C27 Help Needed in Narragansett Bay

[BaySailerBill]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in need of some help in getting my new/old boat ready for the season. At the end of last season I upgraded from an Oday-23 to a 1984 Catalina C-27 with a Universal M-18 diesel engine. When I bought the boat it was already winterized and on stands at the Marina. In fact the last owner left the boat on the hard for the entire 2008 season. I'm a very mechanically able person, but this is the first boat that I’ve ever owned with an inboard diesel engine, a water system and a full head.

Splash day will be on us in two months and I’m looking for a knowledgeable local owner that is willing to teach me how to prepare the boat to launch. In return for this persons help I would be willing to trade my labor for some custom cabinetry work. So if you live in the Rhode Island area, know how to work on a diesel equipped mid-sized boat and would like a new set of companionway doors or something else, give me a shout.

Follow this link to see some of my work: http://baysailorbill.spaces.live.com/

Does anyone else have any suggestions on how to learn the ins and outs of working on a mid sized boat?

Thanks,
BILL

 

[sailingdog]

BaySailerBill—

What part of Rhode Island are you/the boat located in??

 

[BaySailerBill]

The boat and I are located at Port Edgewood on the Providence - Cranston line.
http://www.portedgewood.com/custompage.asp?pg=map

 

[sailaway78]

There may be

Bill, there may be some variations between makes and models of boats, but if you are mechanically inclined, and have some boating experience, the best thing you have going for you is common sense. Your little diesel is basically just a gas engine, with more compression, no ignition and timed injection. Nothing to be afraid of and most systems are pretty self explanitory if you just take the time to study them a little. Some model specific knowledge will be helpful and you will probably get some from this board, but if not just go for it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bill, here's an information source for you

www.marinedieseldirect.com

Bookmark it.

 

[Tim R.]

Check Hansen Marine in Marblehead, MA for diesel seminars. They run them every spring and fall.

http://www.hansenmarine.com/seminars.html

 

[sailingdog]

Just remember that 95% of doing almost anything is common sense, and the remaining 5% is esoteric knowledge. Getting the 5% is easy, if you have the 95% common sense required.

 

[rpwillia]

Don't sweat the diesel

Bill, For de-winterizing the boat, about all you will have to do is make sure the raw water is connected, use the glow plugs the first time as it will still probably be very cold there (I live in RI for 4 years, I know) in April and the engine should start. After that all you have to do is normal observations, like making sure water is coming out of the exhaust (first time it should be coolant - pink or green) and that you have cooling in the closed system.

A lot of dealers do offer afternoon diesel discussions/seminars. I took one from Chesapeake Yacht Sales in Deltaville, VA and it answered all of my questions and concerns.

After having an inboard diesel for nearly 3 years I would never go back to gas.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Diesel seminars are very good

However, the very BEST instruction you can take is the one on YOUR OWN engine, because that's the ONLY one you care about.

I've had friends who've taken these classes and learned the general concept, but came away with little specific to their engine.

Not knocking the courses, but you have to figure out what'll work for you.