I am considering buying a 1980 Catalina 27 with an atomic 4 engine. The boat has been in salt water since new. Should I have any concerns about this engine? What should I look at? I would also be interested in any feedback on this boat.
- Status
Up until 3 weeks ago I loved mine!
If you check back on my story you will find the only problem I have had. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE EXHAUST!
If you check back on my story you will find the only problem I have had. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE EXHAUST!
Heaven for Atomic 4 Info
Moyer Marine is THE place for you if you are considering an Atomic 4. (moyermarine.com I think)I have it on my favorites. I have one in a 1977 Catalina 30 and it works well and is easy to maintain. Much lore has been written about fuel types. If you are using the sail boat as a motorboat with aux sails then diesel is what you want because over the long haul they are sturdy engines. If it is a sail boat and you use the motor to manuver in and out of slips, I like my A4. But Moyer can tell you what to look for in a pre purchase inspection. No drips, no leaks, no errors!
Moyer Marine is THE place for you if you are considering an Atomic 4. (moyermarine.com I think)I have it on my favorites. I have one in a 1977 Catalina 30 and it works well and is easy to maintain. Much lore has been written about fuel types. If you are using the sail boat as a motorboat with aux sails then diesel is what you want because over the long haul they are sturdy engines. If it is a sail boat and you use the motor to manuver in and out of slips, I like my A4. But Moyer can tell you what to look for in a pre purchase inspection. No drips, no leaks, no errors!
I love my A4
Hi!. I have never had a problem with my Atomic 4. The best gas engine I've ever owned. Good luck.
Hi!. I have never had a problem with my Atomic 4. The best gas engine I've ever owned. Good luck.
Concerns, yes, but information is more important
To a large degree, the state of your next Atomic 4 is going to depend on its upkeep over the years. The production run on the engines ended sometime in the early to mid 80's, so any A-4 you find will be a minimum of 15 years old. Properly maintained, the engine will run 20 or 30 years, sometimes more. Improperly maintained, or worse yet, neglected, the engine will not last a decade. Click on the link below for some good information on the engine, and links to its history. Briefly, the engine has been produced since about the 40's, with very little modification. It is overbuilt, and overpowered for a catalina 27 - an great attribute and a strong argument in its favor. Get a surveyor to inspect the entire boat for you, including the engine. This is the best $270.00 you will ever spend. I have an original A-4 in my 1979 Catalina 27 and I love it. I was originally apprehensive about the motor, but have grown to appreciate its strengths, one of them being a whopping 30 hp, which is three times what you need to power the boat. With any luck, you will be sailing much more than motoring! Have fun doing your research! Best Regards, Rob
To a large degree, the state of your next Atomic 4 is going to depend on its upkeep over the years. The production run on the engines ended sometime in the early to mid 80's, so any A-4 you find will be a minimum of 15 years old. Properly maintained, the engine will run 20 or 30 years, sometimes more. Improperly maintained, or worse yet, neglected, the engine will not last a decade. Click on the link below for some good information on the engine, and links to its history. Briefly, the engine has been produced since about the 40's, with very little modification. It is overbuilt, and overpowered for a catalina 27 - an great attribute and a strong argument in its favor. Get a surveyor to inspect the entire boat for you, including the engine. This is the best $270.00 you will ever spend. I have an original A-4 in my 1979 Catalina 27 and I love it. I was originally apprehensive about the motor, but have grown to appreciate its strengths, one of them being a whopping 30 hp, which is three times what you need to power the boat. With any luck, you will be sailing much more than motoring! Have fun doing your research! Best Regards, Rob
The Atomic 4
The A4 is an excellent power plant, simple, rugged and reliable. You need to learn how to do a complete tune up, how to change the water pump impeller and how to drain/change the oil. You should plan on doing these three things annually. Useful accessories include: A Racor Mod 110A fuel filter. Highly reommended. You will have to mount it on a bulkhead and do the plumbing yourself. Speedseal/s on the Oberdorfer water pump/s (you'll have two if you go to fresh water cooling). See http://www.speedseal.com/ Fresh water cooling. Costs around $600 but will preserve the A4 indefinitely. If you change over to fresh water cooling you should do the oxalic acid flush of the engine first. See http://www.geocities.com/catalina 27/. Select C27 projects from the index then C27 Projects Homepage. Lots of other guidance on this site. Electronic ignition, electric fuel pump and oil filter. Nice but not essential. In addition to good advice and upgrade parts from Don Moyer, look at Indigo Electronics at http://www.atomic4.com/ You can download the A4 manual at http://www.geocities.com/atomfour/ The manual also has electrical circuit diagrams for the engine/ignition. You can get all the specs for the A4 at http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/Atomic_4_Eng_Service/Atomic_Four_Specifications.htm Have fun with your A4
The A4 is an excellent power plant, simple, rugged and reliable. You need to learn how to do a complete tune up, how to change the water pump impeller and how to drain/change the oil. You should plan on doing these three things annually. Useful accessories include: A Racor Mod 110A fuel filter. Highly reommended. You will have to mount it on a bulkhead and do the plumbing yourself. Speedseal/s on the Oberdorfer water pump/s (you'll have two if you go to fresh water cooling). See http://www.speedseal.com/ Fresh water cooling. Costs around $600 but will preserve the A4 indefinitely. If you change over to fresh water cooling you should do the oxalic acid flush of the engine first. See http://www.geocities.com/catalina 27/. Select C27 projects from the index then C27 Projects Homepage. Lots of other guidance on this site. Electronic ignition, electric fuel pump and oil filter. Nice but not essential. In addition to good advice and upgrade parts from Don Moyer, look at Indigo Electronics at http://www.atomic4.com/ You can download the A4 manual at http://www.geocities.com/atomfour/ The manual also has electrical circuit diagrams for the engine/ignition. You can get all the specs for the A4 at http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/Atomic_4_Eng_Service/Atomic_Four_Specifications.htm Have fun with your A4
A-4 Class
I saw a thread last year tha Moyer Marine gave or conducted a 1 day class in Annapolis on the maintainence and upkeep of the A-4. Is this true or where can you go to get proper tyraining on the upkeep of the engine? Jim Stocks 1980, C30 #1640 A-4
I saw a thread last year tha Moyer Marine gave or conducted a 1 day class in Annapolis on the maintainence and upkeep of the A-4. Is this true or where can you go to get proper tyraining on the upkeep of the engine? Jim Stocks 1980, C30 #1640 A-4
A-4 exhaust
I too have a ’77 C-30 with an A-4. Runs great, reliable, loads of power. Check the exhaust system from the engine to muffler. Mine was incredibly corroded and just "fell apart" when I was installing new engine mounts. To renew all of this was about $175 DIY with new insulation and exhaust flange. Underway this could have been a disaster!
I too have a ’77 C-30 with an A-4. Runs great, reliable, loads of power. Check the exhaust system from the engine to muffler. Mine was incredibly corroded and just "fell apart" when I was installing new engine mounts. To renew all of this was about $175 DIY with new insulation and exhaust flange. Underway this could have been a disaster!
- Status