Catalac 9m Catamaran Engine Alignment.

[Stuart rigby]

Hi, I have recently bought a 1984 Catalac 9m and I have removed the starboard Beta 10 engine to service and replace the engine mounts and also replace the cutlass bearing on the prop shaft. The new engine mounts are identical and have picked up the existing bolt holes. When I landed the engine back on the mounts the engine seems to lean towards the stern of boat. This does not feel or look right, can anybody give some advice on the alignment technique? The prop shaft moves freely forwards and backwards, but not up and down in the P bracket as the cutlass is holding the shaft steady and I think this is correct. The boat is not perfectly level on wooden blocks, but I don't think this should make a difference to the alignment as the engine I think follows the run of the prop shaft? Any help will be greatly received....
Thanks
Stuart

 

[C08]

This sounds like a fairly standard engine re-alignment exercise after fitting new engine mounts and not really related to the type of boat.the engine is in. Welcome to the forum and I am sure there will be lots of good advice coming along qiute quickly and good luck with your 9M. I have an 8m and have sailed a lot with my pal who had a 9M-good solid boats that will look after you andgive very comfortable and safe cruising.

 

[Boathook]

I always thought that the engine was inline with the shaft. Apart from that I can't really help as my 9m has an outboard. As CO8 says, a good solid boat with the weakest bit being the crew !

 

[Tranona]

Welcome.

Aligning the engine to the shaft is quite straightforward - that is what the adjustment on the mounts is for. You do not say what sort of inboard seal or stuffing box you have, but if it is flexible it is important first to centre the shaft in the stern tube. Then bring the two halves of the coupling (one on the shaft and the one on the gearbox) together. The aim is to get them mating perfectly. If they do not then you adjust the engine mounts up or down using the nuts under the brackets on the engine until there is an even gap round the circumference of the two halves of the coupling.

Plenty of sources of instructions - just google aligning engines in boats, but can be frustrating as you are moving in 3 dimensions.

 

[Stuart rigby]

Hi, thanks for the advice, the stern gland is a old style stuffing box with gland packing and gland follower. I have not packed the gland which may help as the shaft may have a bit of bar sag not sure? My main concern was the studs from the new mounts are not at right angles to the bed and it seems the engine is forcing the mounts towards the Stern of the boat.... I have found the dimensions for the mounts and plan to check them at the weekend, but they are same what came out.

 

[Wandering Star]

I always thought that the engine was inline with the shaft. Apart from that I can't really help as my 9m has an outboard. As CO8 says, a good solid boat with the weakest bit being the crew !

I’ve been thinking about buyng a 9m Catalac requiring some attention, not sure it’s for me but neverthless I’d be interested to know the size of outboard you use on yours and whether you find it powerful enough and manouverable enough? Do you lock the engine fore and aft and steer using the rudders?

Thanks.

 

[Boathook]

I’ve been thinking about buyng a 9m Catalac requiring some attention, not sure it’s for me but neverthless I’d be interested to know the size of outboard you use on yours and whether you find it powerful enough and manouverable enough? Do you lock the engine fore and aft and steer using the rudders?

Thanks.

30 hp Honda with a Yamaha dual thrust prop (had to get it machined to fit as it is longer than Hondas). Engine connected to steering for harbour use etc, but at sea locked fore-aft. Cruise happily at 4-6 knots under power depending on sea state. Also have bow thruster in starboard hull so can turn on the spot if required.