ENGINE ROOM (?) MODS

[chet p]

THE ENGINE IS COMING OUT OF HARRIET'S CHARIOT TODAY AND THE NEW ENGINE MOST LIKELY WILL NOT ARRIVE FOR ANOTHER 7-10 DAYS.... I WANT TO DO EVERYTING RIGHT TWICE....(THAT BEING FIRST AND LAST)..... I AM PLANNING ON SOME FORM OF VIBRATION ABSORBER BETWEEN THE COUPLING HALVES....REPAINT AND SPIFF UP THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT...MAYBE EVEN ADD SOUNDPROFFING...I KNOW I WILL CUT SOME ACCESS PANELS IN THE AFT QUARTER BERTH ON THE PORT SIDE...WHEN I PURCHACED THE BOAT IT DIDN'T HAVE A WATER HEATER BUT I MIGHT AS WELL ADD ONE NOW BEFORE THE ENGINE GOES IN...I AM CONSIDERING THE FORCE 10 S/S 6 GAL MODEL FROM DEFENDER FOR ONLY $169 PLUS SHIPPING AND A $10 REBATE....HOW CAN I GO WRONG?(HELP ME HERE)....I AM PLANNING ON ADDING 6V GOLF CART BATTERIES BUT DON'T THINK THAT THER IS ENOUGH ROOM IN THE ENGINE AREA PLUS THE HEAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM SO I GUESS I WILL LEAVE THEM IN THE STARBORD LOCKER , BUT WILL MOST LIKELY PUT THE STARTING BATTERY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE AS NOW THERE WILL BE EXTRA ROOM AFTER REMOVING A 4-107 AND REPLACING IT WITH A WESTERBEKE 35C...ANY OTHER GOOD IDEAS AS WHAT I SHOULD DO IN THIS AREA BEFORE I PUT THE ENGINE IN....SHOULD I ADD ANY FORM OF ENGINE VENTILATION, LIKE A BLOWER TO SUCK OUT THE HOT AIR? ANY INPUT IS HELPFULL AND I WILL POST THE PROGRESS ON THE PHOTO FORUM (IF I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO POST PICTURES) THANKS CHET P

 

[Ed Schenck]

Keep good notes!

What a great project. Keep good notes along with your pictures. Write if you need details on how to cut that q-berth access. It was kind of humorous when I first came on HOW four years ago. Most of the H37C owners could not understand why I was having so much trouble getting access to the engine. But they all had the later models with the access panel already there. Some have also opened up the rear panel of the q-berth for even more storage.You will have easy access to the hot water heater with the engine out. Would be a good time to replace/repair anything related. Up here on the Northcoast we add the kit for easy winterizing plus a drain hose to the bilge. Will you add a new uplift muffler? Doubling up on the insulation will be helpful. But then you might want an exhaust fan into the starboard locker or cockpit if you plan to put a battery in with the engine.I'm sure more ideas will be forthcoming. Good luck with the project.

 

[Sam Lust]

It's true

This type of drive system is the tecnicly correct way to do a drive on any boat. The force is transferred to the hull directly via a thrust bearing mounted directly to the hull, and the shaft is connected via two universal joints, or even better, and more expensive, constant velocity joints, as seen on the front half shafts of your front wheel drive car. The engine can dance any kind of jig it cares to but the boat just chugs along without the vibration we all put up with. There are several companies selling the system and components now, and If I recall, our own Kevin L. Woodie of P Y I is one of them. If you want to throw some worthwhile money into your boat this would be a nice way. And we'd all love to hear how it worked out with someone else paying the ticket!

 

[Sanders LaMont]

ventilation

My 1979 37c had a Yanmar 30 (27 hp) installed early on, and the then-owner installed a ventilation fan near the bottom of the engine (near the thru hull) where it would boost more air into the engine compartment by pulling through the floor grate.It looks like a refrigerator fan, comes on with the ignition switch, and seems to work.But, it is very vulnerable as we are always bending the blades when messing around with the ending. A shielded fan might be a better idea. I have no idea if it helps or not, but it seems to work and (so far) I've had no engine compartment overheating problems... Sanders