Hello, I am a new owner of a 1987 Nonsuch 36. The boat surveyor noted several things that needed to be done including a tachometer that doesn't work properly. The needle bounces back and forth between 0 and the top of the scale and never gives an accurate reading. I have had the boat into the yard twice and they have not been able to repair it. My question is whether I can safely use the engine in this state and what might be wrong. Id appreciate any insight.
Thanks
John
Bainbridge Island
As far as using the boat with a malfunctioning tach, I would not worry too much - if the engine sounds like it is being pushed too hard, throttle down some. I hardly ever look at my tach, and the engine manages just fine.
That being said, I would want to get the tach fixed sooner rather than later, but leave commenting on that to those who know how they work, etc.
I went to law school at UPS in Tacoma and have great memories of the Northwest - used to dream about living in Gig Harbor, in part because it was a great sounding name for a town. I had a friend with a sailboat in Gig Harbor and I recall one December going skiing on Mt. Rainier and the next day going sailing in Puget Sound. Was a great way to live.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U
Port Washington, New York
I'd be concerned with a yard that can't diagnose and/or replace a tach. It sound like a loose connection. There is a terminal on the alternator that feeds the tach. You should be able to see if you're getting that output. If so, it's a bad tach or connection.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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I agree with Joe. The capabilities and quality of the boat yard may be the bigger question. I am sure that you will get this fixed and hopefully at a low cost but some day you may have a bigger issue. If so, and I hope not, I question whether this should be the boat yard to deal with. Of course I am assuming this yard is in the business of repairing boats, engines, etc..
Good Luck and enjoy your new boat.
Butch Garren
Nonsuch 30 #196
Whiskers II
Solomons, MD
Thanks. I agree with the yard. I used it because that's the one the broker who helped me buy the boat dealt with but I've heard from several people since then not to use them
John Waldhausen
Could be caused by anything from a loose wire, bad ground… the input on Westerbeke / Universal engines are from the alternator. There are apps for android phones that will give you a rough reading …
Any competent yard can figure this out for you.