What the F*#k!!!

[denbot]

After months of back and forth, dickering, boatyard drama, and endless paperwork on our side borrowing money from OURSELVES, the boat we are trying to buy left the boat yard today.

The current owner flew across the pacific to put her in the water and tested it around one of the local harbors. Part of the delay in the yard was getting a more expensive anti-siphon water muffler and a over priced siphon break (316 Stainless steel) installed along with a damn near new engine. The muffler I got from the expert on our type of boat was rejected by the yard's "expert", and after conferring with the current owner he decided that we would go with what the yard foreman suggested install.

Today the current owner flew in to inspect the boat. He later told me he questioned the what and why of the installation with the foreman and operations manager who both insisted that the installation was correct even though there was no siphon break in the intake side of the engine.

After motoring around the current owner shut down the engine, and went to dinner then called us to tell us that he is in town and the boat is in the water. On our side today we got word that finally the loan was approved and the funds are being released.

An hour after Alley and I broiled steaks for the family to celebrate, the owner called back and said that he came back to the boat turned the engine and discovered it was hydro-locked. Another words water siphoned back in to the engine filling the cylinders and jamming the diesel engine. It turns out they never installed the raw water intake siphon break. WTF!!!

Tomorrow the current owner will talk to the yard people and see if they will fix it on the yard's dime. Who the fuck knew that buying a sailboat could be such a fucking pain in the ass.

[Enthusiast]

1. Shit. I think that can actually

bend the rods. Complete engine rebuild.

[denbot]

3. The current owner called back and said everything is normal..

I went there after work and we went through the start up and shut down. The engine runs flawlessly. He said he asked the yard foreman and operations boss and they had no idea why the engine seemed to lock last night. The expert on these boat is being paid by the current owner to come down again and give his opinion on the install and everyone is going with his recommendations.

The boat will be pulled tomorrow to check the alignment of the shaft has there is a slight vibration.

The motor purrs so I don't think it's damaged but I'll let the expert tell me what to think.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. I know it does in a gas engine - some "jet-boats" in CA have raised water cooled exaust

.
.
.

and if you do not shut off the water to the exhaust before you shut the engine down,

water leaks back down through the open exhaust valves

and if in the right position when the engine tries to crank over,

it WILL bend the rods.

If it happens on the LAST usage for a long period of time,

the salt water does all sorts of mayhem with bearings, seals etc.

I made a whack of money fixing one of them jet-boats when I lived in San Diego 30 years ago

that's what happened - some nice guy lent his boat to a friend, and he forgot the shut-down procedure.

I expect there is some sort of safety devices/warnings by now?

Like I said, my experience was 30 years ago, and it was a gas engine -

427 Chevy maxed out - - think 3 4-bbls.

what a boat!

[cbayer]

2. I knew what a PITA it could be.

:hide:

[denbot]

4. .

:spank: LOL!

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. What kind of sailboat?

We will be putting ours in the water in a few weeks.

[cbayer]

7. What kind of boat do you have?

:hi:

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. We got a Catalina 34.

Have to sail it down to the Chesapeake in May. It is on Long Island right now.

[denbot]

10. We got a Westsail 32.

The former owner and I motored her south to King's Harbor where I tracked down and installed a shifter bracket, and I had to reinstall a different raw water siphon break. Yesterday Alley and I motored her the rest of the way home to our slip in Wilmington.

Introducing the soon to be renamed Bellatrix:

>

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. Congrats. Love Westsails. Good, solid boat. n/t

[cbayer]

13. Just beautiful, Denbot!! Can't wait to see you over the island.

:hi:

[oneshooter]

6. Descripition of a boat

"A hole in the water you throw money into."

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[cbayer]

8. Another: Boat owners are happy on only two days - the day they buy their boat,

and the day they sell it.

Lol.

OTOH, it can also be an inexpensive way to live off the grid and maintain maximum freedom of movement. My monthly living expenses are miniscule compared with what they were on land.

:hi: