Messages

It seems strange that westerbeke wants to insure the fuel is filtered properly.  This inline filter is only for 80 microns.

Ron:  Here is a picture.  I should have put it on the first time.  These are all threaded fittings.  The filter screws horizontally into the elbow in the bottom of the pump.  You can see the filter touching the pump above the elbow connection.  I would think that many M35B engines are the same way so there must be a simple explanation for installing this correctly.  When I get back to the boat I will use teflon tape and screw the filter in until almost touching the pump body.  Unless someone else has a better idea.


Ken

There is a small inline filter at the inlet to the fuel lift pump on the M35B engine.  The original filter leaked slightly from day one.  It took me a while to find it.  The seam in the casing of the filter looked to be bad and my broker said they would check into it.  While installing the new one I figured out what had happened.  I tightened it too tight and the filter casing rubbed up against the bottom of the pump.  I did not notice this at first and tightened a couple more turns.  This broke the seal of that seam in the filter and thus the leaking.  The original installer must have done the same thing.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Do I simply not tighten it as much.  Can I put teflon tape on this joint?  I thought I saw somewhere in the manual not to use tape on these joints close to the pump and injectors.

Thanks,
Ken 

I have noticed the same thing with my boat.  I anchored a lot last summer and the "sailing at anchor" was much more than other boats I have been on.  Is there some kind of anchor sail for split stay boats?  Those floppy things you hang off the sides look too unwieldy.

Ken

Serge,

I have hull #1715 wing keel.  I would glady take the measurements you want, but my boat is 800 miles away.  I am going there april 18 to uncover and work on it, but would not be able to get back to you for a couple weeks.  I found the C34 to be easily handled.  I say this with nothing to compare it to.  My previous boat was a pearson 30, 10 hp diesel, bad transmission, on a mooring, very very little docking.  When I got the C34 my wife and I immediately took it through the champlain/erie canal and many marinas to the north channel of lake huron.  I thought it handled very well.  Give me the measurements you need and I will get back to you when I can. 

Good luck this summer,
Ken 

Could someone give me the name of a good marina around Midland, ON?  I plan on storing our boat in that area next winter, before doing the Trent Severn canal the following summer.  We would only be storing it for one winter and would not have a cradle or jack stands.  Also if anyone has done the trent severn canal, I would like to hear some words of advice.  Will I have trouble with a C34 and wing keel of 4.5' ?

Thanks,
Ken

I have the M35B engine in my 2005  C34 MK II.  When starting, the key is turned to the second postion, all the way to the right.  This starts the glow plugs.  While I am holding the key in this position, is the fuel being pumped?  Does it simply go through the return lines back to the tank?  In the first (start) position, is the fuel pumping just the same, only without the glow plugs on?  If I want to bleed the fuel lines, do I simply turn the key to the first position and look for fuel wherever I want it to bleed?

Ken

I don't mean to complicate things, but I find these anchor threads very interesting.  I just read in the January "Latitudes and Attitudes" where some guy, after years of cruising the world, has come up with 2 rules for sailors.  One of these being that you should have an anchor a minimum of 2# per foot of boat length instead of the usual 1#.  This is quite different than the small anchors a lot of people seem to be using.  Has anyone gone with the heavier anchors?

Ken

I have the same thing in my boat, and have been wondering what it is.  I was planning on opening it this spring.  If it is empty, let us know what ideas you have for it.

Ken

In the "towel bar in head" thread, Ron Hill mentions an alternator door.  I have a 2005 MK II and would like to know what this door is?  I plan on installing a starting battery and see no easy way to get at the wiring on the starter.  I was wondering if installing an access door from the head to engine compartment was feasible?  Did previous boats have this door?

Thanks,
Ken

In an earlier post (electrical upgrade), I wrote that I was planning on installing a separate AGM start battery to go with the two original 4D deep cycle wet cell batteries as the house bank.  I asked Jack Rabbit Energy people about using the Digital Duo Charge unit to combine them.  They suggested I use the Echo Charger even though I am using different battery types.  Their words were:  
    "The use of a charge sharing device is very good in that means that ALL charging sources can be directed to House bank and the device shares that charge with the Start bank.  I would recommend the use of an Echo-Charge (15amp max.) versus the DDC (30 amp max.).  Both are quality devices but you do not need 30 amp capability for the Start bank."  

I asked about the different battery types and their reply was:  
    "The charging program for deep cycle wet cells and AGM are virtually identical (within .02 volts).  Since the Start bank is NOT being deep cycled, the wet cell charge voltage should be just fine."

Does this sound okay?  Should I use the Echo Charger and save a few dollars?

Ken

For a start battery, is there a minimum MCA I should be looking at?  The engine is the universal M-35B.

I like your advice I think it is the right way to go, but I am tempted to jump right in with the bigger alternator and everything else.  The main thing keeping me in line is the short time I have to get ready.

Thanks,
Ken

The 2005 C34 comes standard with a Charles 30 amp SP 5000 charger.

Ken

Thanks,  
Glad to hear this.  I am going to use 3" lettering too.  The sign people said the same thing.

Ken

Thanks for all the advice.
I have letters in to Charles electronics and Jack Rabbit telling them what I am doing and will probably be back on this forum with more questions.  The smart thing for me to do with the new boat would be to spend this summer on it as is and make sure everything is working like it should.  As things work out, my wife and I are leaving Lake Champlain, going through the Erie Canal into the Great Lakes to the North Channel.  Unfortunately (but I am not really complaining   ) this requires a short timeline in getting our boat ready to sail (we hope to be leaving before mid June).  The one thing I did want to do was put in the separate starting battery.  The setup I am planning on completely isolates the starting and house batteries.  The alternator will run directly to the house bank along with the shore power charger.  The only connections between the two banks will be through the duo charge and engine ground.  Not running the shore power charger to the start battery means one less wire to run.  I will read up on the Digital Duo Charge and see if I understand it and the Jack Rabbit marine people sound like they are very willing to help.

Ken