Looking for a H37C on the US west coast

[yuginot]

Hello, this is Guy. I am a new member to this site. I have been looking for a H37C for a while, however most of the boats are not on the west coast. Average delivery fees to ship the vessel are between $8k-12k depending on the start city. I have come very close to purchasing at least 3 H37Cs, however due to previously unknown difficulties, the sales have failed. If you are one of those sellers, I would like to personally thank you for helping us out. The knowledge we have gained has helped us refine our process. Do any of you know of any available on the west coast?
We used to live-aboard a Southern Cross 31 for about 10 years. One year was spent sailing from WA to MX then to CA. I was not happy with the SC31 as an ocean cruiser and I do not recommend one. (Too heavy, slow, some poor construction details, etc.). I am very impressed with the H37C overall.

Guy
KC6ICA

 

[Steve Dion]

One just sold in Northern Ca. for about $24k. It had some problems, but it was in good over-all condition.

 

[Ed Schenck]

There are a couple on the Great Lakes. You should move. Cheaper than transporting. I am surprised there are only ten on Yacht World: http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/cache/searchResults.jsp . Amazingly one is in my old marina(Huron, OH). And where I am having my boat trucked back to from Florida. It's also a '79 with the smallish 2QM20 diesel. There is one in San Francisco but you probably know that. It is a buyer's market so maybe you could work transportation into the price.

 

[yuginot]

We presently live in MN and want to move back to the west coast. An employment change. This forum has been very informative on the details of the early Hunter designs. We will keep the search up. Thanks...Guy

 

[rardiH36]

Maybe Go North a Few Hundred Miles?

The Cherubini Hunter 37c is undoubtedly a fine boat. But not all that much smaller is the Hunter Cherubini 36 (which I have one.)

Here's a link to one for sale at $25k in Portland, Oregon:

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...rrency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=77186&url=

I believe this boat has been listed for a very long time and the price is now dropping to very attractive levels. If the boat has been located on the fresh water Columbia River for a long time, that should be a plus. The climate there has a lot of rain, but the temps get below freezing almost never, and certainly not by much and for not very long.

Due to the normal prevailing wind, sailing North from SF to the Pacific Northwest I've heard is often an ordeal. But sailing south to San Francisco is quite doable. Anyway, its an alternative to a SF located boat. Cheaper than trucking for $8-12k.

In Sausalito, at the next Marina to me is a Cherubini 37c. For three years, I've never seen any action around it whatsoever. The boat in need of care and work will be required. I can't imagine that the owner has much motivation in owning a boat. If you really really have interest to give consideration to it, I can ask around for anybody that might know how to contact the owner. Below is a picture of the boat.

 

[yuginot]

Re: Maybe Go North a Few Hundred Miles?

I like the 37C exclusively due to the interior layout with the aft quarter stateroom (for my young son), separate shower stall (wet showers are harder to clean ever night), cutter staysail, etc. I was surprised to enjoy the cockpit main traveler (79-81), like a race boat, however it would interfere with an all weather cockpit cover. The boat in Sausalito looks like a 79-81 yr. Looks like she has been left alone for a while. If you ever see anyone on or around her, I would like to know more...Guy

 

[rardiH36]

Re: Maybe Go North a Few Hundred Miles?

As I went out today, I noticed the neglected H37C in Sausalito that I posted about is no longer there. I hope that its future is looking up.

 

[yuginot]

Hello all, We bought a '79 H37C in Portland, ME. We will be moving aboard sometime in the spring. By the way, does any one have a suggestion for either rebuilding the old Yanmar 3QM-30 or replacing it with a newer Yanmar or other manufacture's engine?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Congratulations Guy! You are fortunate to find a '79 with the 3QM. Most, like mine, came wiith the 2QM20. As you can see in Hunter Owner Mods a couple of us have upgraded to the 3YM30. Besides being new and having easier access it is over 200 pounds lighter than my old 2QM20. But the 3QM30 is a great engine. Do you know that it needs work? And where will you be moving aboard? I assume you are trucking it west.

P.S. just now saw your other post with pictures. Sweet!

 

[Mark Price]

Hello all, We bought a '79 H37C in Portland, ME. We will be moving aboard sometime in the spring. By the way, does any one have a suggestion for either rebuilding the old Yanmar 3QM-30 or replacing it with a newer Yanmar or other manufacture's engine?

2 Years ago when I had a leaking Transmission on my 3QM30 I learn that the transmission is no longer made and if any thing happens to them they might not be repairable meaning you would need to replace the engine if you can not find parts for the tranny.

If you do replace your engine make sure you get a good price for theTransmission as I had to spend $800 for a rebuildable one. Would help offset a bit of the cost for the new engine.:dance:

Mark

 

[sandpiper10471]

Welcome aboard, Guy!
My suggestion is that if there is nothing seriously wrong with the 3QM, keep it. They last forever if looked after properly. If you want an engine for parts, I have one with a fractured head. Otherwise, super engine.
I replaced my 3QM30 with a Nanni diesel 3N30 (Kubota block). Has more torque but not quite the same hp. Far quieter and over 200 lbs. lighter. Comes with a 100 amp alternator, built in oil change pump and best of all, the legs fit the original engine stringers.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[sandpiper10471]

Ed S - where was the "other post with pictures"? I haven't found it yet.

 

[Blaise]

Midnight Sun came with the 2QM20 with an after market freshwater cooling system from Sendure. Mack Boring engines was the supplier. When Hunter upgraded to the 3QM30, the engine supplier put the same freshwater cooling system on it which was too small. A lot of engines were cooked. I replaced the 2QM20 when it had 4400 hrs on it. It was still running fine, but I was being transferred to Puerto Rico and didn't want to have to change it down there. That was in 1990. It is still going strong in an Islander 36. I replaced it with a 3GM30F. It was the biggest engine Yanmar had at the time that had compression releases. I feel the boat is a little underpowered, although it easily pushes the boat into the low sevens. (7.2-7.4) The 3GM30 now has over 5000 hrs on it and it going strong. The biggest pain in the A** with the new engine is that the forward and reverse gear ratios are different. Pairing a much slower shaft speed with a folding prop, results in minimal backing ability. The QM series engines were the same in both directions. The other big difference is that the 2QM20 had a redline of 2200 rpm, and the GM series redline at 3600 rpm. The 3GM30f is also much lighter coming in at 297 lbs., although I don't think the boat would mind if you put a small block chevy down there.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Would it plane with a 283 Blaise? I think the aft cleats are strong enough for a ski tow.

 

[emilbec]

Talking about engines -- I am in process of replacing my 3QM30 with a Universal M35B (four cylinder). Haven't been aboard due to the weather, but the mechanic says it fits well and is much smaller (and lighter) than the original. BTW I have the old 3QM30 available for anyone who wants to make a reasonable offer (note Mark's -- see you in the spring -- remarks above about the tranny). The engine has had some overheating problems, but starts well. Can say anything about the tranny, but it worked last fall.

 

[rardiH36]

Regarding the comment about overheating problems with the after market Sendure fresh water cooling system that Blaise mentioned. I'm wondering are the 3QM30 engines actually overheating to dangerous levels, or is it just that the engine alarm is going off? I mention because my 2QM20 has the after market FW cooling add-on. A heat exchanger is mounted on a bulkhead. For my engine, the thermostat housing was not changed from the engine's original raw water cooling configuration. Hence, the only thermostat that will fit is Yanmar's 140 degree version. And unless the engine temperature alarm sensor was changed to a 170-180 degree type, the alarm should go off at 140F or just above. A true self-contained anti-freeze system is designed to work at the 170-180 F level. So if you've got a 140F thermostat and matching alarm, when the alarm goes off at 140 F, it may be that the alarm threshold is lower than it needs to be -- there is still some head room before things get critical. Just a thought.

I became aware of this because a PO of my boat (or maybe it was the after market installer) had installed a 170 degree engine alarm sensor on my 2QM20 which I didn't realize until the day I forgot to open my raw water seacock. Fortunately, I think that because of the 140F thermostat, the radiator cap on the Sendure external heat exchanger had been matched to be a very low pressure one. I'm not near my boat, but from memory, I think its rated at 6-7 lbs vs. 10-12 lbs needed for 170F degree operation. The first indication of my closed seacock problem was steam billowing out into the cabin area. The alarm didn't go off. Instead the 140F matched low pressure cap released and gave me a stomach turning warning that something was amiss. I'm relatively sure that I got the engine shut off well before damaging temperatures had been reached. Immediately after the event, in addition to replacing the run-dry shredded impeller, I also bought a 140 degree alarm sensor switch from my Yanmar dealer.

Waters in San Francisco Bay rarely get above the upper 50's. I bet we have a lot fewer overheat problems than you folks that sail in 70 and 80 degree waters!

 

[yuginot]

Hi Guys, Thanks for all of your responses!
When we move onboard this spring from MN, we will have lots to do. The engine had a leaking block to head lube tube that was brazed. I need to clean up the engine then run it to see if any thing else needs care. I did replace our 2QM15 after a rocker tower broke while running. I could not get a replacement part at the time. I bought a new 3GM30F at a boat show for around $6K and installed it myself in our Southern Cross 31. It worked very well. I worry about part availability with this engine. As for other work needed: 1) the most difficult will be the soft deck on the coachroof. Deck appears stiff so far; 2) Porthole replacement, all 11 of them, New Found Metals has 2 types of ports that look interesting, Trimatrix (plastic and stainless) $1.3K, and stainless ports $2.8K; 3) insulate in interior, as there is quite a bit of sweating inside causing possible damage to the interior and discomfort to the inhabitants; 4) install either a diesel heater or stove. I installed a Dickinson Bristol stove, with the old propane stove top mounted behind and higher for faster cooking in our SC 31 and these did us well for 9 yrs. This boat used to have a Newport bulkhead mounted heater. Heater would be much easier than the stove to install, but the addition of being able to cook on the stove while heating is nice. 5) Install a windless and heavier roller: on the SC 31 I made heavy stainless with two bronze rollers for our 45# Bruce and 35# SQR plus a manual Sea Tiger windless with 300' all chain rode. This system worked very well for years. However with the manual windless, I did like anchoring as shallow as possible; 6) Change cushioning in staterooms: we spent the nights in the v-berth and as usual the cushioning was poor. We made our own bed of different weight and thickness of foams on the SC 31. While sleeping on the port settee berth, the back extension mounts broke off. I need to modify the way the back mounts along side the seat to extend the berth to a double.
So much to do! I am sure this list will increase in size as time goes on. We will start with the items that make the boat more comfortable and safe for living aboard. Then move on to items for passaging, short first, then long. Take Care all...Guy

 

[Mark Price]

Ed S - where was the "other post with pictures"? I haven't found it yet.

You will find it here: http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=120541&page=3

Mark

 

[emilbec]

They are pretty boats!!!