Blower replacement

[Rick B]

We have a Yamaha 33 MKII with the rear mounted Yanmar 2GM diesel. The exhaust ventilation blower motor at the stern has stopped working. Previous owner replaced it once. Is there any way to remove the blower without crawling in through the propane locker? (After removing the tank and getting the regulator out of the way). I am not as skinny as the previous owner.

Thanks,

Rick

 

[edserra]

We have a Yamaha 33 MKII with the rear mounted Yanmar 2GM diesel. The exhaust ventilation blower motor at the stern has stopped working. Previous owner replaced it once. Is there any way to remove the blower without crawling in through the propane locker? (After removing the tank and getting the regulator out of the way). I am not as skinny as the previous owner.

Thanks,

Rick

Rick:

I used to own a 33 MkII with forward engine. I had a removable panel at the rear of the aft berth. I was able to access controls, etc. through this panel.
Do you have this also? Does yours have a large starboard lazarette that may give you better access?

By the way, God willing I will soon be the new owner of a venerable 1985 Yamaha 37.

All the best,

Ed Serra

 

[Rizzman]

Find someone small to do the work

Rick,
I had this problem with my 36, had a bird nest in the blower and had to pull it to clean it out. Have since installed filter screens inside my vents to prevent any further bird nest (they weren't very happy with me and hung around for days

Anyway, I found it very difficult but had to climb in by removing the access panel in the aft cabin and squeeze in between the rudder post to get to the blower. It was very difficult and would have been easier if I was a skinny young man but I'm not. Just make sure however you get to it that you have a helper to get you the tools you need since you won't want to do it more than once. It was a b_tch getting in there and there just is no other way without cutting up some fiberglass which is not an option.

First I climbed in as far as I could and held my digital camera out and snapped some pictures so I had an idea what it looked like up there.

Good luck!
-Bob

 

[Rick B]

No access panel

Well... there is no access panel in the rear of the quarter berth. There are two access panels in the overhead. One is to access the rear of the instrument panel and the other is to access the throttle control. I am contemplating cutting an access panel in the rear of the quarter berth and securing it with hinges. I have tried unscrewing some of the wooden panels in the back of the quarter berth area but there seems to be a transverse bulkhead. Any idea?

Rick

 

[timbo]

Well... there is no access panel in the rear of the quarter berth. There are two access panels in the overhead. One is to access the rear of the instrument panel and the other is to access the throttle control. I am contemplating cutting an access panel in the rear of the quarter berth and securing it with hinges. I have tried unscrewing some of the wooden panels in the back of the quarter berth area but there seems to be a transverse bulkhead. Any idea?

Rick

I just went through some of this yesterday with my Y33 tall rig, rear engine. The blower was making a noise like bearings wearing out. I pulled out all of the panelling in the quarter berth, but still cut no get out the transverse bulkhead at the rear of the quarter berth even after removing all of the fasteners: it appears the deck was installed after this bulkhead was. I could fit in the hole left by the propane locker, but just to be sure what the problem was I removed the dorade over the blower vent to see the squirrel cage...sure enough a bit of paper towel was stuck inside the squirrel cage throwing it off balance. Once removed the blower runs fine. Anyway, we have a small, round access panel cut into the rear of the lazarette to access the exhaust fitting on the upper port quarter for the Espar heater; I would think cutting a larger, rectangular hole in the same area and installing a nice plastic access panel would be an easy way to get at the blower motor etc, and it would look good and be hidden by the lazarette lid.

 

[Rick B]

Going through the lazerette seems like a good solution. I am always loathe to cut any fiberglass but an inspection port here seems reasonable. I have thought about installing hot water heat and need access for a exhaust. Our problem is we store garbage and recycling in the lazerette when cruising so odor would be an issue if I don't get a good seal on the port cover. Did you cut the fiberglass yourself for the exhaust install? If so how thick is it? I suspect the previous owner didn't crimp the blower wires together when he replaced the blower years before we bought the boat. Any wiring he has done is simply twisted together and some things have failed because of this. Easy fix as long as access is good. I suspect this is the problem with our blower.

Rick