Samofa 4 cyl DQ45 - New boat/no clue!

UsailIbail! · #1 (**permalink**) 11-11-2011

Hi all,

We just purchased a 42' steel ketch made in Holland in '81. It is a very well built boat... built to the top standards for the era, but last week it was one step away from the scrap yard! Enter yours truly. Crossing paths with this vessel is a life dream come true for me. It will be gutted out, new decks etc. but in the end a true world voyager. But the biggest mystery for me is the SAMOFA 4 cylinder DQ45 (also built in Holland). It looks in good shape but I have done a brief internet search and am dubious about the availability of parts. I am hoping to be able to use it after a rebuild but right now I don't know if that is possible (to find parts to rebuild) I have reasons to believe it has about 5,000 hrs on it without a rebuild but there is no way to know... the previous owner has passed away. I am hoping for some good news to follow up on but I am bracing myself for the worst. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. The boat will be on overland transport in a few days and I am not sure I drained the block well prior to it coming from Florida up to the frozen climate of Vermont... I am worried that I will freeze it up if I do not have it drained within a few hours if its arrival here.

Please! ANY details/leads would be appreciated.

No photos of engine available yet.

Sail on!

Jay

captbillc · #2 (**permalink**) 11-11-2011

look for drain plugs in the block, water cooled exhaust manifold, heat exchanger, oil cooler. transmission cooler . some old transmissions had a water drain in the case , drain the sea water pump, sea strainer and water lift muffler. don't forget the head & holding tank . i pump RV antifreeze through that and the fresh water system. drain fresh water tanks. look for anchor wash down pumps. i hope things will not freeze up on the way.

UsailIbail! · #3 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

thank you very much! that's way more than we've done.... please keep suggestions coming, because we need all the help we can get!

thanks!
ebben

DRFerron · #4 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

I poked around Google and it looks like the Samofa diesel was a marinized tractor engine much like the diesel engine in our boat.

Mitsubishi took over the Samofa engine in 1980 according to this site:

MHI Equipment Europe BV - Corporate Information

UsailIbail! · #5 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

Does that mean that we can get parts thru Mitsubishi for Samofa engines?

ebben

DRFerron · #6 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by UsailIbail!

Does that mean that we can get parts thru Mitsubishi for Samofa engines?

ebben

Possibly. I didn't look that far into it. You'll have to email or call a Mitsubishi dealer.

deniseO30 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

You bought a steel boat that was about to be scrapped? Then you say it's going to be gutted and new decks built? And it's going to be a world cruiser? Sorry, but wouldn't a new engine, driveline, genset, and other critical mechanical systems be the lesser of the very large expenses your about to start paying for? I can't begin to guess the cost of gutting a steel boat just to find 30 some years of rust! The refitting the new decks, then refitting the interior,

I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to see photos of this project! Silly question was it surveyed?

May the restoration gods smile upon you! welcome to sailnet!

dabnis · #8 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

Usail,

Totally agree with Denise. I don't know what your experience level is but you might want some input from professional steel boat builders before sinking any more money into the project. I chipped a whole lot of rust while in the Navy Reserve, it grows everywhere, even places you can't get to. With all due respect, there may be a reason it was about to be scrapped?

Dabnis

UsailIbail! · #9 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

The only reason it was about to be scrapped was because of an estate settlement... The lady selling it couldn't find a buyer so she was going scrap it instead. It was quickly surveyed and we were told that the hull was in EXCELLENT shape... my dad worked on world cup race boats, so I think he probably can figure this out!!

ebben

dabnis · #10 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by UsailIbail!

The only reason it was about to be scrapped was because of an estate settlement... The lady selling it couldn't find a buyer so she was going scrap it instead. It was quickly surveyed and we were told that the hull was in EXCELLENT shape... my dad worked on world cup race boats, so I think he probably can figure this out!!

ebben

My apologies, I didn't know. Best of luck to you!!

Dabnis