AFRI-CAT 420 Operating Manual

Power catamaran

Hide thumbs

Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

Quick Links

New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011

Welcome to the New Adventure!

2005 42' Africat Power Catamaran

Thank you for chartering the "New Adventure". Power catamarans are not common on the west coast,

but they are very popular in the Caribbean and in Florida where we bought the boat in February, 2008.

They have both disadvantages and advantages relative to a similar sized monohull boat. On the positive

side, our experience is that they are very stable and tend to ride better than a monohull in rough waters.

With a width of 22' the New Adventure is much roomier than a monohull of the same overall length. It

has three staterooms each with its own private head, and the master stateroom suite has its own separate

shower stall. In addition it can get up to 40% better fuel economy and cruises at a comfortable 16 to 18

knots. With its shallow draft of just over 3', it can access shallow areas not available to most monohulls.

On the negative side the width of the boat is larger than most marina slips, so getting a moorage is more

difficult.

You'll find that if you familiarize yourself with this handy manual you'll be able to start enjoying your

cruising vacation. If you have any feedback or suggestions on the completeness or clarity of the manual,

please leave a note in the binder.

This document is not intended to be a comprehensive user's guide to this vessel or to yachting in

general. Please be sure that the AYC check out or skipper training program has provided you with a

good understanding of the various systems and their operation before departure and that you feel

comfortable in your ability to safely handle the boat at all times.

THE AFRICAT 420

Table of Contents

Need help?

Do you have a question about the 420 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for AFRI-CAT 420

Page 1 Welcome to the New Adventure! 2005 42’ Africat Power Catamaran THE AFRICAT 420 Thank you for chartering the “New Adventure”. Power catamarans are not common on the west coast, but they are very popular in the Caribbean and in Florida where we bought the boat in February, 2008.
Page 2 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 We are maintaining the high quality of this boat not only for ourselves but also for all of our guests. Please help us by assuring the following:  No smoking onboard  No pets ...
Page 3: Table Of Contents
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Table of Contents Welcome and Overview..................page 1-2 Table of Contents……………………………………………………………..page 3 Safety…………………………………………………………………………...page 4-5 Basics (breakers, switches, and controls)...…………………………………….page 5-8 Engines………………………………………………………………………….page 8-9 Instruments and alarms………………………………………………………….page 9-11 Household (toilets, water pressure, stove, etc.)…………………………………page 11-15 Electrical System………………………………………………………………..page 15-17 Electronics………………………………………………………………………page 17-18 Tanks (water, diesel fuel, waste).……………………………………………….page 18-19 Anchoring, Dinghy, and Outboard……...………………………………………page 19-22...
Page 4: Safety
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Safety Safety Equipment The following safety equipment is located on board the New Adventure. Everyone on board should be familiarized with the safety equipment and with proper emergency procedures. Life vests/life ring At least four USCG approved adult life vests are stored in the hatch under the forward seat of the table in the cockpit area or in the rear cabinets.
Page 5 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 You may also wish to bring your own cell phone. Electrical breakers The batteries for each of the engines and the battery bank for the house power system are protected by large red circular breakers. The engine breakers are located in the bed area of the port and starboard aft bedrooms;...
Page 6: Safety
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Breakers for water, sump, and toilet systems, and for the engine blowers Breakers for top fridge, freezer, 12V DC outlet on fly bridge, fly-by-wire (engine controls), and tank management system Breakers for navigation electronics, the radio (music system) at the nav station, the auxiliary fuel tank pumps, the windlass, and the electronic propane safety system Bilge pump breakers with alarm and lights when pumping Bilge pumps...
Page 7: Engines
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011  Aft deck lights  Bridge lights  Engine room lights  Sat TV (this controls the satellite TV antenna that is not available during charter)  Auxiliary fuel tank transfer pumps (these are only activated when transferring fuel from the auxiliary tanks to the main fuel tanks) AC Panel The 110V AC panel is to the left of the 12V DC panel, and has two columns of breakers and two gauges...
Page 8: Engines
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Power selection The 110V power source is determined automatically by the Xantrex inverter controller. When shore power is connected the shore power light will turn on; when the generator is started the generator light will turn on;...
Page 9 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 again. If it fails on the second try, something needs fixing before continuing. The engine alarms should shut off shortly after the engine starts. Repeat for the other engine Go to the fly bridge and turn on the engine keys so that the engine gauges are turned on also at the fly bridge Engines can be turned off at either the salon nav station or the flybridge.
Page 10: Instruments And Alarms
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Instruments and alarms Main engines instrument panels Salon nav station engine instrument panels for each of the two main engines have:  RPM gauges.  Hour meter  Oil pressure, alternator, and temperature alarm lights ...
Page 11 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Additionally, there are red warning lights for the following:  Bilge pumps. These lights may come on from time to time when the pumps operate. If they do, check the bilge for excessive water indicating that the boat may be taking on water. ...
Page 12 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 just forward of the aft beds, with sea cocks located under the hull floors in the aft bedroom areas. This is for discharge at sea, but the sea cocks must remain closed when in inshore waters and the tanks must be pumped out when full.
Page 13: Hot Water
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 is either under generator or shore power, the units can be turned on, the mode of operation selected (heat or cold), and the desired temperature set at these controls. See the Technicold operating manual for further details.
Page 14 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Microwave, Toaster Oven, and Coffee Maker A separate microwave, toaster over, and coffee maker are located in the salon. The coffee maker will operate when the inverter is on, but the breaker will trip if there is any other significant loads on any of the outlets connected to the Outlets breaker.
Page 15: Electrical System
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Please carefully dry off the bathrooms after showering to prevent mould and odors. The key to conserving water is to take what are called ‘boat showers’: As soon as the water is at a comfortable temp, wet down quickly, then turn off the water flow.
Page 16: Shore Power
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Shore power A shore power connection is available at the port stern. The 50’ power cable is located in one of the aft hatches under the rear-facing seats. A 30A to 50A connector is kept with this cable, as well as a 15A to 30A adapter.
Page 17 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 light shows and the charger is activated. *Please refer to the Xantrex Inverter instruction manual for more information. Generator A diesel powered Phasor 8 kW generator is installed in a soundproof enclosure located aft in the port engine room.
Page 18: Electronics
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 accident and need to be reset in case power is lost and there appears to be nothing wrong with the breakers on the salon panels. If the doors are opened in the front port bedroom directly behind the salon breaker panels, several of these breakers will be seen.
Page 19: Tanks (Water, Diesel Fuel, Waste)
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 knob at the salon nav station will have a similar effect. Pushing the “Standby” button will disable the autopilot and return to manual control with the wheel on the fly bridge. When the engine controls at the salon nav station and the autopilot are activated, it is possible to operate the boat totally from the salon nav station.
Page 20: Anchoring, Dinghy, And Outboard
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 additional, auxiliary fuel tanks forward that are listed on the tank sentry. We require the auxiliary tanks NOT be used during chartering. Filling Open the main diesel fuel filler cap at the rear of the boat on one hull using one of the keys located in the top drawer at the Nav station to the right of the radio.
Page 21 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 How To Drop anchor: Make sure power for the windlass is on at the 12V DC breaker panel and that the windlass power breaker has not tripped. (The windlass power breaker is located at the nav station opposite the generator controls and adjacent to the house battery breaker) Make sure the hull-mounted ropes used to tie to the anchor chain after the anchor is down are clear and accessible from the deck at the chain pulley.
Page 22 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 deck. If the arm is not already extended, remove the pin from the end of the davit arm and extend the davit arm to the third pin hole (about 2 feet). To do this you will have to let out a bit more cable. Insert the pin through the davit arm and replace the safety stopper to lock the arm extension in place.
Page 23: Other Issues
New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Please flush!  Please run fresh water through the outboard each day after use or at least when you return. There is a “earmuff” hose attachment for flushing in the hatch at the front of the dinghy. See the Honda manual for details.
Page 24 New Adventure Operating Manual – 5/1/2011 Dirty Clothes Hamper There is a dirty clothes hamper under the seat near the bed in the master stateroom. Large Table Top There is a large table top that fits over the small table in the salon. It is normally stored beneath the mattress on the forward port bed when not in use.