1979 Catalina 30 I am considering buying a 1979 Catalina 30 with an Atomic 4. I have some checking to do and will have a survey and mechanical check before any commitment. While I prefer a diesel, the price may be right. If the boat is sound I can probably get it for less than $13k. (At least that's my target) It seems in excellent shape with good sails, an A/C for when docked but it has the Atomic 4 gas burner rather than a diesel. As far as the Atomic 4 is concerned. Short of the gas issue, which I can deal with right now what are some of the drawbacks of the Atomic 4 and are there any strenghts? Those of you with these, what can you expect to get for fuel consumption at most effecient cruise speed. Can the Atomic 4 get the Catalina 30 up to hull speed? What is its reliability? - If properly maintained, how much longer could I expect to go before I need to consider changing over to a new powerplant? I probably have more questions than I can even begin to ask, so help in enlightening me on the Atomic 4 would be appreciated. Also, what is the best conversion diesel for the Catalina 30 and what would I expect to have to pay to get the conversion done? If you have any sage words of wisdom regarding what to look out for in buying a Catalina 30 I would sure appreciate it. Thanks Dan
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Mike I.
A-4
You just missed a long thread on the C-30 list on this same subject. The A-4 is a proven design and with proper maintenance it should last several thousand hours between overhauls. Gasoline seems to strike terror in the hearts of many sailors these days. In my opinion, gasoline is just as safe as any fuel if the system is properly maintained (no leaks). The A-4 is relatively easy to care for; tune-ups, oil changes, and keeping them cool is about all that is necessary.
You just missed a long thread on the C-30 list on this same subject. The A-4 is a proven design and with proper maintenance it should last several thousand hours between overhauls. Gasoline seems to strike terror in the hearts of many sailors these days. In my opinion, gasoline is just as safe as any fuel if the system is properly maintained (no leaks). The A-4 is relatively easy to care for; tune-ups, oil changes, and keeping them cool is about all that is necessary.
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Richard
Repowering with diesel
I have been told by marine mechanics that repowering with a diesel will run about $8,000 - $10,000.
I have been told by marine mechanics that repowering with a diesel will run about $8,000 - $10,000.
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Mark Jones
Atomic 4
Concur with good maintenance on the ATOMIC 4. I have a '77 30'TR w/A4 and it runs fine. I use it as an auxillary is designed, get me out into sailing water and then shut it down. If your desire is to motor a sailboat around it is not the engine for you. Preventive maintenance it the key. No drips, no fumes, no errors.
Concur with good maintenance on the ATOMIC 4. I have a '77 30'TR w/A4 and it runs fine. I use it as an auxillary is designed, get me out into sailing water and then shut it down. If your desire is to motor a sailboat around it is not the engine for you. Preventive maintenance it the key. No drips, no fumes, no errors.
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Dwight Miller
A-4 Engine
I have an 82 30'SR with the A-4 engine. I think it is an excellent engine. I bought the boat from a friend who sold it to me because he was moving up to a 36' Catalina. We dock in the same marina so I see him often. The 36' has a diesel, and he has commented to me often about how much quieter and smoother the A-4 was. The only problem I have had has been when I got some condensation in the fuel, and I think this was easier solved with the gasoline than it would have been with the diesel. I also have much easier cold weather starting than my diesel driven friends. I would ditto everything about the preventive maintenance though (a lesson learned pretty well with my water in the fuel experience). It's very important to know the fuel system well and be absolutely sure there are no leaks. This is not hard to do since it is a simple system. Mine just has the fuel tank, separator, filter, and the pump, together with the vent and fuel lines. Don't forget that if it doesn't have a fresh air blower, you need to install one. In my opinion this is extremely important. I have the switch to my blower adjacent to the starter switch so that it is less likely to forget to purge before you start the engine. As I said, the A-4 is a great engine. I really like mine. I would never consider spending thousands of dollars to replace it with a diesel, or be dissuaded from a purchase I would otherwise make. Good luck with your purchase, and good sailng.
I have an 82 30'SR with the A-4 engine. I think it is an excellent engine. I bought the boat from a friend who sold it to me because he was moving up to a 36' Catalina. We dock in the same marina so I see him often. The 36' has a diesel, and he has commented to me often about how much quieter and smoother the A-4 was. The only problem I have had has been when I got some condensation in the fuel, and I think this was easier solved with the gasoline than it would have been with the diesel. I also have much easier cold weather starting than my diesel driven friends. I would ditto everything about the preventive maintenance though (a lesson learned pretty well with my water in the fuel experience). It's very important to know the fuel system well and be absolutely sure there are no leaks. This is not hard to do since it is a simple system. Mine just has the fuel tank, separator, filter, and the pump, together with the vent and fuel lines. Don't forget that if it doesn't have a fresh air blower, you need to install one. In my opinion this is extremely important. I have the switch to my blower adjacent to the starter switch so that it is less likely to forget to purge before you start the engine. As I said, the A-4 is a great engine. I really like mine. I would never consider spending thousands of dollars to replace it with a diesel, or be dissuaded from a purchase I would otherwise make. Good luck with your purchase, and good sailng.
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Melody Miller
Install the upgrade
Hey Dan: Check out the A-4 electronic ignition upgrade kit. If you install, you won't have to do the annual tune up thing. Melody
Hey Dan: Check out the A-4 electronic ignition upgrade kit. If you install, you won't have to do the annual tune up thing. Melody
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Bob Camarena
Power to Spare
One thing the others didn't mention is that the A-4 has more than enough power for the C-30. It has far more power than any of the earlier Diesels. It wasn't until '83 or so that the larger Diesels were installed. Until then the A-4 had 2-3 times the HP of the Diesels.
One thing the others didn't mention is that the A-4 has more than enough power for the C-30. It has far more power than any of the earlier Diesels. It wasn't until '83 or so that the larger Diesels were installed. Until then the A-4 had 2-3 times the HP of the Diesels.
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John Wagner
Diesel replacements
As you can see Atomic 4 owners seem to be a bit of a cult. A-4 are kind of like the straight 6 of the marine world. I killed my A-4 on my catalina due to stupidity. I cranked the engine when it wasn't starting which brought water into the exhaust. The water flowed back into the head an by the time the mechanics looked at it two weeks later the engine was seized. My mechanics insist that I'm too stupid and irresponsible to own a boat. I get back at them by paying very slowly. When I killed the A-4 I looked into replacement diesels. At the time (3 yrs ago) I thought I could repower with a diesel for around 6 to 8K minimum. One thing that was an issue was the clearance in the engine space on a Cat 30. Most normal diesels are too tall and you have to customize the space too make it work. Universal sells a disiel with the same footprint as the A-4 which is meant specifically for repowering former A-4 boats. As I remember (maybe I'm wrong) even that was a little taller and needed a couple inches of customized clearance. In the end I found a used nearly rebuilt A-4 from Old Lyme Marina in CT. It was an easy out and with my mechanics installing it I got back in the saddle for less than $3k total.
As you can see Atomic 4 owners seem to be a bit of a cult. A-4 are kind of like the straight 6 of the marine world. I killed my A-4 on my catalina due to stupidity. I cranked the engine when it wasn't starting which brought water into the exhaust. The water flowed back into the head an by the time the mechanics looked at it two weeks later the engine was seized. My mechanics insist that I'm too stupid and irresponsible to own a boat. I get back at them by paying very slowly. When I killed the A-4 I looked into replacement diesels. At the time (3 yrs ago) I thought I could repower with a diesel for around 6 to 8K minimum. One thing that was an issue was the clearance in the engine space on a Cat 30. Most normal diesels are too tall and you have to customize the space too make it work. Universal sells a disiel with the same footprint as the A-4 which is meant specifically for repowering former A-4 boats. As I remember (maybe I'm wrong) even that was a little taller and needed a couple inches of customized clearance. In the end I found a used nearly rebuilt A-4 from Old Lyme Marina in CT. It was an easy out and with my mechanics installing it I got back in the saddle for less than $3k total.
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Rob Rich
I don't think, I know!
Dan - You asked a great question, and I am going to point you to a bunch of answers in the archives. Below you will find the link to one, and here is the other: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/archivepview.tpl?SKU=2001037123202.72&forumabr=aao&fno=22&archyear=01 Kinda long, so you will need to cut and paste. Any way, I have defended this engine until I am blue in the face, and I think the lack of A-4 critics on this post might be a sign of that. I simply love the engine. It is overbuilt and runs like crazy. It does have a few achilles heels, and you will need to learn and avoid these. Get her surveyed, and you will rest easier. 30 HP is more than enough for your vessel. My C-27 hits hull speed at less than 1/4 throttle. The extra horsepower is nice in high winds though. Gas consumption will vary, but figure it between .75 gallons per hour on a lean engine, and 1 gallon per hour on an older, richer-mixture engine. With a 17 gallon tank, it will get you pretty far. However, I am not sure I would want to cross oceans with it. When you get serious, go to sailnet.com and subscribe to the A-4 e-mail list. There are several hardcore fans and mechanics there that can answer just about any question you can formulate. Personally, I would rather sail, but I swear some of these guys would rather work on their engines. Anyway - best of luck, and don't give it another thought (unless your surveyor tells you to). Rob
Dan - You asked a great question, and I am going to point you to a bunch of answers in the archives. Below you will find the link to one, and here is the other: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/archivepview.tpl?SKU=2001037123202.72&forumabr=aao&fno=22&archyear=01 Kinda long, so you will need to cut and paste. Any way, I have defended this engine until I am blue in the face, and I think the lack of A-4 critics on this post might be a sign of that. I simply love the engine. It is overbuilt and runs like crazy. It does have a few achilles heels, and you will need to learn and avoid these. Get her surveyed, and you will rest easier. 30 HP is more than enough for your vessel. My C-27 hits hull speed at less than 1/4 throttle. The extra horsepower is nice in high winds though. Gas consumption will vary, but figure it between .75 gallons per hour on a lean engine, and 1 gallon per hour on an older, richer-mixture engine. With a 17 gallon tank, it will get you pretty far. However, I am not sure I would want to cross oceans with it. When you get serious, go to sailnet.com and subscribe to the A-4 e-mail list. There are several hardcore fans and mechanics there that can answer just about any question you can formulate. Personally, I would rather sail, but I swear some of these guys would rather work on their engines. Anyway - best of luck, and don't give it another thought (unless your surveyor tells you to). Rob
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Dwight Miller
A-4 Response
Dan, John Wagner's response to your question reminded me of something which I didn't mention in my own previous response. One thing which I am not to crazy about with my own A-4 is the water filled muffler arrangement. Although this makes the exhaust very cool and very quite, John is right about the problem which can occur if the engine doesn't start in the first 15 or 20 seconds of cranking. The starter turning the engine over is sufficient to draw cooling water through the engine and on into the muffler, but without the engine running there is insufficient pressure to pass this water on through the muffler and out of the system. If you continue to crank the starter, the muffler will fill with water and the water will back into the engine through the exhaust valves. So, if the engine doesn't want to start, it is necessary to go below and close the through hull cooling water intake before continuing to crank the engine. Obviously you have to immediately open this valve when the engine does start. The A-4 muffler is fitted with an anti-syphon valve and I have been told that if this valve is not maintained and becomes clogged, you can have the same effect of filling the muffler and backing water into the engine when you're sailing with the engine shut down and the cooling water through hull valve open. All of this is pretty easily avoided though by maintaining the engine and checking the valve a couple of times a year.
Dan, John Wagner's response to your question reminded me of something which I didn't mention in my own previous response. One thing which I am not to crazy about with my own A-4 is the water filled muffler arrangement. Although this makes the exhaust very cool and very quite, John is right about the problem which can occur if the engine doesn't start in the first 15 or 20 seconds of cranking. The starter turning the engine over is sufficient to draw cooling water through the engine and on into the muffler, but without the engine running there is insufficient pressure to pass this water on through the muffler and out of the system. If you continue to crank the starter, the muffler will fill with water and the water will back into the engine through the exhaust valves. So, if the engine doesn't want to start, it is necessary to go below and close the through hull cooling water intake before continuing to crank the engine. Obviously you have to immediately open this valve when the engine does start. The A-4 muffler is fitted with an anti-syphon valve and I have been told that if this valve is not maintained and becomes clogged, you can have the same effect of filling the muffler and backing water into the engine when you're sailing with the engine shut down and the cooling water through hull valve open. All of this is pretty easily avoided though by maintaining the engine and checking the valve a couple of times a year.
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Tom Leney
Don't give up on the A-$
I have owned a 30 with the atomic 4 (30 HP) for 20 years. Bought it new (in 82) with the A-4 rather than the diesel. It is quieter, much smoother any does not shake the boat like the Universal diesel (10 HP)available at the time. They are almost indestructable. As far as starting, if it doesn't start in 20-30 seconds of trying, remove the drain plug from the water muffler. Leave it out until it starts and the put it back. I always remove the cushins and smell for gas prior to starting--don't rely on the blower as you could have a puddle of gas. Don't be afarid of gas. If there is any raw gas in the blige it will smell very stongly. Make sure to maintain the fuel hose from the tank (replace every 10 years). It is a great engine and is easy to tune up and get running. I would not think of changing out mine. It is the best sailboat engine ever made.
I have owned a 30 with the atomic 4 (30 HP) for 20 years. Bought it new (in 82) with the A-4 rather than the diesel. It is quieter, much smoother any does not shake the boat like the Universal diesel (10 HP)available at the time. They are almost indestructable. As far as starting, if it doesn't start in 20-30 seconds of trying, remove the drain plug from the water muffler. Leave it out until it starts and the put it back. I always remove the cushins and smell for gas prior to starting--don't rely on the blower as you could have a puddle of gas. Don't be afarid of gas. If there is any raw gas in the blige it will smell very stongly. Make sure to maintain the fuel hose from the tank (replace every 10 years). It is a great engine and is easy to tune up and get running. I would not think of changing out mine. It is the best sailboat engine ever made.
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