Stackable washer drier

[scary]

I have a 1976 48LRC with a Sears Kenmore stacked washer and drier. the drier is beginning to make noise, like a possible flat spot on a drum wheel. The previous owner said that parts were getting hard to come by and newer units are a different size. I'm guessing that most 70's Hatteras probably used similar units. To does anybody know if there are new models out there that fit right into the original space.

 

[Angela]

I replaced the old Fridgidare with a Bosch Axxis stackable models which are about 23.5" wide - just did fit into the 24" opening. Now getting them into the room was more difficult than finding the new washer/dryer. Had to heave it over the bow rail, strip all teak off the bow hatch and then it just barely fit through the hatch. Four guys and a rope....

I really, really like my Bosch washer/dryer!

 

[GJH]

Maytag makes a nice set as well that we have on our boat. Both front load. I am traveling so don't have the model numbers handy, but I am pretty sure it is this one:

http://www.abt.com/product/17027/Ma...=scfroogle&utm_medium=sc&utm_campaign=froogle

The only caution, which may have been addressed with newer models, is that coins will plug the drain pump inlet and it is a hassle pulling everything out and getting under the washer to clear it. You might want to inquire about that, because otherwise these are really excellent and have stood up well in regular use (we liveaboard) over the past 3 1/2 years.

 

[scary]

Thanks mine are in the galley and the washer is a top loader and the drier a front loader. I guess I could build and additional lower door. It sure is nice having a real washer and drier over a un-vented combi unit. Man are these livable boats. I'll be full timing it in about two months.

 

[Pascal]

unless you have a large family on board or run charters, I find that a VENTED combo is a very good choice; smaller, easy to use, etc... they are often seen as exotic here but the technology has been around in europe for 30 years and very popular over there where space in kitchens is at a premium

unlike the unvented models (worthless) the vented models work very well and thoroughly dry the load. i've had a splendid for about 5 years now, works very well.

they are a little smaller so you have to run them more often but no big deal. typical load sizes are a queen sheet set, a pair of bath towels, 2 pair of jeans and a few shirts/polos, etc... fine for a couple.

the big advantage (besides not ever forgetting a wet load in teh washer...) is that reclaim a lot of storage where the dryer used to be... which boat cant' use more storage?

again, dont' even look at the condensing models, they are useless but the vented combos are worth considering

 

[GJH]

I guess it depends on how often you like to have clean sheets, towels, napkins, place mats and clothing. Pascal raises the point that understanding usage is an important determinant. In our case the two of us use the machines fairly heavily and the Splendide units, which we are very familiar with from charters and friend's boats, would be woefully inadequate. The ability to wash and dry separately is a big help to through put, especially if you let thing build up.

On the other hand we have a larger boat so storage is less of an issue though more is always better, there is no way Ann would make the trade off. A bachelor who wears the same clothes everyday (which I would do, left unattended) and uses paper plates and napkins etc, could very successfully get away with a Splendide, as do those who use the boat for shorter lengths of time.. all elements in the equation.

 

[Bill Root]

We have the Bosch stackable, vented units on BUFFALO GAL, installed by the PO. We love them. The shipwright in Ft. Lauderdale who did the galley work on our boat this past summer told me he had installed them in his cousin's 48LRC and they fit in beautifully. His name is John Jorgensen. Phone number is 954-523-2332. If you decide to call him, let him know I referred you. I'm sure John would talk to you about the install, even if you are not planning to use him to do the work. Good luck.

 

[davidwigler]

I'm looking at changing out the old stack unit too. I was considering removing the dinette since we have a galley-up model, and turning the old washer/dryer space into a pantry closet. Keep the ideas coming, please.

 

[Angela]

I'm looking at changing out the old stack unit too. I was considering removing the dinette since we have a galley-up model, and turning the old washer/dryer space into a pantry closet. Keep the ideas coming, please.

I have seen that area on these 58 galley-ups used for a variety of different things, and all for better uses than Hatteras's intentions for that space. I've seen it hold a washer/dryer, a pantry, and a desk (not all on the same boat!). I'll be removing my crew dinette and installing a desk which will make so much better use of that space. The way I see it, we're never going to use it as a dinette. Crew members don't sit down behind closed doors in the crew room and eat together leaving themselves unavailable to guests, and if you don't have guests onboard, then crew can eat at the table on the aft deck. Rather, it's more likely that one crew member may eat a meal there while the other is working the boat, but that can be done at the desk that I'm going to build in place of the dinette.

If you put your washer/dryer there, then you have a very nice area to convert the old closet where the washer/dryer was for a pantry to store dry food goods and I'll be really jealous of your new pantry. For me, I need a desk more than a pantry, but there are times when trying to stow all the food and beverages when I don't quite see it that way.

I've even seen a couple of these 58s convert that littlest stateroom to an office.

 

[DCMY #92]

We have had a vented Splindede combination washer/dryer on our 41DCMY for about 20 years. It works great and uses much less water than the GE stackable units we replaced with it.

 

[MikeP]

Most of the parts seem to be available for those original units, at least as near as I can find. I would not consider replacing the oem unit unless I determined that the parts were absolutely not available. Dryer belts/wheels/motors, etc are pretty common - I just rebuilt an old stackable dryer in Mexico and the total for all the parts I needed were maybe 75 bucks. I carried them from TX to Mexico in my suitcase. I'd sure look REALLY hard at fixing as opposed to replacing...

 

[Angela]

I'm gonna have to disagree with Mike about not considering replacment of the 30+ year old units. When I disassembled mine to get it out after the dryer quit, I discovered how rusted it was inside. Not only had the belt broken on the dryer, the bearings were on their last legs, too. Yes, I could have kept throwing parts into the old thing, but how many times do I really want to yank it out to get to the back of it to work on it? A belt today, bearings tomorrow, and eventually a motor, and on and on.

My new front loading washing machine is very economical on water, and I get many more wash options than the old Frigidare unit ever offered. There was never a warm water rinse on the old unit. On the new, modern one, I also get a sanitation cycle which was new to me at first. Now that I know how well it cleans towels over the regular cycle, that alone, is reason enough for me to ditch the old OEM machines. I can actually smell the difference. It cleans the stuff you cannot see that a normal wash cycle doesn't get.

The modern dryer dries clothes in very short amount of time - a contributing factor to that, I am sure, is that the new washer spins so vigorously that the clothes are almost dry when I remove them from the washer.

And let's not overlook how much more gentle a front loader is on your clothes than the old "twist" mechanism machines. I've had clothes ripped apart on that center twisting thing. Not any more! FInally, I can get more items in the frontloader than I could in the old top loader, and the new machines still fit in the same space.

It was for these reasons, and more, that when my dryer crapped out on me, and it was just a broken belt for the moment, that I decided to get the old, tired machines off the boat. And when I started the disassembly in doing so, I got a good look at the nitty gritty inside those machines and further confirmed that I had made the right decision not to put any more money in 30 year old appliances.

No regrets on replacing the OEM washer/dryer.

 

[magnawake]

Good topic.. I just used mine the first time last week. The water wouldnt stop coming out the fill line. I guess its the fill solinoid stuck open a little. It just drips real fast, but fills about 4 inches in the bottom of the barrel within 4 or 5 hours. I cant leave it leaking so I closed the water supply lines. I guess I could turn it back on everytime I use it, but that would be crazy. I was thinking about replacing it also. BUT, how the heck would I get it out and a new one in. The 43 MY has the down aft cabin, then through the aft salon door. I cant see it fitting. Seem like a whole lot of trouble.

 

[davidwigler]

Angela,

How did you get the machines in and out of the boat? Thanks,

David

 

[Angela]

The old went out the door in pieces (no love lost there...). The new ones came in through the bow hatch - all teak trim removed. We had to hoist the units over the bow railing since they will not fit through the pilothouse doors or any other doors on the boat that it would need to go through to get to the crew room, and the lower them through the hatch while a couple of guys below caught them. Then, they had to be set down in the upper bunk (mattress removed) to be diverted around the light fixture in the ceiling - wouldn't clear between it and the top frame of the upper bunk. After that, they were just set/stacked in their spot.

 

[davidwigler]

I'm slowly realizing there is no realistic way to get 30" appliances down there. If that is correct I'll have to find some other use for the dinette. Angela's 24" stack units look great!

 

[MikeP]

I can readily agree that if you do a lot of washing/drying, new units are certainly better. On our boat, the oem washer works great but the dryer is decidedly sloooowww. It's fine for a few items but toss in some towels or sheets and it's going to be running a long time...

What is the reference re the dinette use. Did these new units affect the dinette? Don't they fit in the oem "closet" for that purpose? Even if the washer/dryer quit completely the Admiral would not be interested in replacement units that couldn't fit in the same space as the old ones and have a door close to cover them completely when not in use.

 

[Angela]

Mike, your layout is different than the 58MY galley-up. We have a useless "dinette for two" in the crew stateroom. I've seen a number of these 58MYs where they've made better use of that spot. It's a dinette in the same location as yours, but cut it about in half, so there is only room for 2 people to sit at it, and remember, this is inside a stateroom because we have staterooms where you have a galley. On your boat, you would not even think of doing such a thing because your layout there is totally different.

My dryer dries sheets in about 10 minutes. It dries towels bone dry in about 30. Here's what the inside of my old washer looked like which made me feel good about my decision to ditch it. It looked perfectly fine on the outside, though.

 

[Dustoff44]

Our 58YF is same interior layout as a 53MY. The Bosch ( same as Angela ) units fit through the galley by removing the galley to crew room door...
Another reason they dry better is the outside venting..

 

[GJH]

My Maytags have a similar profile to those Bosch units. Full wash uses about 10 Gallons, quick wash low load about 7. We can get ours out of the boat fairly easily, the only difficulty is disassembling the cabinet facing they are in. I will post pix when I get back. (OT: am at CES in Vegas. interesting as always)