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Apparently I'm not meant to have a boat...

57K views 454 replies 66 participants last post by  jimgo 
#1 ·
I'm crushed. The 1980 Allmand 31 we just purchased may be about to be parted out. The damping plate exploded in the engine when the boat was moved from VA to the Northern Chesepeake. The marina was just out to look at it, and they say that the motor mounts were shot, most of the hoses in the engine should have been replaced, the prop shaft was misaligned and cutting through the hull, and the transmission is likely shot. The cost to repair everything will likely exceed the value of the boat.

I had the boat surveyed by someone who was recommended by two different marinas in that area. I can't believe he missed some of these issues.
 
#419 ·
Is the holding tank in the head? If not, the smell would not be from failing to pump it. If it is, they're usually not a permeable material, so its probably the hoses that stink, or possibly leaking connections. Permeated hoses and bad connections never get better and your wife may always turn her nose up....

I would replace them. Lousy job, not terribly expensive, but is DIY. Most people do not take proper care of onboard waste systems and cause odor. They should not smell. If you start over, you can insure they never do. Get Peggy Hall's book Get Rid of Boat Odors. It's the bible. Your wife will thank you and you won't be on the receiving end of criticism when you just want to go cruising.

Get Rid of Boat Odors: A Boat Owners Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor: Peggie Hall: 9781892399151: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51c0oAGGw1L.@@AMEPARAM@@51c0oAGGw1L

Then get Raritan K.O., which I think she invented and sold them the rights.
 
#426 ·
Is the holding tank in the head? If not, the smell would not be from failing to pump it. If it is, they're usually not a permeable material, so its probably the hoses that stink, or possibly leaking connections. Permeated hoses and bad connections never get better and your wife may always turn her nose up....

I would replace them. Lousy job, not terribly expensive, but is DIY. Most people do not take proper care of onboard waste systems and cause odor. They should not smell. If you start over, you can insure they never do. Get Peggy Hall's book Get Rid of Boat Odors. It's the bible. Your wife will thank you and you won't be on the receiving end of criticism when you just want to go cruising.

Get Rid of Boat Odors: A Boat Owners Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor: Peggie Hall: 9781892399151: Amazon.com: Books

Then get Raritan K.O., which I think she invented and sold them the rights.
Minnie recommendation is spot on. Use the Trident green stripe sanitation hose ( comes in black and white). It is far superior to almost everything else.

I spent today putting another hole in Haleakulas hull. It was for a second holding tank vent. I put a 1 inch one right under the Rub rail and put drilled a new fitting into the holding tank ( it was gross, stunk and was done quickly)
I did this to give better aeration to the holding tank. The original C&C spec was a 1/2 inch vent hose. Just didn't seem to be enough. We didn't have a smell, but when it reached the 1/2 full point ( 12 gallons) to much pressure on the toilet handle IMHO. Now its a breeze. Peggy says the more aeration the better:):)
 
#423 ·
No rush. Get her wrung out, get comfortable with her. We've been with you this long (in spirit), we will wait for you. Have fun!
 
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#427 ·
I bought her book and am working my way through it. Once the head is pumped out, I plan on rebuilding the head and replacing the hoses. Since I was going that far, I was planning on removing the macerateor pump and related hoses. I don't expect to be in a position to do overboard dumps any time soon, and the pump takes up some prime real estate. I also need to make sure the vent isn't clogged. I looked for it a few weeks ago, but didn't see it. I was perusing my online photos the other day and saw where it is, so that's a good start!

Regarding the furler, I am not sure of the brand. It uses a track with two slots (though the sail only goes in one of them) and the furling line wraps inside an enclosed drum. The job halyard attaches to a car that rides up the track and the head of the job is attached to the car. The car serves as the swivel. There is a picture of the furler in my gallery, but I can't link to it (typing on my phone).
 
#428 ·
Think about that since you are close to the ocean, and I can forsee ocean trips for you in the future in the Ocean . It's way easy to dump once out three miles. Nice to have the option. All it is is a y valve and either hand or mascerator pump. Can be a ***** if you re offshore looking for a pump out and I'd hate to come in an inlet just or that if I was full.

For someone inland I can understand. But a small pump and one hose to a thru hull isn't a big deal. Especially if its there already.

Jut think about it.

Dave
 
#430 ·
BTW, wasn't discounting the advice. Just thinking that it wouldn't be hard to put it back in in the future, and at this point we're probably going to be staying in the Bay at least into 2015. I expect/hope to be pumping out regularly, too.

But your point about "emergency" situations is well made.
 
#431 ·
Can you leave the Y in then, to make it easier in case you decide a different place to put the pump at a layer date, then youll only have to add hose and pimp. Where's the holding tank located? How large is it?

I understand the room thing. I've seen that when everything is in the head especially. That's always an important factor and every boat is different. We lived without a mascerator for 4 years. Once we started traveling, offshore it was a no brainier, and all off our stuff, including the holding tank is under the v berth where there is a ton of room.

The y is located after the holding tank.one branch to the deck pump out, the other to the mascerator and thru hull.
 
#433 ·
In thinking about it more, I don't think I can do the KISS holding tank arrangement because my tank is below, or nearly below, the waterline.

I'd love to order the hose so I could have it for this weekend, but I have no idea how much I need, and at $7.50/foot, I don't want to over-order by too much!
 
#440 ·
For those still following this thread, Dragon Wing is in her new slip. We left Rock Hall on Sunday, spent the night in shallow water behind Reedy Island in the Delaware, and then headed to Cape May on Monday. We made the trip from Utsch's to Forked River today.

Thank you all VERY much for all the encouragement, good wishes, and helpful advice. The trip went off without a hitch, and I give y'all a lot of the credit.
 
#441 ·
Congatulations, Jim!
Welcome home!
I'm glad you stuck it out, even in the dark times. May you have many happy voyages together.

It would be a *very good thing* if the mods would make this thread a sticky, to be an inspiration for others who find themselves in circumstances similar to what you started with.

Well Done!
Gary
 
#445 ·
To close out this thread, again, thank you all VERY much for all that you've done. I especially want to thank Dave (Chef2Sail) for his encouragement here and behind the scenes, and Chuck (ChucklesR) for the initial use of his slip. Dave gets an extra shout-out, though, because it was he who urged me to get the dodger done before heading out for this trip. While I'm sure we could have gotten by without the dodger, it was a huge help the first day when it rained for part of the trip. My cousin and I traded off hiding in the shelter of the dodger while the other person steered. For anyone interested in reading more about the trip, I tried to do a semi-"live blog" of the trip in my blog.
 
#449 ·
Hey Jim,

I know you have tried to close this thread a few times, but thought I would chip in my $0.02 worth.

I have the same engine as you, the 5416, fitted to my Bristol 29.9. I recently did a complete rebuild and overhaul of the entire engine, (but not the transmission), replacing or refurbishing every component that showed signs of wear (or in the case of my engine, damage).

I wanted to pass along two things:

These are old but simple, solid engines that can be rebuilt by anyone with just a bit of mechanical inclination (I had never touched a diesel before), and parts are readily available from Kubota dealers and online Kubota sources at reasonable prices.

There is at least one weakness I know about - the raw water pump. If the seals on this pump fail, raw water will be admitted to the crankcase. This is invariably not a good thing.......:rolleyes:

I'm not a mechanic or anything like one, but if I can be of any assistance with details on the engine or parts, don't hesitate to ask. Sorry I don't live in your neighborhood, or I could help in person.

Eric Irvine
S/V Selkie
1980 Bristol 29.9
 
#450 ·
Eric, thanks a lot! I appreciate that. We essentially rebuilt the back half of the engine. I hope to get at least a few years on her before I do the front half! At least for that part I shouldn't have to pull the engine completely out of the boat.

How long did the rebuild take? Did you keep a full list of the parts you used? It might be a good separate thread here.
 
#451 ·
Jim,

Didn't keep a real close track on time, 'bout 2 weekends to dismantle (down to last nut and bolt). About the same to reassemble.

Machine shop cleaned block, head etc and did all the grinding, pressing etc. I basically just did the teardown and reassemble.

Wok done was somehting like this this: Flushed out oil passageways and replaced block plugs; skimmed head and block faces; replaced all bearings, seals, gaskets; re-sleeved cylinders; new pistons & rings; cut out valves seats and replaced seats, valves, guides and seals; reground crank and fitted new bearings; new injector pump and injectors; new injector camshaft bearings and seals; new governor internals and refurbished rest of governor; rebuilt alternator and starter; new engine mounts. Phew.

Engine runs great now.:)

I have Kubota part numbers for everything in a spreadsheet. Glad to share that or anything else I can help with.

Eric
S/V Selkie
1980 Bristol 29.9
 
#452 ·
Just re-read the whole thread.
Did I miss it?
Did anyone mention what the yard bill ended up being.
We have a pool going here and need to know who wins.:)
 
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