New (old) H27 owner...and a REALLY dumb question...

[puddlejockey]

Hi all,

My wife and i are (probably) picking up an '82 Cherubini H27 that we found in pretty good shape for it's age, and I need some help!

I'm buying it from an older gentleman who can no longer sail, so it's been serving as a floating condo for him at the marina for a few years. I'm having it pulled to inspect the hull before cash changes hands ( smart), but B/C of his condition I have to sail it about 20 miles in an inland lake this weekend...in order to get it pulled and check it's seaworthiness.

Its got the sweet little Yanmar 1 banger that's clean and seems in good shape....but where's the fuel gauge??!?? The original owner pointed to a gauge and said "its got half a tank".....which was the volt meter. I didn't have the heart to press the guy.

Since I haven't sailed in several years ( and the halyards are fuzzy), we're going to motor it down for the inspection; and I've made sure that we have all the required safety gear ( plus) for our journey Saturday.

I think I've found most of the issues...including one rotted core area on the port side between the two port windows, both hatches leaking, and the above mentioned main halyard. It's got a CDI furling on it that looks new-ish; holding a Genoa that houses more spiders, dust, and general funk than I would've thought possible.

But i love her already....and I dunno why.

But seriously..I've looked at the drawings and crawled all over that boat....where the hell did they hide the gas gauge??

THANKS!

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Lots of boats never had one so I'd assume none exists. It shouldn't be a large tank so why not just fill it and eliminate any surprises.

 

[Johnb]

If you look in the area above where the tank is and spot a small round hatch or opening the gauge may be under that. On my Cherubini it is just a mechanical float attached to a needle that indicates level.

 

[MetricMountie]

Fuel Gauge

Puddle Jockey, when I bought my 1982 Cherubini it had a gauge but it had been installed by the PO. You should be able to get a visual on the tank to check it's level before filling via the cockpit lazerette.

 

[cbsailor]

On my previous 81 H27, the gauge was a mechanical one installed in the 12 gal tank. Access to the gauge was located in the starboard lazerette. Look for a square access panel (has rounded corners). Look inside for the little dial on top of the tank; its about one inch or so in diameter. Loved my H27 and think you will too.

 

[kloudie1]

He may have been pointing to the hourmeter? I don't have a gauge and go by a half gallon an hour .. That engine probably uses less, but you can figure conservatively .. 40 miles at 4 knots average is 10 hours.. so if ya have 5 gallons, you can make it there and back. Take that with you..try to get the 5 gallons in before you take off .. be sure ya have a spare filter or two for the primary.. and make sure ya know how to bleed the diesel system.. Ya may find a mechanical gauge in the tank as Cb said.. Good Luck !

 

[Skipper Dave]

This is what I found in the starboard lazerette on my 77 H27 when i bought her late spring. You see a 12 gal tank with the gauge on top. The gauge works great so far. It said 1/2 tank, and when I drained it I got 6 gals. out of her. I don't think my Yanmar SB8 likes diesel fuel because she sure doesn't use much.

 

[puddlejockey]

Thanks very much, guys! I'll check it out ..and dig through the 20 years of rotted PFD's that need to be tossed to see if its under there.

I think I have a pretty good "crew" for this inspection voyage, although I'm still more than concerned that I'm the most "experienced" sailor that'll be on board...and I use that term loosely!
BUT I'm taking a buddy who happens to be a diesel mechanic, another friend who's a dive instructor and rescue swimmer....and my wife is now joining us to tell me why I'm wrong.

I'm really excited about her...she hasn't had a registered name since 1982....but I'll certainly have to watch pouring money into her that I'll never, ever see again.

Once the Hull is inspected and looks good, I'm having the bottom painted and the halyards replaced; and will update the Depthsounder ( it works but is hard to read) and start fixing leaking hatches and deck seams. Any other specific things that "really should" be done while she's out of the water? Prop replacement, etc??
Many pics and questions to follow

 

[amcmahon]

Strongly recommend having spare fuel fillters with you on your 20 mile insection run. If fuel has been sitting, good chance it will clog filters. Check the drip rate on shaft packing. Tighten if needed. If it has not been changed and you decide to repack, remember there are 3 layers of packing - you need small corkscrew like tool to pull old out. You should also know that ice box drains to bilge. There are ways to deal with, but for another post. Best of luck with - have had my 1984 h27 for 10 years now and still love it!!

 

[Nelsonhow]

The missing gague

is on top of the tank........

 

[TDudley]

My 81 27 had a non functioning fuel gage on the port side beside and under the pilot berth. It was electrically operated and seemed original to the boat.

Have fun. I have owned mine since 08 and also love her to death. If I ever won the lottery I doubt I sell her.

 

[puddlejockey]

Just as an update, guys; We made our maiden voyage for inspection without major issue...although visibility was less than 100 feet when we left the dock. We were waiting for the fog to burn off ( which it did , about an hour after reaching the boat yard...)
but decided to give it a shot since the lake was empty, and the running lights are fine.

Then the bass tournament started......

I didn't get her under sail, but there weren't any HUGE issues that would've caused me to back out, so shes in for a bottom job as we speak.
( Hell...by the time we made it to shore, my wife was researching custom teak hatchways and new cabin furniture....what choice did I have? )

 

[anchorclanker]

( Hell...by the time we made it to shore, my wife was researching custom teak hatchways and new cabin furniture....what choice did I have? )

My wife was very scared when I started talking sail boat. But she came out, and she came aboard, and we sailed a few times. She has always had a deep fear of water, but says she doesnt know exactly why she likes the sailboat and why it relaxes her. I believe its the peacefulness, as well as some ancient connection to mariners. Powerboats simply dont have that connection.

 

[knot sure]

Puddle Jockey - great tale. Glad you made it to the boatyard safely. I have a 1981 Cherubini 33', and I use a dipstick and a spare can of diesel - both of which I keep in the lazarette. The advice amcmahon offered about spare fuel filters is good idea.

Since you're out of the water, why not get a full marine survey done? If for no other reason, it will give you a pretty thorough "punch list" to get your "new" boat up to snuff.

Just remember what "BOAT" stands for: "Break Out Another Thousand!"

 

[puddlejockey]

Good advice, Knot; and I lucked out on the survey.

The boat yard manager has been repairing and rigging sailboats for over 20 years, and was kind enough to spend a few hours going through the boat before the owner got there to negotiate. I trust him- and it's amazing how far you can get by admitting that you don;y know what you're doing. It gave me both bargaining room and a very good idea of what we were in for...

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Puddlejockey--

Puddle, it sounds like you did very well with this bargain. It's a great little boat and you won't regret it. And I admire your restraint in being willing to say 'I don't know' to the rigging guy. Now you have gained an education. (See how easy that was?)

There is a long-held adage in the yacht-sales business that 'if you sell the wife, you sell the boat.' Congratulations on that one. Anchorclanker has become eerily aware of that weird connection women have to the water-- it's more than intuitive; it's almost instinctive. So long as she is comfortable with wave action and heel angle, she'll be fine.

Keep us all updated on how everything moves forward!