Coming Together

It's been a few weeks since the last post but since I sorted out the PSS clearance issue, I haven't been idle.  There's just been a lot of little things going on as I start to fully check off completed systems.  My big goal before winter sets in is to have the engine and the galley fully completed.  I'm not going to run tests before winter though because I don't want to have to winterize everything so all of that will have to wait until spring.  

For the engine, there was a note in the engine survey when the previous owner had bought the boat that there was no vented loop on the raw water discharge line that connects the heat exchanger to the mixing elbow on the exhaust.  Fortunately, I was able to locate a new one on ebay that fits the odd 7/8" inside diameter hose that this engine uses.  As with all things labeled 'Marine' they are typically $150 but found this one for just $50.  

Since the engine never had a vented loop on it, I had to find a good location for it that wouldn't get in the way of other serviceable items and after some research and test fits found that it would work best just to the left of the engine (looking back) about a foot above the water line.  

The next challenge to present itself was on the same raw water hose at the mixing elbow.  Somewhere along this refit, I lost the 1/2" npt to 7/8" nipple that connects the hose to the mixing elbow.  I went to the Westerbeke parts site and found that this particular piece of kit was going to cost me $204.40 USD (part #032230).  Just crazy and I was determined not to pay it.  Small rant here: Westerbeke is not the only manufacturer to do this, but marking up a $1.50 piece of copper is just robbery and drives me nuts.  I was determined to find an alternative to giving Westerbeke my money even if it meant paying a local machinist almost as much to make me a custom part.  

After a stupid amount of time spent researching alternatives, I found almost the same part on Westerbeke (1/2" npt to 7/8" nipple with an elbow) for just $23 (part #030183). I asked the parts manager at Hansen Marine (Westerbeke distributor for Northeast US) why the original part was so expensive and he said it 'was just Westerbeke being Westerbeke' and that they don't sell too many of those parts. 

Still need double hose clamps everywhere

Anyway, the part just arrived and I've fitted it but haven't hooked up the final hose from the vented loop to the mixing elbow yet, but I did install the exhaust hose from the mixing elbow to the lift muffler.  I will get the final piece of hose along with hose clamps done later today and call it done.  

Moving on to the raw water intake, I installed the hose from the seacock to the raw water strainer and the hose from the strainer to the raw water pump on the engine.  The strainer is a groco Arg 500-s and it's a nice piece of equipment that replaced the original in the same location with no drama except for the usual tight fitting hoses on the barbs.

The only challenge with the engine wiring harness and shifting controls was to squeeze myself between the engine and cockpit sole to install zip ties to run the wires and control cables above the engine and only took about 30 minutes.  I was somewhat amazed that the control cables didn't cause me any grief but I'll take a win when I can.

The final piece to the engine is the fuel and return lines and while I haven't connected the final few feet, the lines are run and connected to the fuel filter.  With any luck I should be able to fully cross off the engine installation project off the list by the end of the week.