this is part II of the great engine debacle…..click here for part I
even if you know nothing about engines.....that's not good
That was the inside of that bad fourth cylinder….somehow salt water must have ended up in the cylinder and sat for several months leading to a surface that was more like 30 grit sandpaper than the smooth walls needed for the engine to turn over. A replacement “rebuilt” engine would run around $4,000 – $5,000 but that would be for the engine alone.
When you put in a different engine there’s a lot to consider. Different engines are shaped differently, requiring a different mounting area and many engines have different angles that they need to interact with the prop. Replacing the engine with a different type could translate to weeks more work adjusting the engine bay to work for the new engine. Also the control panel most likely won’t be compatible……basically a lot more work and expense than just putting in the engine.
Despite those concerns, replacing the engine with an RTO (running take out) or a rebuild would be the fastest way for us to get under way. After finishing my job in mid November and the onset of cold weather we were itching to get on the road. This has been two years in the making and we were tired of waiting. I started the internet search, found some diesels in the 25 – 35 hp range and researched possible mechanic shops on the web that would be close by to talk to about rebuilding my engine or any engines they had available for sale.
I’d heard of Rockville Marine/Marine Propulsion from people for a few years. I knew they had a great reputation, mostly from actual cruisers instead of marina types. On their website they advertised some rebuilt engines and just seemed like a serious place. I needed to talk to someone who knew about marine diesels and to feel like I was doing something other than searching the internet.
We took pictures of the engine, went by the pharmacy and printed them out, got in the Jeep and headed to Rockville.
the real deal boatyard.....go here, no really if you have work to be done this is the place
The drive down was beautiful and somewhat soothing, it’s about 30 to 45 minutes south from Charleston and you cross three or four bridges and through beautiful marshes and countryside to get to the southern end of Wadmalaw Island. We pulled up to the boatyard, were greeted by a few old dogs and a beautiful view out over Adams Creek and miles of marshland.
We tracked down Anthony Black, the boatyard’s spearfishing, South African, bad mamajama owner. He took time out from his day of running one of the South’s premier boatyards to listen to us, look through our pictures of the motor, look through the rebuilds we found online and challenge my manhood.
“Why don’t you just rebuild the motor. Take it out, bring it here — I’ll look at it and you can be rebuild it. You don’t have anything to be afraid of.” Basically he gave me a kick in the ass, was completely cool and collected and didn’t have dollar signs in his eyes. The quickest, cheapest way for me to get a solid running engine was to rebuild the engine myself. It was the answer I wanted but hadn’t heard from anyone else. It fit with the Illusion’s story and would help me build on my skills. Last year, I looked at attending the Landing School in Maine, but decided I would rather learn on my own (and be able to afford to keep my boat). This would be my class.
Diesel Engines 250: Guided Self-Study
In this course students will gain exposure to all aspects of a an engine and the basic mechanics of a diesel. This is an intense course and combines several semesters of learning with the pressure of a disappointed girlfriend who was promised warm weather and blue water, not freezing temperatures and greasy floors. Students must also learn how to source parts from scrap yards, online discount supply and cross reference marine diesels with their industrial/tractor blocks.
Topics covered will include dis-assembly and removal of a 275 lb motor from inside a sailboat, use of a sledge hammer to remove seized pistons, interaction with grumpy machine shop employees, and how to properly remove engine oil from just about any surface.
Pre-requisites include a limited budget, a seized engine and a strong desire to get sailing