I was looking at some issues in the engine compartment where some dirt is accumulating. I think it is coming in from one of the pipe installations. Has anyone in the group faced similar scenarios? Given that the Westerbeke 27 engines do not have an air filter, I assume some of this dirt might have entered the engine. The engine still runs smoothly, and I don’t notice any issues, but I’m trying to understand if this has happened to anyone else and, if so, how they handled it.
Additionally, during the inspection, I found a patch at the bottom of the hull. It looks like there was a hole that has been sealed. This is the first time I’m noticing it, as I did not see it during the survey. I sailed throughout the season and only just noticed it. Should I be concerned about the integrity of the hull? What steps can I take to double-check and ensure that the boat is safe and sound?
That insulation looks like it is past its best before date. I don’t have a Westerbeke, still one of the original Volvos it does not have any so wonder if it is necessary. My engine is going into its 47 year so well broken in (find some wood to touch). If the hole was properly repaired it is not an issue. If you are worried, you could always but a layer or two of f/g cloth over its, extending a few inches beyond the earlier repair. Sand well to get a good surface to help adhesion.
BTW, we lived at LLM for 18 months on an earlier boat. Quite liked our time there.
Bruce Clark
Nonsuch 30, “Nonsuch”
Whitby YC, Lake Ontario
Thanks for sharing your feedback. The installation definitely needs some work, and it’s one of the winter projects I plan to tackle. Additionally, the glow plugs aren’t working, which could be due to a wiring issue or possibly a faulty solenoid that might need replacing. I’m planning to address these issues together and also get the engine room completely cleaned and replace the insulation.
Regarding the patch on the hull, it looks absolutely clean from the outside, so I hadn’t noticed any work had been done until recently when I saw it from the inside. It seems solid, but I’m still puzzled about why it happened in the first place.
Back in 2004, one of the previous owners repowered the boat with a 27 horsepower engine, which is quite large for a 26-footer. I believe that during the boat’s 40-year history, it might have had an engine with a sail drive, and they might have switched to a conventional straight drive. That’s one theory, but the previous owner wasn’t able to confirm it.
Siva Surendira
Inner Peace NS26C #42
Liberty Landing Marina
Jersey City, NJ
How large is the patch. If it is where a saildrive was the hole would be something like 16” x 12”, with the patch somewhat bigger. If it has been there for years without issue I would not worry about it. There are lots of other places to spend your time and money.
Bruce Clark
Nonsuch 30, “Nonsuch”
Whitby YC, Lake Ontario
Siva-
You’ve got a couple different items in this post. First the dirt/insulation:
The insulation around the exhaust riser is fiberglass cloth. This is standard practice. What’s not standard is that it appears the cloth used was not a 4- or 6- inch strip with selvedge on the sides to keep it from fraying. So it appears that the last time it was replaced (as would be done if the riser were replaced, or maybe just inspected), what was used was a strip that was was cut from a wide roll, and the edges frayed. Regardless of whether that’s exactly what happened, you were given good advice to replace it. Your survey should have included either an inspection of the exhaust, or as is commonly done if there is no visible issue, a recommendation in the survey to remove and inspect it. This is because if the surveyor were to remove the insulation, they’d then be responsible for putting it back- and that’s not within their purview. If neither of those is referenced in your survey, I think you would be right to question the surveyor about its absence.
About the “patch”-
I can’t really tell from the photo (perhaps you can post a more clear one, and include a ruler near it for size reference), but it doesn’t look like this was a fiberglass repair. It looks something was adhered over either a hole, mounting holes, or maybe it was even put there with intention to use for fastening and then not used. Without knowing more, I agree with Bruce- likely it is stable and best left alone for now. That said, it would be good to know what it is, since if it was improperly done, like with an adhesive that might degrade over time, you might want to put it on the list.
Dan Weinstein
Look Farther, 30C #205
East Greenwich RI
I can’t see the patch very well in the photo, either. What I can see looks like the backing plate for the propeller shaft in my boat. If that’s what it is it would be on the centerline, just aft of the engine. And there would be 4 to 6 fasteners on it.
