Big Day for the H34 " The Splash "

[chrisrezba]

Hello Hunter Forum Guys and thanks for all your help. I just splashed my 1st Big Boat and I did it in the FL ICW. I am pretty sure this Hunter 34 hasn't gotten her bottom wet in over 8 years based on the 2006 Calendar hanging over the Nav Station when I bought her over 2 years ago. Since then she sat in a field with her mast and boom tied to the deck until I moved to Florida where I could give her a new home. Boy what a mess she was in. I had her hauled down from way up north and started cleaning her up 3 months ago in the closest Ship Yard to home. I did my best I could to get her and myself sea worthy enough and until I had the confidence and a stretch of OK FL Wx to single handedly take her on a 8 hour motor trip down the ICW. The motivating factor was I couldn't really afford the rent there anymore. It was really a great experience and I wouldn't do it any differently if I had the chance to do over again unless I could be about 30 years younger. All the DIY's there were so helpful I just felt so blessed that with their help I was able to do everything myself and saved a ton of $$$. Everything I have been learning from the for to aft and keel to mast head has been very intriguing and interesting. Not to mention learning how to navigate the ICW for the 1st time. During our journey down the ICW I only got very gently stuck once when I had to shut the motor down again to let her cool off a bit. When I went below this time it was only to find all my oil in the bilge… "Bummer" I started her up just long enough to back us off the bottom and across the ICW where I borrowed a 1300' dock to tie to until I got US Tow Boat to take us the rest of the way to my new dock. I haven't been able to figure out how all the oil left my sweet little 3 cyl yet ? But In between solving that quandary I will be putting in an all new Teak and Holley sole from the material I purchased in Ft. Lauderdale while I'm also renovating the rest of the interior.
I hope to get more familiar with all her systems and what's located under the old sole in the process. Again, I really appreciate getting acquainted and all the help and advice I have been getting… Thank You

 

[markwbird]

Yuk

That sounds kinda horrible. Adventurous, but horrible. Check the dipstick. It's easy to think you have put it back in the hole when in fact you have missed the hole. It is hard to see. I have done this. It's a mess. The engine should not overheat. If it does something is wrong. Make sure water is coming out of the exhaust. If not, check the raw water pump impeller and check the mixing elbow as well and the raw water intake strainer for clogs. Have you sailed the boat yet? It sounds like she was in pretty rough condition when you bought her.

 

[Stu Jackson]

What engine? That'd help us to help you, just like your DIY-ers.

 

[Allan12210]

Chris,

Congratulations on getting your new(ish) boat in the water and underway.

One source of an oil leak is the gasket on the front engine cover at the very bottom. I just changed mine and now all is good. If you can identify that as the source of the oil, we can provide all the part numbers and procedures for you to do it yourself. Mine set me back $38.00.

Allan

 

[cjfj]

careful about runing it w/ no oil or overheating. I just spent $7500 for a rebuilt yamar. Picked up some bad fuel, sucked air in heavy seas. Cause unknown but when I could get it ruin it was rouning on 1 cycl.
The dipstick can also blow out if ot seated completly.

 

[ALNims]

Is the oil showing up in the bilge below the engine? Are you sure that you are inserting the dipstick fully? Is the dip stick the right one? What does your seawater cooling for the discharge like? Is there oil in the discharge pipe? You may have an oil cooler leak.

 

[YVRguy]

Congrats!

Congratulations on getting her in the water! Sorry to hear about the oil but I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it. As a new H34 owner myself, I learned there is an important distinction to be made between those things you should fix yourself and those you should enlist professional help for.

Will be looking forward to hearing of your adventures in Fl. Please post!

 

[Dan Johnson]

Stu...

The earliest '83 H34's had a Westebeke installed. Sometime halfway through that first year's production run, Hunter switched to Yanmar 3GM30's. Some were raw water cooled, but most were 3GM30F's. H34's from 1984 to 1987 had Yannies.

 

[VINN]

the yanmar 3gm30f has often seen the exterior oil line on the port side to the rear block, leak from rust eating away from at it from the outside in. oil and fuel lines should be oiled frequently to prevent salt air corrosion. I replaced 1 of mine in less than an hour. cant remember if the starter has to be removed to make it fit. odds are high so ck them out...