Saona 47: Saona 47 for a life long monohuller

[Zzmeyer]

Just pulled the trigger on a Saona 47. Scheduled ex factory November 2019. I’ve owned single hulled boats for more than 40 years with a Beneteau Sense 50 my current boat. What convinced me was the pure volume and the single level living. I intend to equip as a quick sailor for an old guy. Start with folding prop, a bow sprit and an easy to handle downwind sail. Thoughts? Will take delivery in Florida and putter around there before bringing it to California. Went with Yanmar engines and Onan generator. I don’t hate Volvo, but not too common from where I’m from and I’ve had yanmar for twenty five years. The forums on Fischer Panda generators scared me. Went with Garmin electronics though I have liked my Raymarine and not so much by BandG. So much to learn based on this new direction. Input appreciated.

[Tornadosailing]

Congrats on the new boat! It's amazing to me how much bigger a Saona is than my Salina. Same width, and mine's a foot longer, but the Saona is a much bigger boat.

I think you did well on your gear choices. I have Yanmar too, and considering the black box failures there have been with Volvo, I think you'll be happier with them. Hopefully Volvo will have a good solution to the black box problems, but I haven't heard of any similar problems with Yanmar. Onan is a good generator, but I've heard of a lot of people having trouble with repeated impeller failures with the genset mounted up high in the anchor locker. I believe FP started installing a lift pump on the Helia. You might want to check into that as well.

[Tornadosailing]

Also, be sure to join the FP owners facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1017563221642960/

[CalmSeasQuest]

Congrats! We considered going with the Yanmars on our Saba (Due September 18) but found the FP markup beyond ridiculous.

I was also expecting to install Raymarine, but after hours of playing with both side-by-side at a West Marine - we also decided on Garmin. We also considered the fact that Garmin now owns Active Captain and Navionics.

As for props, our current choice are the 3 blade Flexofolds. If you haven't seen the review done by YM, it's worth a read...

Folding and feathering propeller test

[arsenelupiga]

well, congrats ! i guess it was difficult to step in unknown

Purchased my near new boat from very passionate sailor, add-ons were quite modest, except on sailing side. suggest to get all possible blocks installed by the factory. Factory set sail shape is mostly non-optimal and these blocks can help you get better shape in all sorts of conditions and extra speed if you desire so.

[daletournier]

Well done, hope you enjoy. The space is amazing, I'm surrounded by large cats at the moment, I'm on the small boat (47 mono). Had a look at the saba 50 the other day, the room is just mind blowing.

[Thalas]

Originally Posted by Tornadosailing

Onan is a good generator, but I've heard of a lot of people having trouble with repeated impeller failures with the genset mounted up high in the anchor locker. I believe FP started installing a lift pump on the Helia. You might want to check into that as well.

FP puts the genny in the starboard engine room now. Much closer to the waterline and more protection from weather than up front.

[Tornadosailing]

Originally Posted by Thalas

FP puts the genny in the starboard engine room now. Much closer to the waterline and more protection from weather than up front.

Back to the ways of yesteryear. Mine is in the Port engine room.

[svGenesis]

The envy starts here! Congrats!

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by Tornadosailing

Congrats on the new boat! It's amazing to me how much bigger a Saona is than my Salina. Same width, and mine's a foot longer, but the Saona is a much bigger boat.

I think you did well on your gear choices. I have Yanmar too, and considering the black box failures there have been with Volvo, I think you'll be happier with them. Hopefully Volvo will have a good solution to the black box problems, but I haven't heard of any similar problems with Yanmar. Onan is a good generator, but I've heard of a lot of people having trouble with repeated impeller failures with the genset mounted up high in the anchor locker. I believe FP started installing a lift pump on the Helia. You might want to check into that as well.

Ditch the impeller and water pump:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BibAbvMeGU8

Congrats and best regards,

[Zzmeyer]

I use a microwave a lot and the oven seldom. I am thinking of replacing the oven with a convection microwave. I understand I’ll need to run the generator to bake bread, but I will have 13.5 kw for that. I don’t want to give up the space for two separate units. Anyone done this? Anyone know the cutout width for the standard oven.

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by LeeV

Ditch the impeller and water pump:

Congrats and best regards,

I'm told (although thanks to FPs "challenging" communication process I haven't been able to confirm) that they are now installing march pumps on Genset installs (at least on the Saba.)

[LeeV]

Good news! Let us know when you find out for sure.

Regards,

[Zzmeyer]

Tell me more. Tell me more. What is a "march pump"? I had to replace an impeller at 50 hours on my 7.5kw Onan. Annoying both in terms of longevity as well as difficulty to get to. My dealer had warned me so my problem wasn't unique. The impeller was very small compared with the impeller for my Yanmar so it seemed fragile. Reading the forums it seemed that installation could be an issue - that is, no water, I guess, at start up. Someone posted a common problem when the generator was forward on the bridge deck getting the water that high off the water. Mine will be in an engine locker.

[LeeV]

Google: difference between a March pump and a standard impeller in a marine generator

There are lots of threads about March pumps like this one: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...an-170287.html

Look above at the video I posted of Impi catamaran - he explains it well