Just bought a new ocean 55ss

That's what I was thinking. They're quiet too.

The project is going very well. The guy I have working on it is a real craftsman. I'll post some pictures tonight when I get back. The final change wil be a little subtle but will modernize it and make the salon look bigger. Functionally, the changes will be huge.

One thing I'm struggling with is the starting battery arrangement. The wiring it's
Itself has been cleaned up from the factory default and is quite clean. It's the 24 volt starters and how that all works together that I'm wondering whether it could be made more simple.

Currently there are 4 8D batteries. There are 2 12 volt banks consisting of 1 8D each, one for the bridge and the other for house. There is a solenoid that bridges one of those 8D's with another to make 24 volts and start the engines. This has 2 batteries doing nothing but start, which I agree is a good idea, but since he other half of each starting bank is a house battery and could drain, it sort of defeats the purpose of isolation.

I have no 24 volt charger, nor do I want one if I can help it. If I lost one of those house batteries, I'd be in trouble so I'm vulnerable there. The only reason for this is the 24 volt starter.

My plan is to change the 12 v house systems to use the inverter bank. I've done this with great results on previous boat. I would like to have 2 8D batteries for starting, but only 2. it simplifies the wiring, charge and saves weight and room. I believe it would be more reliable too.

I am not yet sure if the alternators are 12 or 24 volt.

Can I get -2 volt starters that would work as well as the 24 volt versions? The previous owner discounted that idea as wanted everything kept as the factory designed it. I know that this 12/24 configuration caused the marina mechanics issues, which was why they were able to explain it to me so well.

I do have a separate house/inverter bank. It's 12v with 8 scrubber batteries (430ah@6v ea / 1720ah @ 12v total in the bank). I'm going to move all the house loads from the Ocean starting/house bank to this, and can move the bridge 12v to it also.

I'll have to look. I know I have 2 of those parrallelling devices, but can't remember if I have 3. I've just put that on my list of things to check next time I'm up. I'll also get the part # off it and get a spare, that was really good advice and I should have already thought of it.

If I can figure out everything that's added to those banks and how, I may just make them 2 24volt banks and let them be just for starting. If I do that, I probably don't need an AC based charger running on them all the time.

I just need to figure out if the alternators are 12 or 24 volt and what they're doing. The boat is new to me and there's a lot to it.

Despite some of the less than ideal things, I'm still thrilled with it. I just need to learn it like I knew my last boats and it takes time. Maybe longer in this one.

As part of my galley refit, I'm trying to figure out the circuits. I really want to have 2-3 circuits for the galley (oven,stove,everything else).

I'm also trying to figure out if there's a boosting transformer in the boat already (I kept the one from my last boat) as my marina has 208V and some things that weren't originally intended for marine use don't like that (induction cooktop wouldn't work at all).

A single 8D won't power the sound system I'm putting in anyway. I'm getting too old to listen to music at teenager volumes, but I do love music to be super clear so I'm putting in what I hope will be a very nice system. All the external speakers are JL Audio M series (2 8.8 pairs, 2 7.7 pairs, 2 10" subs). Inside I'm putting Paradigm Millenia 20's, and Millenia 1's and a Millenia subwoofer. the Millenia 20's are being powered off another JL 12v amplifier (because I had 4 of them from my last boat and thought it was more efficient and smaller than a home style stereo receiver). All music is being served from a Fusion 75o configured for 3 zones. It should be enjoyable.

I thought I would post an update on my refit project. The salon work is nearly done, just varnishing the new wood remains. It's been a much bigger job than I realized, but the end results have been worth it. I've got one more coat of varnish to apply tomorrow morning, then some smaller jobs to get finished tomorrow (install an Reverse Osmosis unit, some ceiling lights, a holding tank monitor, and take a mirror down). The only remaining "big" project is changing the inverter batteries, and that's only big because they're heavy (6 6volt scrubber batteries). I should be ready to launch in 3 weeks!

Here's pictures I took along the way.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i1tj0z3rq1vm2g3/AACjqr2Tv7mET1mnJX0u3moBa?dl=0

Thanks. I've had a lot of help but you're right. I had a vision, and it's real now

No. I did some more research into the Galleymaid and figured I'd give them a try. I also wanted to put it off until the boat is in the water.. too much other stuff going on.