Engine instruments for H34

[Ilanortho]

Hi all;

Really uncomfortable driving around with only the stock engine panel warning lights. Has anyone added a full set of instruments (oil temp, pressure, water temp etc) and how did they do it both in terms of instrument panel location and the sending unit additions?

Thanks. Ilan

 

[kloudie1]

Gearing up to do that soon. I decided to put the temp and oil press gauges in the little aft cubby on the port side so the gauges are easily readable from the wheel. I have a voltmeter and an hourmeter just to the left of the original panel but they are tough to read without squnching down in the cockpit. Just haven't gotten there yet.
Several H-34 owners here have done gauges already and folks have put them in different places. I think some will chime in with info and pictures.

Need to note that I have owned the boat since 1991 .. The urgency of putting the gauges in has risen and fallen over the years.. The Yanmar is a great little engine and the more I lived with it, the more confidence I have developed. I am a gearhead, and I figured I needed the gauges, but it is not an urgent need.

 

[splax]

I. too. was concerned about the engine information available. I have found that the engine is forgiving and that the most important part is keeping the oil and coolant levels correct and the oil clean and changed annually. Just bringing the panel and wiring up to standard without addition will be enough of a project for me.
From a previous post-"When I replace my cracked panel, I hope to change the engine (fuel?) cut-off pull knob to the electric servo to eliminate the issue of pulling the cable and stressing the panel."

 

[Allan12210]

I added a set of gauges a number of years ago next to my instrument panel in the cockpit. Here's the link:

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=753456&highlight=allan12210

There is no need for the ammeter (if you monitor volts) as it really limits the ability to recharge the batteries efficiently with the alternator and it can pose a fire hazard with a lot of current in a small gauge wire. I've removed mine and upsized the wire directly from the alternator to the house bank. A future project may involve the addition of a shunt to a microammeter (calibrated to read in amps) which will eliminate the issues with the previously installed ammeter.

 

[spraygun]

Hi all;

Really uncomfortable driving around with only the stock engine panel warning lights. Has anyone added a full set of instruments (oil temp, pressure, water temp etc) and how did they do it both in terms of instrument panel location and the sending unit additions?

Thanks. Ilan

Well I was really uncomfortable(like yourself ) driving around with my rebuilt engine.Only because it cost so much.I went overboard.I used all standard auto gages and senders.Now I never have to worry.

 

[PGIJon]

Here's a picture showing how I connected a temp sensor to the coolant line that goes to the water heater. I added my gauge next to the instrument panel. In my opinion it is very important to leave the High temperature buzzer in place since you are not always looking at the instrument. I know some folks have replace the buzzer with a sensor that both shows the temp and buzzes. I simply felt that I should leave the yanmar buzzer alone.

I actually feel a million times better knowing the actual temperature!

-Jon

 

[Jacques C]

Engine Instrument Panel

I have converted the port side rear coaming box into my new engine instrument panel. It is easy to see and has room for an autopilot. I started with ¼ inch plywood which I sealed with epoxy and covered with Formica Sparkles black laminate. I used the Teleflex Heavy Duty gauges. They look the same as the gauges on my favorite car – the AC Cobra. I installed the fuel sender unit (Teleflex model # 90424P) when I put in the clean out port in the fuel tank. The water temp sender (Teleflex model #TS26621 3/8 NPT) was not a perfect fit in the Yanmar 3GM30F but was close enough to screw in with enough threads to hold well. I could not find an adapter so I used blue Lock Tite to insure it wouldn’t unscrew. I bought an adapter (1/8 NPT Female to 1/8 BSP Male brass fitting (Pegasus part # AM2269) to screw the oil pressure sending unit (Teleflex model # 5899) into the Yanmar block.
The power came from the positive terminal on the engine start key switch. The power is on when the battery selector switch is on. To eliminate power drain I put a water proof switch on the panel for turning on the instruments and another one for the instrument lights. There were a lot of wires running to the senders and for power so I removed the shore power plug to help run the wires. The wires were run to behind the original engine panel and then on to the engine compartment via the plastic conduit that was already there. Because the shore power inlet was out, I replaced it with a Smart Plug and attached that to a new 30 amp breaker box on the other side in the stern cabin.
I refinished to teak coaming box top and sealed it with calk. I screwed on backing strips and screwed the panel to them. It took a lot of research (some from this forum) to complete the task. To all those who helped me I say thanks. Hopefully, this information will help you if you want to try this project. I have enjoyed knowing how much fuel I have and looking at the engine water temperature. Oh - The admiral said she would be my autopilot (we sail on a lake) so I didn’t need to buy one. Not wanting to look at that blank space, I laminated a picture of my desired autopilot and attached it to my panel.

 

[Ilanortho]

Thanks for your input. Ilan

Gearing up to do that soon. I decided to put the temp and oil press gauges in the little aft cubby on the port side so the gauges are easily readable from the wheel. I have a voltmeter and an hourmeter just to the left of the original panel but they are tough to read without squnching down in the cockpit. Just haven't gotten there yet.
Several H-34 owners here have done gauges already and folks have put them in different places. I think some will chime in with info and pictures.

Need to note that I have owned the boat since 1991 .. The urgency of putting the gauges in has risen and fallen over the years.. The Yanmar is a great little engine and the more I lived with it, the more confidence I have developed. I am a gearhead, and I figured I needed the gauges, but it is not an urgent need.

 

[Ilanortho]

Great pics; gives me some ideas to work on. Thanks for your reply! Ilan

 

[Ilanortho]

Nice work. Thanks. Ilan

Well I was really uncomfortable(like yourself ) driving around with my rebuilt engine.Only because it cost so much.I went overboard.I used all standard auto gages and senders.Now I never have to worry.

View attachment 90357

 

[Ilanortho]

Thanks for your input. Ilan

I added a set of gauges a number of years ago next to my instrument panel in the cockpit. Here's the link:

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=753456&highlight=allan12210

There is no need for the ammeter (if you monitor volts) as it really limits the ability to recharge the batteries efficiently with the alternator and it can pose a fire hazard with a lot of current in a small gauge wire. I've removed mine and upsized the wire directly from the alternator to the house bank. A future project may involve the addition of a shunt to a microammeter (calibrated to read in amps) which will eliminate the issues with the previously installed ammeter.

 

[Ilanortho]

Thanks. Ilan

Gearing up to do that soon. I decided to put the temp and oil press gauges in the little aft cubby on the port side so the gauges are easily readable from the wheel. I have a voltmeter and an hourmeter just to the left of the original panel but they are tough to read without squnching down in the cockpit. Just haven't gotten there yet.
Several H-34 owners here have done gauges already and folks have put them in different places. I think some will chime in with info and pictures.

Need to note that I have owned the boat since 1991 .. The urgency of putting the gauges in has risen and fallen over the years.. The Yanmar is a great little engine and the more I lived with it, the more confidence I have developed. I am a gearhead, and I figured I needed the gauges, but it is not an urgent need.

 

[heart of gold]

Re: Engine Instrument Panel

i like it! nice work