Perkins 4.236 Service

Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear about the most. I appreciate your input!

Welcome to our Group Keenan.. There is a wealth of information and friendship here.In my opinion, you have bought one of the best cruising sailboats anywhere. I till have my Cal Cruising 46, Hull #3, SATORI , which I bought from Jack Jensen's estate 15 March 1982. That's correct, 35 years of loving the same boat. Jack had SATORI built for himself by Jensen Marine, who built all Cal boats. Shortly after, he sold the company and sailed around the world. When he returned to Newport Beach, he passed from a rare blood disease at the young age of 53. I knew this was the boat I wanted to satisfy our cruising dreams, so as soon as she came on the market, I bought her outbidding the designer Bill Lapworth. Knowing we would be retiring and sailing away in 1988, we did some short cruises and even raced the Newport to Ensenada Mexico race several years. With 400 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of water, she's not a "racer", but with my all female crew we did well placing in the top five in class. Being a "car guy" and having Harleys, MG's, Triumph's, hot rod Fords etc. I love engines, so having completed my three college degrees, I attended trade schools in SoCal, completing courses in marine diesel engines, transmissions, outdrives and outboard repair. SATORI's Perkins 4.236 had over 13,000 hours, was running great, but consuming one quart of oil each 24 hours. You can live with that oil consumption, but I intended to overhaul the engine. Then I found a new 4.236 available in Long Beach, where I kept my boats. A local University professor was planning on retiring and doing some commercial fishing. He had built a 30' boat and a new 4.236, but passed before completion. I bought the engine from the widow at her asking price, which was less than the parts to rebuild my old engine. How many hours does your engine have?What year was your boat built? It was not my intention, but my cruising years, 1988 to 2003, I enjoyed helping other "Cruisers" who did not have a clue about engines, gears, 12 volt systems, etc. After a few years in the Sea of Cortez, Central America and the Caribbean, I learned to keep my mouth shut and only helped those in serious trouble. When we swallowed the anchor in Bayou Chico, Florida, bought a waterfront lot, built home and dock, I re-started my business BSH Marine LLC - rebuilding boat engines. My business partner and I only rebuild Perkins engines, primarily 4.108's as over 500,000 were built. Mostly used in farm and industrial equipment, but many used in 30 - 40' sailboats. We have been booked up for years as it takes my "Younger" partner, (only 73) and I two weeks to to do a rebuild. Other than change oil and filters, adjust the valves yearly, clean and calibrate the fuel injectors each 1,000 hours, replace raw water pump impellers, flushing the raw water system, etc. my Perkins 4.236 is running perfectly 3,600 hours and 30 years. Your cooling system may need maintenance, like removing the heat exchanger, oil coolers and rodding them out or I start with soaking them in vinegar or secondly swimming pool acid. Early on I installed a garden hose fitting, tee-ed into the raw water pick up just inboard of the thru hull valve. When setting at my dock, I connect a garden hose to that fitting, open the thru hull valve and run the engine, gradually closing the valve and running on fresh water. After replacing the raw water pump impeller I warm the engine up, set 700 RPM's, place a five gallon bucket that has some dive weights in it to get below the exhaust and use a stop watch to see how long it takes to fill. Then each few months, I can test water flow. It sounds as if you may have a blown head gasket. I would check compression first. Send me a message if you want direction. If the head gasket is leaking coolant outside the engine, it is probably loosing compression while running, then when shut off, coolant may leak back into the cylinder. If enough leaks back and the engine starts!!!! Water is virtually incompressible, so there goes a piston and conn rod. We buy most of our Perkins parts from Transatlantic Diesel in Virginia. Let me know what other parts you may need and we can help. Enough for now, I am happy to help even though I had a heart attack Saturday 10-21, but got a stent installed Monday and back home Tuesday. Glad that did not happen on one of our longer passages. We have not done any long distance cruising since 2007 when I was overdosed with the antibiotic Gentamicin while in a hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery. The DREAM was still alive, but sailing or any boating with a failed vestibular system, (No balance) is difficult. The only boating I have done the last ten years is on our 25' deckboat or our 22' Panga fishing boat, then after an hour I lay down on the bean bag and rest. Unfortunately, I must sell my Cal 46, as it would be foolhardy to venture offshore with my health challenges and 79 year old body. Anyone interested, check in off this list to… [at] bshmarine.com Tom From: "Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:03 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear about the most. I appreciate your input!

Holy heck!! I just learned a lot about things I didn’t know I wanted to learn about..but glad I did! “the more I know, well, the more I know!” Tom, Thanks for taking the time to type all that up! ..tom From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2017 1:13 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com; Keenan Smith Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Welcome to our Group Keenan.. There is a wealth of information and friendship here. In my opinion, you have bought one of the best cruising sailboats anywhere. I till have my Cal Cruising 46, Hull #3, SATORI , which I bought from Jack Jensen's estate 15 March 1982. That's correct, 35 years of loving the same boat. Jack had SATORI built for himself by Jensen Marine, who built all Cal boats. Shortly after, he sold the company and sailed around the world. When he returned to Newport Beach, he passed from a rare blood disease at the young age of 53. I knew this was the boat I wanted to satisfy our cruising dreams, so as soon as she came on the market, I bought her outbidding the designer Bill Lapworth. Knowing we would be retiring and sailing away in 1988, we did some short cruises and even raced the Newport to Ensenada Mexico race several years. With 400 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of water, she's not a "racer", but with my all female crew we did well placing in the top five in class. Being a "car guy" and having Harleys, MG's, Triumph's, hot rod Fords etc. I love engines, so having completed my three college degrees, I attended trade schools in SoCal, completing courses in marine diesel engines, transmissions, outdrives and outboard repair. SATORI's Perkins 4.236 had over 13,000 hours, was running great, but consuming one quart of oil each 24 hours. You can live with that oil consumption, but I intended to overhaul the engine. Then I found a new 4.236 available in Long Beach, where I kept my boats. A local University professor was planning on retiring and doing some commercial fishing. He had built a 30' boat and a new 4.236, but passed before completion. I bought the engine from the widow at her asking price, which was less than the parts to rebuild my old engine. How many hours does your engine have? What year was your boat built? It was not my intention, but my cruising years, 1988 to 2003, I enjoyed helping other "Cruisers" who did not have a clue about engines, gears, 12 volt systems, etc. After a few years in the Sea of Cortez, Central America and the Caribbean, I learned to keep my mouth shut and only helped those in serious trouble. When we swallowed the anchor in Bayou Chico, Florida, bought a waterfront lot, built home and dock, I re-started my business BSH Marine LLC - rebuilding boat engines. My business partner and I only rebuild Perkins engines, primarily 4.108's as over 500,000 were built. Mostly used in farm and industrial equipment, but many used in 30 - 40' sailboats. We have been booked up for years as it takes my "Younger" partner, (only 73) and I two weeks to to do a rebuild. Other than change oil and filters, adjust the valves yearly, clean and calibrate the fuel injectors each 1,000 hours, replace raw water pump impellers, flushing the raw water system, etc. my Perkins 4.236 is running perfectly 3,600 hours and 30 years. Your cooling system may need maintenance, like removing the heat exchanger, oil coolers and rodding them out or I start with soaking them in vinegar or secondly swimming pool acid. Early on I installed a garden hose fitting, tee-ed into the raw water pick up just inboard of the thru hull valve. When setting at my dock, I connect a garden hose to that fitting, open the thru hull valve and run the engine, gradually closing the valve and running on fresh water. After replacing the raw water pump impeller I warm the engine up, set 700 RPM's, place a five gallon bucket that has some dive weights in it to get below the exhaust and use a stop watch to see how long it takes to fill. Then each few months, I can test water flow. It sounds as if you may have a blown head gasket. I would check compression first. Send me a message if you want direction. If the head gasket is leaking coolant outside the engine, it is probably loosing compression while running, then when shut off, coolant may leak back into the cylinder. If enough leaks back and the engine starts!!!! Water is virtually incompressible, so there goes a piston and conn rod. We buy most of our Perkins parts from Transatlantic Diesel in Virginia. Let me know what other parts you may need and we can help. Enough for now, I am happy to help even though I had a heart attack Saturday 10-21, but got a stent installed Monday and back home Tuesday. Glad that did not happen on one of our longer passages. We have not done any long distance cruising since 2007 when I was overdosed with the antibiotic Gentamicin while in a hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery. The DREAM was still alive, but sailing or any boating with a failed vestibular system, (No balance) is difficult. The only boating I have done the last ten years is on our 25' deckboat or our 22' Panga fishing boat, then after an hour I lay down on the bean bag and rest. Unfortunately, I must sell my Cal 46, as it would be foolhardy to venture offshore with my health challenges and 79 year old body. Anyone interested, check in off this list to… [at] bshmarine.com Tom _____ From: "Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:03 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear about the most. I appreciate your input!

I am dazzled by and grateful for all that information! Thank you Tom V., and take good care of yourself. Helen Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 7:44 AM, 'TomDressler' tb… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Holy heck!! I just learned a lot about things I didn’t know I wanted to learn about..but glad I did! “the more I know, well, the more I know!” Tom, Thanks for taking the time to type all that up! ..tom From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2017 1:13 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com; Keenan Smith Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Welcome to our Group Keenan.. There is a wealth of information and friendship here. In my opinion, you have bought one of the best cruising sailboats anywhere. I till have my Cal Cruising 46, Hull #3, SATORI , which I bought from Jack Jensen's estate 15 March 1982. That's correct, 35 years of loving the same boat. Jack had SATORI built for himself by Jensen Marine, who built all Cal boats. Shortly after, he sold the company and sailed around the world. When he returned to Newport Beach, he passed from a rare blood disease at the young age of 53. I knew this was the boat I wanted to satisfy our cruising dreams, so as soon as she came on the market, I bought her outbidding the designer Bill Lapworth. Knowing we would be retiring and sailing away in 1988, we did some short cruises and even raced the Newport to Ensenada Mexico race several years. With 400 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of water, she's not a "racer", but with my all female crew we did well placing in the top five in class. Being a "car guy" and having Harleys, MG's, Triumph's, hot rod Fords etc. I love engines, so having completed my three college degrees, I attended trade schools in SoCal, completing courses in marine diesel engines, transmissions, outdrives and outboard repair. SATORI's Perkins 4.236 had over 13,000 hours, was running great, but consuming one quart of oil each 24 hours. You can live with that oil consumption, but I intended to overhaul the engine. Then I found a new 4.236 available in Long Beach, where I kept my boats. A local University professor was planning on retiring and doing some commercial fishing. He had built a 30' boat and a new 4.236, but passed before completion. I bought the engine from the widow at her asking price, which was less than the parts to rebuild my old engine. How many hours does your engine have? What year was your boat built? It was not my intention, but my cruising years, 1988 to 2003, I enjoyed helping other "Cruisers" who did not have a clue about engines, gears, 12 volt systems, etc. After a few years in the Sea of Cortez, Central America and the Caribbean, I learned to keep my mouth shut and only helped those in serious trouble. When we swallowed the anchor in Bayou Chico, Florida, bought a waterfront lot, built home and dock, I re-started my business BSH Marine LLC - rebuilding boat engines. My business partner and I only rebuild Perkins engines, primarily 4.108's as over 500,000 were built. Mostly used in farm and industrial equipment, but many used in 30 - 40' sailboats. We have been booked up for years as it takes my "Younger" partner, (only 73) and I two weeks to to do a rebuild. Other than change oil and filters, adjust the valves yearly, clean and calibrate the fuel injectors each 1,000 hours, replace raw water pump impellers, flushing the raw water system, etc. my Perkins 4.236 is running perfectly 3,600 hours and 30 years. Your cooling system may need maintenance, like removing the heat exchanger, oil coolers and rodding them out or I start with soaking them in vinegar or secondly swimming pool acid. Early on I installed a garden hose fitting, tee-ed into the raw water pick up just inboard of the thru hull valve. When setting at my dock, I connect a garden hose to that fitting, open the thru hull valve and run the engine, gradually closing the valve and running on fresh water. After replacing the raw water pump impeller I warm the engine up, set 700 RPM's, place a five gallon bucket that has some dive weights in it to get below the exhaust and use a stop watch to see how long it takes to fill. Then each few months, I can test water flow. It sounds as if you may have a blown head gasket. I would check compression first. Send me a message if you want direction. If the head gasket is leaking coolant outside the engine, it is probably loosing compression while running, then when shut off, coolant may leak back into the cylinder. If enough leaks back and the engine starts!!!! Water is virtually incompressible, so there goes a piston and conn rod. We buy most of our Perkins parts from Transatlantic Diesel in Virginia. Let me know what other parts you may need and we can help. Enough for now, I am happy to help even though I had a heart attack Saturday 10-21, but got a stent installed Monday and back home Tuesday. Glad that did not happen on one of our longer passages. We have not done any long distance cruising since 2007 when I was overdosed with the antibiotic Gentamicin while in a hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery. The DREAM was still alive, but sailing or any boating with a failed vestibular system, (No balance) is difficult. The only boating I have done the last ten years is on our 25' deckboat or our 22' Panga fishing boat, then after an hour I lay down on the bean bag and rest. Unfortunately, I must sell my Cal 46, as it would be foolhardy to venture offshore with my health challenges and 79 year old body. Anyone interested, check in off this list to… [at] bshmarine.com Tom From: "Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:03 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear about the most. I appreciate your input!

Keenan, I just serviced a heat exchanger from my Perkins 4-108. It was pretty well clogged with calcium deposits. I soaked it in diluted swimming pool acid for several hours and it cleaned up really well. You would need to remove the exchanger from the boat and remove the zincs. And get a large enough plastic tub to be able to submerse it. I diluted the used bath a bunch more (to be like swimming pool water) and disposed of it down a storm drain. I also painted the exchanger and replaced the rubber end gasket (see my post from 9/28 for a picture). This process was much easier than I had anticipated. Good luck, Duane Duane Knize S/V Marlyn 1978 Cal 2-39 #18 berthed: Emeryville, CA kn… [at] san.rr.com On 10/25/2017 7:02 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December > in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. > My goal was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I > just finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a > line. I had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. > I also added spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome > addition. > > Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have > been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, > and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to > tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I > noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the > head gasket is shot because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat > would stuck until about 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to > 180 which is why I did the thermostat right away. Luckily, compression > seems fine and I’m really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. > > I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, > servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got > low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is > clogged since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. > > My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to > hear about the most. I appreciate your input! > > > >

Hi Tom, Thank you for responding to my message. You sound like exactly the right person to know! You've had quite the interesting life and I can only hope I can get as much time at sea as you have. The previous owner had owned the boat for 30 years and it was difficult for him to part with but I think he felt reassured that I would take care of and enjoy it as much a he had. I'm 35 and my wife and I spent quite a while searching for the perfect boat and I agree, it's one of the best cruising boats out there. I can only hope that we're still enjoying it in 30 years. I was shooting for a 36 foot hunter vision and my wife insisted that if we were going to buy another boat, it would have to be our "forever" boat and well, that twisted my arm ;) As far as the hours on the motor, I couldn't tell you. When I purchased it, the hour meter was stuck at 1,666.6 hours. I can say that the previous owner used it fairly actively. 3 trips from San Diego to Acapulco and would make very regular trips through the channel islands. Other than some of these deferred maintenance items, the engine runs excellent. The boat was built in 1974. It's also REALLY hard to read the engine serial number. I'm still not 100% sure if I've read it correctly and it's not written down anywhere. It's too bad I don't live in Florida or else I'd ask to get on the list for a rebuild :) I really like the idea of putting a T into the raw water pick up to run fresh water. My dock, unfortunately, has no shore power BUT, I do have water with high pressure. I'll email you separately for instructions on testing the compression. When I first purchased the boat, I actually had called Transatlantic Diesel as it looked like they had a lot of Perkins parts. I was looking for advice on the thermostat but since I could not read the engine serial number, I was left with pulling it and just trying to match it at the local NAPA. At least thermostats are basic parts. I am guessing I will definitely need me engine serial number to confirm which head gasket I need, no? Thank you again for helping me with all this information. It is a relief to know there is a community out there to help. I'm a hands-on boat owner and I've worked on MF & Ford tractors when I was young, but most of my experience is with gas engines so I am trying to get myself educated on diesel again. Thankfully, this is a simple & straight-forward motor so I feel it's within my abilities to become proficient at servicing... oh, and what a nice thing it is to have a big engine room to work in. PS - I'm so sorry to hear about the health issues. As bad as things can get though, my life philosophy is to remember that it could always be worse. I wish you luck finding the right person to sell your boat to. Hopefully, they will be as motivated as I am to maintain and enjoy it as much as the previous owner did. I have owned my Hunter '26 for 23 years (yes, that means I was 12 when I got it, long story) and I still can't find it in me to sell so it sits in my driveway to this day. What motivates me to sell it at some point is picturing someone else making the same memories I had on it. I will be in touch. Sincerely, Keenan Smith On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 9:25 AM, Duane Knize Boat <kn… [at] san.rr.com> wrote: > Keenan, > > I just serviced a heat exchanger from my Perkins 4-108. It was pretty well > clogged with calcium deposits. > > I soaked it in diluted swimming pool acid for several hours and it cleaned > up really well. You would need to remove the exchanger from the boat and > remove the zincs. And get a large enough plastic tub to be able to submerse > it. I diluted the used bath a bunch more (to be like swimming pool water) > and disposed of it down a storm drain. > > I also painted the exchanger and replaced the rubber end gasket (see my > post from 9/28 for a picture). This process was much easier than I had > anticipated. > > Good luck, > > Duane > > Duane Knize > S/V Marlyn1978 Cal 2 <https://maps.google.com/?q=1978+Cal+2&entry=gmail&source=g>-39 #18 > berthed: Emeryville, CA… [at] san.rr.com > > On 10/25/2017 7:02 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] > wrote: > > > > Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in > pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal > was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just > finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I > had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added > spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. > > Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been > well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and > thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big > jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet > spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot > because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about > 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the > thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not > losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. > > I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, > servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low > water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged > since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. > > My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear > about the most. I appreciate your input! > > > > >

Hi Duane, Thank you for the info Duane. That's motivating to know it wasn't too tough of a job. Where did you order your gasket? Is it a unique size or do you think I could just pull it and take it in to a place to match it up? I haven't found a place, locally, that carries much in the way of perkins specific products. Thanks again, Keenan On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 9:25 AM, Duane Knize Boat <kn… [at] san.rr.com> wrote: > Keenan, > > I just serviced a heat exchanger from my Perkins 4-108. It was pretty well > clogged with calcium deposits. > > I soaked it in diluted swimming pool acid for several hours and it cleaned > up really well. You would need to remove the exchanger from the boat and > remove the zincs. And get a large enough plastic tub to be able to submerse > it. I diluted the used bath a bunch more (to be like swimming pool water) > and disposed of it down a storm drain. > > I also painted the exchanger and replaced the rubber end gasket (see my > post from 9/28 for a picture). This process was much easier than I had > anticipated. > > Good luck, > > Duane > > Duane Knize > S/V Marlyn1978 Cal 2 <https://maps.google.com/?q=1978+Cal+2&entry=gmail&source=g>-39 #18 > berthed: Emeryville, CA… [at] san.rr.com > > On 10/25/2017 7:02 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] > wrote: > > > > Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in > pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal > was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just > finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I > had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added > spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. > > Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been > well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and > thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big > jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet > spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot > because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about > 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the > thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not > losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. > > I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, > servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low > water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged > since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. > > My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear > about the most. I appreciate your input! > > > > >

On 10/26/2017 9:26 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > Hi Tom, > > Thank you for responding to my message. You sound like exactly the > right person to know! You've had quite the interesting life and I can > only hope I can get as much time at sea as you have. The previous > owner had owned the boat for 30 years and it was difficult for him to > part with but I think he felt reassured that I would take care of and > enjoy it as much a he had. I'm 35 and my wife and I spent quite a > while searching for the perfect boat and I agree, it's one of the best > cruising boats out there. I can only hope that we're still enjoying it > in 30 years. It's interesting to observe the survival of boats. Our fiberglass vessels are actually quite durable but the real question is whether they are functional. Here in the Great Lakes, many boatyards have an abandoned-boat section. They're the ones with yard bills due and long neglect. The cockpit drains get plugged with leaves and the hull fills up with water and the whole thing turns into a green stew below and lichen and moss on deck. At the same time, similar boats are being sailed happily by attentive owners. That's the real difference--attention. Boats need maintenance; they need upgrades; they need use. The other day, after hauling the other boat for the 50th year, my sister posed the question as gracefully as possible: "What happens if you get run over by a truck? What do we do with that boat?" It was a question I had pondered when I realized that 50 seasons is a long time and that there won't be that many in the future, barring medical miracles. The answer is that you look for somebody who has the ability and the inclination to be the custodian of a classic boat. Our good old boats are classics because they are survivors. They don't make any more Cals (or Seafarers, for my other boat). The numbers diminish each year, making the survivors even more notable. Lots of people might be inclined to buy a cool old boat. Not all have the ability (knowledge, competence, and financial resources) to make it work. Keenan, it sounds like the former owner of your boat found the right new owner. You're looking down the road 30 years. I think all of us who like our boats hope that there will be somebody like you around when the time comes to sell. I bought my Cal 20 and then figured out that I had known the original owner when I was much younger. He was an old guy then (younger than I am now) and a devoted sailor. I bet he'd be happy knowing I ended up with his Cal 20. Chris Campbell

Keenan, I ordered a piece of 6 x 6 x 1/16 inch neoprene rubber on amazon (actually 3 for $10) and cut it to size with scissors. Nothing exotic needed since the heat exhanger stays cool from the seawater flow. Regards, Duane Duane Knize S/V Marlyn 1978 Cal 2-39 #18 berthed: Emeryville, CA kn… [at] san.rr.com On 10/26/2017 6:31 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > Hi Duane, > > Thank you for the info Duane. That's motivating to know it wasn't > too tough of a job. Where did you order your gasket? Is it a unique > size or do you think I could just pull it and take it in to a place to > match it up? I haven't found a place, locally, that carries much in > the way of perkins specific products. > > Thanks again, > Keenan > > On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 9:25 AM, Duane Knize Boat <kn… [at] san.rr.com > <mailto:kn… [at] san.rr.com>> wrote: > > Keenan, > > I just serviced a heat exchanger from my Perkins 4-108. It was > pretty well clogged with calcium deposits. > > I soaked it in diluted swimming pool acid for several hours and it > cleaned up really well. You would need to remove the exchanger > from the boat and remove the zincs. And get a large enough plastic > tub to be able to submerse it. I diluted the used bath a bunch > more (to be like swimming pool water) and disposed of it down a > storm drain. > > I also painted the exchanger and replaced the rubber end gasket > (see my post from 9/28 for a picture). This process was much > easier than I had anticipated. > > Good luck, > > Duane > > Duane Knize > S/V Marlyn > 1978 Cal 2 > <https://maps.google.com/?q=1978+Cal+2&entry=gmail&source=g>-39 #18 > berthed: Emeryville, CA > kn… [at] san.rr.com <mailto:kn… [at] san.rr.com> > > On 10/25/2017 7:02 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com > <mailto:ke… [at] gmail.com> [Cal_Boats] wrote: >> >> Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last >> December in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for >> a long time. My goal was to have all my big projects done by the >> end of the year. I just finished my re-rig so if anyone has >> questions on that, drop me a line. I had new spreaders made and >> replaces all the standing rigging. I also added spreader lights >> on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. >> >> Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to >> have been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, >> alternator, and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m >> starting to tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a >> valve job but I noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of >> the block. I think the head gasket is shot because when I >> purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about 200+ >> degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the >> thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m >> really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. >> >> I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this >> engine, servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil >> cooler. I’ve got low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the >> heat exchanger is clogged since I have a new impeller and >> through-hulls. >> >> My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious >> to hear about the most. I appreciate your input! >> >> >> > > >

Thanks Duane! On Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 3:30 PM, Duane Knize Boat <kn… [at] san.rr.com> wrote: > Keenan, > > I ordered a piece of 6 x 6 x 1/16 inch neoprene rubber on amazon (actually > 3 for $10) and cut it to size with scissors. > > Nothing exotic needed since the heat exhanger stays cool from the seawater > flow. > > Regards, > > Duane > > Duane Knize > S/V Marlyn1978 Cal 2 <https://maps.google.com/?q=1978+Cal+2&entry=gmail&source=g>-39 #18 > berthed: Emeryville, CA… [at] san.rr.com > > On 10/26/2017 6:31 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] > wrote: > > > Hi Duane, > > Thank you for the info Duane. That's motivating to know it wasn't too > tough of a job. Where did you order your gasket? Is it a unique size or do > you think I could just pull it and take it in to a place to match it up? I > haven't found a place, locally, that carries much in the way of perkins > specific products. > > Thanks again, > Keenan > > On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 9:25 AM, Duane Knize Boat <kn… [at] san.rr.com> > wrote: > >> Keenan, >> >> I just serviced a heat exchanger from my Perkins 4-108. It was pretty >> well clogged with calcium deposits. >> >> I soaked it in diluted swimming pool acid for several hours and it >> cleaned up really well. You would need to remove the exchanger from the >> boat and remove the zincs. And get a large enough plastic tub to be able to >> submerse it. I diluted the used bath a bunch more (to be like swimming pool >> water) and disposed of it down a storm drain. >> >> I also painted the exchanger and replaced the rubber end gasket (see my >> post from 9/28 for a picture). This process was much easier than I had >> anticipated. >> >> Good luck, >> >> Duane >> >> Duane Knize >> S/V Marlyn1978 Cal 2 <https://maps.google.com/?q=1978+Cal+2&entry=gmail&source=g>-39 #18 >> berthed: Emeryville, CA… [at] san.rr.com >> >> On 10/25/2017 7:02 PM, Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in >> pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal >> was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just >> finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I >> had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added >> spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. >> >> Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been >> well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and >> thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big >> jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet >> spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot >> because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about >> 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the >> thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not >> losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. >> >> I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, >> servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low >> water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged >> since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. >> >> My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear >> about the most. I appreciate your input! >> >> >> >> > > > >