt.
00:00 Intro & 5-Year Build Reality Check
00:22 Electrical Cabinet Planning Begins
01:10 DC-to-DC Controllers & Heat Concerns
02:05 Spacing, Airflow & Mounting Strategy
03:15 Prioritizing High-Load Components
04:25 Solar Controllers & System Layout
05:27 What Causes “Boat Smell”? (Airlock Integration)
06:15 How Airlock Ionization Works
07:10 Simple Install Inside AC System
08:06 Electrical Cabinet Layout Continued
08:45 Cerbo GX & Communication Wiring
09:30 Designing for Serviceability & Access
10:20 Rethinking Airflow (No Door Design)
11:50 Ventilation Strategy & Heat Extraction
12:40 Hybrid Motor Controller Placement Problem
13:30 Access vs Space Tradeoffs
14:20 Wiring Runs & Temporary Mounting Plan
15:38 Hybrid System Plumbing Explained
16:20 Seawater Cooling Loop Walkthrough
17:15 Coolant Loop & System Flow
18:10 Engine Bay Layout Progress
19:00 Weight Distribution & System Placement
20:00 Isolation Transformer Relocation
21:00 ABYC Standards & Shore Power Setup
22:10 Mounting with Adhesive Studs
23:52 Wrapping Up & Next Steps
Music:
A Travelers' Gloom - Dew of Light
Gemini - Nevin
Sunset Road - Marc Torch
Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays
Camera equipment used:
Google Pixel 9
DJI Action 4
Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown,
Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989
Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)
Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's
Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro
Website: http://www.mjsailing.com
Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing
Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing
& / mj_wayfaring
MJ Sailing
Sailing the world to see the world! We're a couple of high school sweethearts in our late 30's that have been on the move for 9 years; creating videos of the ups, the downs, our triumphs and our trials. After circumnavigating the North Atlantic in our last boat Serendipity, (1989 Sabre Targa 34), we took on a 2 year complete refit of our new boat Elements of Life - a custom aluminum 37' monohull. After sailing her to the Arctic, we sold her in 2020 to begin our newest project of building a 42 ft catamaran. Check out our website for more information, and support us by subscribing to our channel and liking our videos. Want to support the production of our videos? - Become part of our Patreon family and get videos before anyone else! - https://patreon.com/mjsailing - Make a donation through the PayPal link on our website - http://mjsailing.com - General inquires, please contact us at: [email protected]
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
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Save $30 on your Airlock purchase of $199 or more by using code MJSAILING or our link below. If you’ve ever dealt with that musty “boat smell,” this is one of the easiest ways to keep your air fresh and clean on board.
https://www.airlockusa.com/?sca_ref=11115718.vGu5Y94mh5w&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=affiliatelink&utm_campaign=prom
This week we’re diving deeper into the electrical system on our catamaran build—and realizing just how much heat these components can generate if we’re not careful.
As we start laying out the electrical cabinet, Matt walks through the placement of our DC-to-DC converters, solar controllers, and Victron components, all while trying to manage airflow, spacing, and long-term serviceability. With multiple high-load systems running in a confined space, keeping everything cool becomes just as important as getting it wired correctly.
We’re also making progress on the hybrid system, mapping out cooling lines, mounting components, and figuring out the best placement for heavier items like the isolation transformer to help keep the boat properly balanced.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a build episode without a few setbacks. A missed paint step means pulling everything back out, and some of our original layout plans had to change once we saw how everything actually fit in place.
It’s all part of the process—but step by step, the systems that will power this boat are starting to come together.
We hope you enjoy!!
Much love,
Jessica & Matt
Amazon Wishlist
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here!
https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing
Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/
Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.
To join the Patreon ranks, please visit:
/ mjsailing
or
Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing
or
Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls…
Delivery address:
Kentmorr Marina
910 Kentmorr Road
Stevensville, MD 21666
Thank you!, Matt & Jessica
Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt.
00:00 Intro & 5-Year Build Reality Check
00:22 Electrical Cabinet Planning Begins
01:10 DC-to-DC Controllers & Heat Concerns
02:05 Spacing, Airflow & Mounting Strategy
03:15 Prioritizing High-Load Components
04:25 Solar Controllers & System Layout
05:27 What Causes “Boat Smell”? (Airlock Integration)
06:15 How Airlock Ionization Works
07:10 Simple Install Inside AC System
08:06 Electrical Cabinet Layout Continued
08:45 Cerbo GX & Communication Wiring
09:30 Designing for Serviceability & Access
10:20 Rethinking Airflow (No Door Design)
11:50 Ventilation Strategy & Heat Extraction
12:40 Hybrid Motor Controller Placement Problem
13:30 Access vs Space Tradeoffs
14:20 Wiring Runs & Temporary Mounting Plan
15:38 Hybrid System Plumbing Explained
16:20 Seawater Cooling Loop Walkthrough
17:15 Coolant Loop & System Flow
18:10 Engine Bay Layout Progress
19:00 Weight Distribution & System Placement
20:00 Isolation Transformer Relocation
21:00 ABYC Standards & Shore Power Setup
22:10 Mounting with Adhesive Studs
23:52 Wrapping Up & Next Steps
Music:
A Travelers’ Gloom – Dew of Light
Gemini – Nevin
Sunset Road – Marc Torch
Pandemonium (Tribute Version) – The Mondays
Camera equipment used:
Google Pixel 9
DJI Action 4
Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 – custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we’ve been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown,
Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth’s; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989
Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)
Where We Sailed Her: U.S. – Bahamas – Jamaica – Cuba – Cayman Islands – Honduras – Guatemala – Belize – Mexico – Bermuda – Azores – Madeira – Canary Islands – Sint Maarten – BVI’s – USVI’s
Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro
Website: http://www.mjsailing.com
Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing
Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing
& / mj_wayfaring
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Save $30 on your Airlock purchase of $199 or more by using code MJSAILING or our link below. If you’ve ever dealt with that musty “boat smell,” this is one of the easiest ways to keep your air fresh and clean on board. https://www.airlockusa.com/?sca...
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