First-off, I am a quasi-new boat owner. This will be my first spring launch as I took delivery on water last year. I wanted to lubricate all of my seacocks as they are a little stiff. The recommendation on this board was to use a good grease on each side of the ball, from the inside and the outside. From the inside I can reach - even though Hunter uses a caulk on their hose connections - by removing the hoses. From the outside though it is a little tougher. Each seacock is attached to an elbow. I can't reach them using a brush. Is there a little trick people use? The other question is meant to be simple. After all of the normal spring tasks (filter changes, belts, etc.) I want to "recommission" my Yanmar(3YM30) engine after decommisioning (oil change and anti-freeze flush) it last fall. Is there anything special aside from maybe bleeding the fuel lines? Thanks Andy s/v Wind Rivers 2004 Hunter 33
A few spring preperation questions
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SAIL Mag April Issue
Has all the details of spring work on your motor. Make sure your impeller is ok, make sure all your hoses are tight.
Has all the details of spring work on your motor. Make sure your impeller is ok, make sure all your hoses are tight.
Trying to be cool,
but I do not know where all of this falls on the cool scale. Opinions may vary. When I do the spring preparations, generally speaking, I do not: lube seacocks, change antifreeze, bleed fuel, or change belts or impeller. I do check them and on a new boat, you should really check them well. I do operate the seacocks regularly but have never lubed them. Bleeding fuel is a procedure I use only after a repair or if there is an engine problem. I would advise having new belts, filters, and impeller and I have two of each. I change the oil and filter at the regular times and check belts and electrical wires then. Do clean the strainers, flush the water tank, check the batteries, etc. When starting the engine after a long storage, I actuate the compression release and spin the engine a few times until the oil pressure comes up before starting it.
but I do not know where all of this falls on the cool scale. Opinions may vary. When I do the spring preparations, generally speaking, I do not: lube seacocks, change antifreeze, bleed fuel, or change belts or impeller. I do check them and on a new boat, you should really check them well. I do operate the seacocks regularly but have never lubed them. Bleeding fuel is a procedure I use only after a repair or if there is an engine problem. I would advise having new belts, filters, and impeller and I have two of each. I change the oil and filter at the regular times and check belts and electrical wires then. Do clean the strainers, flush the water tank, check the batteries, etc. When starting the engine after a long storage, I actuate the compression release and spin the engine a few times until the oil pressure comes up before starting it.
SAIL article on oil changes
The SAIL magazine engine article has a tiny mistake in the changing oil section: they suggest changing the oil first, then changing the filter. Whoops. Stu
The SAIL magazine engine article has a tiny mistake in the changing oil section: they suggest changing the oil first, then changing the filter. Whoops. Stu
Good ideas
I operate my seacocks everytime I get on/off my boat. We live on a mooring and are far enough out that nobody would notice our boat sinking until basically it would be too late. That is why I wanted to lubricate them. They're a little stiff and I didn't want to force them. I like the idea of releasing the compression and spinning the engine to get the oil pressure up. As far as impellers go that is already on my task list, as well as all of the other tasks to prep my boat for the new season.
I operate my seacocks everytime I get on/off my boat. We live on a mooring and are far enough out that nobody would notice our boat sinking until basically it would be too late. That is why I wanted to lubricate them. They're a little stiff and I didn't want to force them. I like the idea of releasing the compression and spinning the engine to get the oil pressure up. As far as impellers go that is already on my task list, as well as all of the other tasks to prep my boat for the new season.
Only bleed if needed.
Otherwise start it up and let it warm up at the dock at low rpm's (about 1000rpm's for 5 minutes). Constantly monitor the water output, check engine for leaks. Cautiously feel the heat hoses to get warm (Especially the to & from hoses on the water heater. Check oil level after the engine shuts off (wait 5 minutes). Check belt tension before & after running.
Otherwise start it up and let it warm up at the dock at low rpm's (about 1000rpm's for 5 minutes). Constantly monitor the water output, check engine for leaks. Cautiously feel the heat hoses to get warm (Especially the to & from hoses on the water heater. Check oil level after the engine shuts off (wait 5 minutes). Check belt tension before & after running.
"To Do" list
Sailnet recently posted a pretty comprehensive "to do" list. Might be useful to take look and pick what you think fits: See below.
Sailnet recently posted a pretty comprehensive "to do" list. Might be useful to take look and pick what you think fits: See below.
seacock lube
Andy, you can get white lithium grease in a spray can-lubriplate is one brand-with a wand. have someone close the seacock,insert the wand from outside the hull, and spray-the person inside can work the lever back and forth to spread the grease
Andy, you can get white lithium grease in a spray can-lubriplate is one brand-with a wand. have someone close the seacock,insert the wand from outside the hull, and spray-the person inside can work the lever back and forth to spread the grease
Lube
Chuck, Unless a better idea came along that is what I am planning. When are you going to get your boat in the water? You're blocking the rest of us ;-) Just kidding Andy
Chuck, Unless a better idea came along that is what I am planning. When are you going to get your boat in the water? You're blocking the rest of us ;-) Just kidding Andy
While you have your grease out...
While you have your white lithium grease out, give a generous spray onto the throttle, shift and kill lever linkages on the engine it will help prevent corrosion and will keep the levers operating freely for a long time. I give mine a shot each commissioning season. I, too, use it on the seacocks.
While you have your white lithium grease out, give a generous spray onto the throttle, shift and kill lever linkages on the engine it will help prevent corrosion and will keep the levers operating freely for a long time. I give mine a shot each commissioning season. I, too, use it on the seacocks.
launch prep!
prepped today, paint friday if the weather holds, launch Monday! Paul's got some good points, too-I use it on all the linkages in the fall after haulout to make sure there's no moisture sitting on the cables and linkages
prepped today, paint friday if the weather holds, launch Monday! Paul's got some good points, too-I use it on all the linkages in the fall after haulout to make sure there's no moisture sitting on the cables and linkages
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