M25 XP photo forensics

[Noah]

Don't be discouraged. While I am not a "mechanic", IMO nothing looks so worrisome on the engine that would preclude you from taking the boat out while you get to know it and proceed to do maintenance/mods to get all issues squared away. In the meantime, I would invest in some towing insurance for peace of mind. TowBoat US offers unlimited towing for $149 per year and covers your area.

[anon]

Thank you Noah.

[Ron Hill]

 ABI : Looking at that harness connector again I would challenge your statement "all the critical upgrades were done including the harness". 
It looks to me like a new connector on the engine side, but the old gummy connector on the wire bundle side going back to the engine instrument panel - best check that out to be sure!!!

A thought   

[anon]

@Ron: I wrote: "It seems that I was lied to by the PO, somebody I know! He said that all the critical upgrades were done including the harness and that the engine had been serviced and inspected by the local (supposedly reputable) diesel experts at the harbor".

[KWKloeber]

It looks to me like a new connector on the engine side, but the old gummy connector on the wire bundle side

Ron, JFFR in case you see one again.  They are both OE plugs.

The black is a Universal rubber plug (alternate to the Universal white plug) as I showed here:
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,9562.msg72117.html#msg72117

Some Universal plug halves were a harder white, some were black rubber.
CTY/Seaward/Bristol plug halves were always gummy bear amber.   
The nearest that I've found is to qnaw on a cherry and an orange at the same time, and come up with an amber. 

PLUS EQUALS

[KWKloeber]

Albi,

Yeah you got what I call a "buddy job."   

It happens, but the good news is that, from the photos, there doesn't seem to be anything that's a show stopper.  I've seen a LOT worse.

(for now) Check your hoses -- an hour job.  Replace when you pull her.
(for now) Check Hx for gunk.  A pinhole leak and you can still limp home.
Your riser can start leaking and you can still limp home.
Change oil and a new filter/ change tranny fluid.  Just in case those are also buddy jobs.
Change fuel filter?  Yah, but it hasn't screwed up your injectors yet, so the primary has defo been doing its job.
(for now) do one of the quick harness fixes. Tackle the big job when you pull her.
  a- eliminate fire hazard  <$20
  b- get into better condition <$30
  c- into best condition w/o replacing it <$40

You're not talking a lot of time to check her out and get the most important into shape (presuming you don't uncover some sleeping giant.).

Then go sailing.

Best way to find reputable help is by recommendation.  Befriend Catalina owners at the marina.  Ask.  Explain.  Listen.

ken

[anon]

That's great Ken. Thank you so very much.
Hx?
Love the gummy bear analogy. 

[KWKloeber]

Heat exchanger

[anon]

Duh! I never claimed to be bright 

[Stu Jackson]

You are to bright!  You bought a C34, didn't ya? 

When you replace the hoses, look carefully at that hose from below the freshwater coolant pump to the elbow under the alternator.   It goes from 1" to 7/8".  You can pay Universal big bucks for it, or you can go to an auto parts store and buy a Toyota hose for $11.  Do a search on Toyota here to find the part #.

[KWKloeber]

It goes from 1" to 7/8".  You can pay Universal big bucks for it, or you can go to an auto parts store and buy a Toyota hose for $11.  Do a search on Toyota here to find the part #.

There's a second way to skin that cat if the Toyota hose ever goes "no longer available." Or you just hate spending $11 for a short, non-marine hose.  That is to replace the Westerbeke pipe elbow with your own elbow.

3/4" copper tubing is 7/8" OD, and the female end of a copper tubing sweat fitting is 1" OD.

So for instance:

A 90-degree 3/4" street elbow is 1" OD on the female "hub" end, and 7/8" OD on the male "socket" end, or
A regular 3/4" elbow is 1" on the hub end, and 7/8" on the other end when you sweat in a stub of tubing.  You can extend the length of the 1" end by sweating a coupling (which is 1" OD) to the elbow.

So, if you construct (using whatever combination of fittings you choose) your own (reducing) pipe elbow, you can replace the 1" x 7/8" specialty hose with a short length of "normal" hose.

Example below on a pre-alternator-bracket-upgrade engine.

ken

[britinusa]

Good info Ken, thanks.

Paul

[bayates]

Look for a local marine repair with Catalina experience and references. I have 2 really good ones in San Diego. They have worked on my C30 and C34.