New buyer engine survey

Porchhound · October 03, 2022, 09:45:24 AM

We have put a deposit down on a 1986 Catalina34. My engine surveyor is booked out months ahead so I'm on my own to a point. The boat surveyor is very knowledgable but not an engine specialist. I know the alternator bracket was upgraded but the salesman and the current owner are pretty clueless about the boat. Two owners back several upgrades were done but I can't find anything on the M25 other than the alternator bracket. How do I check the status of the riser? Anything else I should be paying attention to on the boat or engine? I've found general articles on surveying sailboats but nothing specific on the MKI.

Thanks in advance.

Noah · October 03, 2022, 10:10:36 AM

Here is my opinion (caveat:I am not a mechanic).
If you are doing engine survey yourself, I would recommend:
1. Check oil and check coolant. Should be up to levels.
2. Check for obvious signs of previous leaking and significant rust
3.Run engine up to temperature for awhile and check it for visible leaks, both water and fumes. Then run it for awhile at WOT (wide open throttle. Should reach approx. 3200 RPM
4. Look for broken motor mount while running. The engine will/should vibrate/shake at idle and eventually smooth out as RPMs increase.
5. Make sure alternator is charging batteries

Read the Critical Upgrades section of this website. It will be a big plus if any, or all those items have been completed. If they have been done, it shows the boat has been taken care of. However, if some have not been, you should do them yourself after you buy the boat. None of these upgrades are sale deal breakers in themselves.

1986 is an old boat and you should expect it will need some attention.

Good luck on your purchase!

Porchhound · October 03, 2022, 12:58:34 PM

Thanks for your reply. I noticed the tech notes begin with 1987. My potential boat is a 1986. Is there another area I should be checking?

Noah · October 03, 2022, 01:13:26 PM

Those dates have little to do with the year of the boats. I wouldn't bother with the Tech Notes as my first go to. I would check "Critical Upgrades" on the main Message Board. It is a boldfaced sticky topic above where your topic is posted.

https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.0.html
Also look at Tech Wiki

https://c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Diesel_Engine

Ron Hill · October 03, 2022, 04:57:20 PM

Porch : One of the most obvious thing to check is are there any hoses that are painted the same color(old looking bronze) as the engine. Id so, I'd surely change all of those 1986 hoses!!! FYI, your engine originally came with a "Black Pipe" (iron) exhaust riser.

Then as Noah mentioned Look at all of the critical updates and then parous the Mainsheet tech notes!!

A few thoughts Good Luck and Welcome Aboard!!

Noah · October 03, 2022, 05:12:34 PM

Ron— hoses painted bronze aren't necessarily original. Neat-nik folks like me (many years ago) COULD have touched up the engine with spray paint and sprayed the hoses too??? You will need to touch and squeeze hoses to check for flexibility and cracking.

KWKloeber · October 03, 2022, 09:33:00 PM

@hound

With really good, clear, and complete pix there can be a lot of info and cautions that we can see/help ID for you.

Read this thread for an example
https://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=9567.0

Cheers
Ken

Porchhound · October 04, 2022, 11:41:50 AM

Can't seem to "insert Image"

KWKloeber · October 04, 2022, 12:30:50 PM

Attach them rather than inserting them. Theres a size limitation and you may need to resize them.

How many?

You can email to me using the envelope icon link to the right
<<<<>

Porchhound · October 04, 2022, 01:17:34 PM

Here are photos of the M25 in the C34

Ron Hill · October 04, 2022, 02:24:20 PM

Porch : Your first photo is baffling and most certainly NOT of a C34!!

A thought

Porchhound · October 04, 2022, 02:49:59 PM

Well...either that was a "test" or I (perish the thought) stuck a photo in the wrong folder. Sorry about the confusion and thanks for catching it. Do you see anything in the remaining photos to be worried about?

fatamorgana · October 04, 2022, 08:16:03 PM

I believe the first photo is a side view, looking through the door in the starboard wall (in the aft cabin).

scgunner · October 05, 2022, 08:06:20 AM

Porch,

It looks like a motor that's been maintained and well cared for. What stands out to me is it looks like regular maintenance parts are being replaced, the motor and engine compartment are clean and the engine compartment insulation has been replaced. Somebody has been taking care of this motor.

What surprises me is nobody has asked the question I'd be most interested in, how many hours on the motor?

tvorgitch · October 05, 2022, 08:28:54 AM

Two things I noticed after purchasing my C34:

1) The oil pressure switch was disconnected, which explained why the oil pressure alarm and light did not work. The reason it was disconnected was that it had failed, so it was done to stop the alarm. No one seem to notice the lack of alarm.

2) Tach showed very low hours for a 1993 boat. While trying fix the non-working alarm I took the instrument panel out and I noticed that the tach had a manufacturing date of 2007, it it has obviously been replaced.

I have been told that both this issues were outside of a normal survey.