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Thanks for that idea. I can’t say it had crossed our minds before you mentioned it.
The owner has ordered the electric motor kit, and is picking up eight, six-volt batteries shortly. He and another pal of ours hauled out the old Westerbeke last weekend and has begun the preparation for the conversion. I think he’s got a line on a larger prop that’s a better match to the electric motor’s output. He is determined to keep the compartment as original as possible so that he can put it back to diesel power without too much work, if that becomes desirable.
I’ll keep you posted as the work progresses.
John
I’ll post specifics as things fall into place. It was a Cal 40, not Catalina 40, owner he’s talked to. Here’s a link to his story.
Thanks, Mike. 14 LH 6 it must be.
The owner’s looked into the electric route thoroughly. It’s going to run $9K for equipment, including batteries and a small genset for extending their range. This same set up has been used on a Catalina 40 with a high degree of owner satisfaction. I think he’s going to tackle most of the install himself (he does have a background that’s related). If not, the cost will obviously go up considerably.
I’ll keep you posted of his progress. At some point, I know he’ll show up at a Dickerson event, so you’ll get a chance to check out the conversion first hand.
John
Looks to us like it’s stamped 14LH6. Any chance that 6 could really be an 8?
He’s looking at a 48V system from these guys: http://www.electricyacht.com/
Thanks.
John
We moved Koshka from Trappe to Deal Island about a month ago. About eight hours of the trip were without wind, so we ferried her along with an inflatable with an outboard strapped to her port side during that time, sailed the rest. The owner is strongly considering an electric motor, having had about enough of the diesel experience. He needs to know the specifics on the prop. His surveyor said it had an eight inch pitch, but the photo he has of it looks like a six. Anyone know the standard prop dimensions?
The owner talked with Paul. He was very impressed. Paul felt that the owner had followed a reasonable course in trying the used 4.107. He knew the mechanic, Oscar, and felt he probably had done a reasonable job. Oscar was in an accident and now is out of the picture. the owner wants to move the boat to a friend dock in Deal Island (Chance). This with no engine. Anyone willing to tow us out to the Choptank from Gateway Marina next Saturday?
John
tifenni wrote:To see a http://www.mmolive.com/ and http://www.mmohome.com/ world in a granda of stand.And a heaven in a wild flower.Hold infinity in the palm your hand and eternity in an hour.Been there, done that! Now what about having Paul Rybon’s contact info in the palm of my hand?
John
Latest update, and it’s not good news. The engine install was completed, the engine fired and ran briefly. There were then some loud clanging noises (I’m getting this second hand, from the tearful owner, and he himself wasn’t present at the event) and the engine quit. It will not restart. I’m hoping maybe it’s air in the fuel lines. If Oscar the mechanic at Gateway Marina in Trappe can’t get it going, we may want to try the above recommended Paul Rybon. Does anyone have contact info for him?
Thanks.
John
The engine is now mostly installed. I believe it just has some electrical connections remaining. The owner is recovering well and plans to spend a couple of days on the boat starting the 11th. We will probably help him move it from Trappe to Deal Island the following weekend or, if it isn’t quite ready, Labor Day weekend. I’ll have a final update and some pics after that.
John
The owner’s heart surgery went well. He’s got about 3.5 more weeks of not being able to drive, then we may all head to the boat in Trappe and try to move it to Deal Island, where he can keep it with a friend for free. If I get an update on the engine install progress, I’ll let you know. If I get up there myself, I’ll get some pics to post.
John
I pushed for option 1 myself, not that that matters much. The owner/friend went with option 3. The yard is supposedly FINALLY making some progress matching up mounts and shaft, but the owner/friend is scheduled for open heart surgery tomorrow, so his focus is elsewhere at the moment. He’s an otherwise extremely healthy 52 year old, so I expect he’ll bounce back quickly and, as soon as the docs okay it, will be at the boat in Trappe and checking out the progress. I’ll let you know what I hear. He was very disappointed not to make the Dickerson get together this year, but is determined to make the next one.
Just in case they run into issues, though, can someone provide me with contract info for Paul Rybon?
thanks
John
The used 4.107 is now in the boat. The yard says the transmission is shorter and two of the engine mounts don’t match up. There’s also some issues with getting the exhaust to connect. I’ll let you know as these get resolved. We were hoping to move her from Trappe to Deal Island on the 16th, but that may be optimistic.
John
Engine update: My pal has bought the used 4.107. He’s listened to it run and gets a good vibe both from it and the sellers, who are diesel professionals. The engine should go into his D36 next week. As he nears its installation and operation, a couple more questions have arisen.
1. The shop is changing the engine’s oil and oil filter before it’s put in. What other filters/belts/etc. should he change? Can you get a minor repair/tune-up kit, like I can for my Yanmar? I think he’s got a primary fuel filter hanging on the engine compartment’s wall. He’ll attend to that. Where would you source the Westerbeke bits? Go2marine lists a fair number of Perkins filters http://www.go2marine.com/category/17155/perkins-diesel-engine-parts.html?mfrno=645
2. He’s not sure what to do with the existing fuel in the tank. Assuming it’s roughly half-full of fairly old fuel, would you have it replaced with new fuel, perhaps adding a biocide, or have the existing fuel polished and then top off the tank? I don’t know the condition of the tank currently.Getting close to having her back on the Bay!
John
I still want a Traction Avant. Nothing like a French gangstermobile. And those door handles are to die for!
Speaking of oddball dream cars, my wife and I were looking at 60’s MB SLs when we lived in Germany in the early 80’s. Went to the Netherlands to see one (passed on it as it’d had a green metallic respray over the original burgundy). The architect owner took us to his super secret storage area where he had an old Gestapo staff car hidden. The strangest thing was, while sitting on his patio discussing cars in general and what he thought was my sloppy shifting technique specifically, his wife blurted out that her dream wheels would be an AMC Pacer! It was hard keeping the Riesling down after hearing that.
Back to boating. My D36 pal has lined up a diesel mechanic to go look at the used 4.107 with him next week. I’ll report back on how that goes soonest. He was considering (after all the degreasing of the engine room and bilge) going with electric power, until he talked with the owner of one of those companies. Total cost there would’ve been pushing 10K, too, and he wouldn’t have been looking at anything like 40HP.
John
Not to get too far into the automotive, but my sister had a Peugeot 403 when I was in high school back around 1966-67. I borrowed it for a big date (my Bug was in the shop) and, at the end of said date ran it off a darkened country road that suddenly turned right. The Peugeot went down into a deep ditch, back up and out, through a rutted field of brambles and finally back on the road without my even downshifting. I learned that night the value of impressive suspension travel! This was back when Peugeot used to clean up in those rallies across the African bush.