Input needed from 33.5 owners (or anyone else!)

[elle]

We have recently traded our sweet '89 H-30G for an equally sweet (I hope ) '92 33.5.We have several modifications in mind and would appreciate any suggestions from those of you who have been there:1. One goal is to maintain a dry bilge to eliminate odors in the boat. Allergies necessitate eliminating as much mold, etc. as possible.We plan to install a shower sump and route the shower and refrigeration into it. No problem with the shower routing; the sump will reside in the forward part of the bilge. The refrigeration is another story. It appears to be almost impossible to access the drain w/o taking apart the cabinet. Has anyone found a solution to the refrigeration draining into the bilge? How can the drain be accessed?2. I would like to have a microwave but the only solutions appear to be to give up a galley cabinet or to put it atop the hanging locker in the aft berth. We have researched microwaves at RV stores and the usual consumer outlets, but everything we've seen is too large, even the GE 'subcompacts,' to fit in these spaces. I did see one solution in the photo forum, but don't think that would work as I am petite

 

[John Nantz]

Ice Box Drain

Know what you mean about access to the ice box drain. I have on my to-do list to install a hose from the drain to a sump with an S-loop but never did it. We use a cork in the bottom and just wipe things up as needed. The refrigeration generates much less water than blocks of ice.With regard to microwave, we found a Samsung, about 600w, which is 9-3/8 inches high. It's digital so it's easy to use reduced power settings when on the inverter and batteries. We put it over the aft cabin hanging locker and it just barely clears. Had to remove the teak edge strip on the top of the locker so the door can open (screws underneath). Attached a piece of 1/8 inch plywood with a couple holes for the microwave feet to fit into so it doesn't slide around. Used the same screw holes as the original teak strip to fix the plywood (temporary) so the teak strip can be replaced.Thinking about lowering the top of the hanging locker about 1/2 inch or so to get a little more clearance on top of the microwave. Wouldn't be too hard to do and wouldn't subtract from the inside hanging locker space. Lowering it about 3/4 inch would allow me to put longer feet on the microwave, raising it up, and reinstall the teak strip.The microwave has been handy but it's 'hard' on the inverter (ours is a Freedom 10, 1000w), inspite of what the inverter specs say it can do, and my DC system is really good. Something to check out.

 

[Steve O.]

drain

I had to cut an access hole at the bottom of the cabinet to get to the drain hose. I then covered it with a teak plate, so its hardly noticable. My microwave is just to starboard of the ice box.

 

[Ron Barrow]

Drains and Microwaves

Laura: I installed a small bilge pump in the bottom of the ice box and put a plug in the drain. The pump sits under the plexiglass shelf in the bottom of the box and I installed a toggle switch just to the right of the ice box lid. We leave a piece of clear plastic hose long enough to reach the sink coiled in the ice box and evacuate the water morning and evening. We could run the hose to a through hull, but this way is very little trouble and the cold water is great for filling the ice bucket and chilling the wine. The microwave sits just below the stove in the galley. The stove/oven combo was replaced with a Force 10 propane two burner stove with a broiler but no oven. This provides room for a decent size microwave to sit below. The (optional) convection/toaster oven sits above the hanging locker in the aft cabin. (The princess must have her lemon torte now and then.) Congratulations on the new boat!Rons/v Counterpoint

 

[Bill]

What we did

We had one of the first 33.5 (91). I found that the drain was hooked up to the drain hose. The hose was there but it was a bit of work to hook it up. The same guy must do all the boats as my 37.5 (91) didn't have it's hose hooked up also. We just ran both drains into a sump pump box in the bilge.We had a slelf built that sat above the sink. I added 2 stainless steel poles on the fwd part that went from the sink top to the ceiling. On the aft side I ran 2 smaller poles from the sleft to the ceiling. The micowave was installed on the bottom side of the slelf. I put our dishs on the top side of the shelf.

 

[elle]

Many thanks

for the good ideas. I think there is a solution in there for us.Steve, could you clarify the location of your microwave?? Do you mean that it occupies a cabinet space? Thanks, Laura