James B, James L and I got the engine completely detached yesterday. It took us about 3 hours, including a trip to the hardware store.
While detaching the engine, we discovered another problem with the system that neither of the mechanics who checked out the boat discovered. James B found a small clear round piece of plastic in the bilge. At the time we didn't know what it was and figured it was just flotsam that somehow ended up there. It turned out to be the entire bottom of the raw water strainer! This means that at some point, the engine not only lost oil, but also lacked water to the heat exchanger. Not sure why either of the mechanics who checked this out managed to miss that the entire bottom of the strainer was missing! We have no idea when this was broken.
Detachment went smoothly, as we carefully detached and labeled each wire and hose. The last step, releasing the engine mounts resulted in a quick trip to the hardware store. It seems that none of us possessed a 15/16" socket, and the nuts for the engine mount required one. We also needed a swivel for the sockety wrench since the port side engine mount is almost impossible to reach. Since I tend to measure my projects in terms of hardware store trips, this part of the project was pretty successful.
Saturday morning we will lift the engine out and get it to the shop. We are not sure yet whether we will use Phil's cherry picker or the boom and main sheet to do the removal. It will depend on how well we can get the cherry picker stabilized, either on the boat or dock, and just how much reach it has.
Hopefully we will be able to dodge the rain showers predicted for today.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Planning Continues
I spent the weekend studying the Service Manual for our engine. It's amazing how many parts a "simple" engine has. The manual does a good job of setting out just how everything comes apart (and how it should go back together. It even contains warnings and tips about how to do certain things.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The planning process begins
Everyone met last night at PYC for a cookout to start the planning process. After a close examination of the engine in the boat, we think we have figured out the mechanics of removing the engine out of the boat. Luckily Capital Yachts designed this boat well, with excellent access to all sides of the engine.
We decided that next Friday, we will work to detach the engine from the boat. On Saturday, when there will be more people available, we will use the boom with the main sheet as a block & tackle to lift the 255 pound engine, move it forward into the galley and then lift out of the boat and swing it to a waiting cart. The most difficult part of the process may be getting the cart up from the docks to the parking lot. Luckily the river is pretty high at this time of the year, so it should be doable.
As we do this work, I plan to take lots of photos and post them here.
We decided that next Friday, we will work to detach the engine from the boat. On Saturday, when there will be more people available, we will use the boom with the main sheet as a block & tackle to lift the 255 pound engine, move it forward into the galley and then lift out of the boat and swing it to a waiting cart. The most difficult part of the process may be getting the cart up from the docks to the parking lot. Luckily the river is pretty high at this time of the year, so it should be doable.
As we do this work, I plan to take lots of photos and post them here.
Welcome
This is the blog for Raven, a Newport 30 MKIII. She is owned by Sue Burns and based at the Portland Yacht Club in Portland, OR.
During a race over a year ago, the oil sending unit on her Universal diesel engine broke off and spewed oil everywhere! This remained unnoticed (and there was no low oil alarm) until the engine suddenly started running roughly and then quit. After being towed to the dock, we discovered that the engine was in need of a complete rebuild. We finished that race series (PYC's Mauni Elliott) after the race committee graciously towed us to and from our slip each day for the race.
My husband, Edward, started having health issues, so Raven sat in the water patiently waiting for someone to take care of her. In January this year, Edward passed away. At his memorial service, my wonderful racing crew decided that Raven should be ready for Opening Day in May of this year.
This blog will chronicle our rebuilding of Raven's engine. With many thanks to my wonderful crew (and their wives, who are lending them to this project). Raven's crew:
During a race over a year ago, the oil sending unit on her Universal diesel engine broke off and spewed oil everywhere! This remained unnoticed (and there was no low oil alarm) until the engine suddenly started running roughly and then quit. After being towed to the dock, we discovered that the engine was in need of a complete rebuild. We finished that race series (PYC's Mauni Elliott) after the race committee graciously towed us to and from our slip each day for the race.
My husband, Edward, started having health issues, so Raven sat in the water patiently waiting for someone to take care of her. In January this year, Edward passed away. At his memorial service, my wonderful racing crew decided that Raven should be ready for Opening Day in May of this year.
This blog will chronicle our rebuilding of Raven's engine. With many thanks to my wonderful crew (and their wives, who are lending them to this project). Raven's crew:
- James Benson (and wife Robyn)
- James Lockaby
- Rod Richards
- Brian Fanslu (and wife Jessica)
- Stephan Frankland
- Phil Ragaway
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