Engine maintenance for circumnavigation?

[Tim Good]

Perkins 4.236 80HP from 1996. Always been reliable and oil runs quite clean. No metal bits in sump with a magnet is put in there. Exhaust elbow replaced 2017.

If we’re going on a circumnavigation what else would you considering changing or checking now prior to departure. I have a spare elbow, alternator, stater motor, filters and belts. But should I consider anything else major like replacing the heat exchanging now?

 

[Daydream believer]

The boat?

 

[Plum]

Perkins 4.236 80HP from 1996. Always been reliable and oil runs quite clean. No metal bits in sump with a magnet is put in there. Exhaust elbow replaced 2017.

If we’re going on a circumnavigation what else would you considering changing or checking now prior to departure. I have a spare elbow, alternator, stater motor, filters and belts. But should I consider anything else major like replacing the heat exchanging now?

As your elbow is 8 years old I would tale it off to check it is still clean. A simple job. Then I would flush the raw water circuit with Rydlyme. Don't do any jobs close to your departure date so anything you do gets thoroughly tested before setting off.

 

[Roberto]

.

 

[sailoppopotamus]

You're already carrying quite a bit of kit with you so it doesn't look like you're trying to cut down on weight/clutter for your circumnavigation. With that in mind I'd suggest you carry a second sea-water pump, or at the very least a full rebuild kit for the one you have. I don't know your engine, but on my Yanmar 2GM20F the fuel lift pump is a relatively cheap item that has a long but finite lifespan. Thermostats are small and cheap as well.

 

[jlavery]

Full set of gaskets and o-rings/seals.

More than one head gasket. In case needs replacing and replacement doesn't go well and you immediately need another. (Guess how I know that one).

 

[Jules W]

I have just replaced my 1980 4236. The engine was brilliant but we had real problems getting spares for the velvet drive gear box. I assume you also have a velvet drive. I would seriously consider taking a spare gear box with you (if you have the space for a 70KG lump).
In the end the costs of replacing the worn exit shaft on ours was going to run to half the price of a new engine and gear box. At the very least I would whip it off and have some really good engineers crawl over it to see if bits needed replacing.
I know that Sean Brackstone at Marine Engines direct in Dorset sometimes has them available. Particularly if you have the 72 rather than the 71

 

[Tim Good]

The boat?

Seastream 43 cutter rig

 

[rogerthebodger]

The Perkins 4236 is a very common engine as I have just rebuilt one at the bottom end of Africa and had no problem in getting any spares or engineering done

Don't know about the gearbox, but most bearings and seals are standard so should be available most places

If you find yourself with no engine in a remote place you can always sail to a better location

 

[jlavery]

...Don't know about the gearbox, but most bearings and seals are standard so should be available most places...

Until you find they're not.

Viz trying to source a D1-30 head gasket on the west coast of Scotland. So I'd definitely be carrying a full set.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Well, you are talking about a Volvo Penta.

What you need to do is find the basis of the Volvo then you will find a cheaper and more available supplier.

This is what I do and its suppressing what you find available local

 

[Tim Good]

I have just replaced my 1980 4236. The engine was brilliant but we had real problems getting spares for the velvet drive gear box. I assume you also have a velvet drive. I would seriously consider taking a spare gear box with you (if you have the space for a 70KG lump).
In the end the costs of replacing the worn exit shaft on ours was going to run to half the price of a new engine and gear box. At the very least I would whip it off and have some really good engineers crawl over it to see if bits needed replacing.
I know that Sean Brackstone at Marine Engines direct in Dorset sometimes has them available. Particularly if you have the 72 rather than the 71

Hmm you have me worried now!

 

[rogerthebodger]

velvet drive gear box - Bing

velvet drive gear box

Velvet Drive Marine Transmission Diagrams & Parts Pricing | PerfProTech.com

Velvet Drive Marine Transmission for sale | eBay

 

[Daydream believer]

Seastream 43 cutter rig

Do you not think that you are over thinking this & worrying too much. I would have thought that most attention needs to be given to the sailing side. Bearing mind that you have a yacht. Any engine that has been regularly maintained should be Ok. But when you suggest that the exhaust elbow was last changed 2017 it makes one wonder. A lot depends on hours run since .

I know of people who have had issues after flushing with Rydlyme. So worth doing then running the engine for a few hours to see if any leaks occur after the sludge shifted.

Of course it depends on the circumnavigation. ie. Lundy, or a longer one like the Scilly isles.
You have not said what it is you want to circumnavigate.

 

[Jules W]

Hmm you have me worried now!

Please don't worry. Every other owner I have met said their velvet drive was the rolls Royce of gear boxes... ours was more like morris marina. You can buy and take with you the service kit including the two oil seals which are the bits that go first. Have a think about that. Then if you get a problem you aren't waiting on service parts

 

[Blueboatman]

Maybe fit an exhaust temperature alarm or piddler tube in front of the helms view?
If you get a water inlet blockage/failed impeller then in theory by the time the engine overheat alarm goes off, plastic water mufflers, water hoses, exhaust hose ‘ might’ be a bit cooked.
So think about how you might piece in a section in that event?
In my experience failed brass pipe fittings on engines are not uncommon @age.. you lean over the engine to check something, pushing lightly on a hose and -Snap- the dezinctified threaded spigot that attaches the hose to the engine block/manifold/exhaust elbow/pump fails .. so think about carrying or being able to fabricate some sort of replacement - and they can be all sorts of threads and sizes with ‘marinised’ add ons ..
Also, just carry bolts long enough to replace ones that snap off when you try to undo something .
And gasket paper and diesel resistance liquid gasket
It’s the little things that stop the big Perkins thing.

 

[Tim Good]

Do you not think that you are over thinking this & worrying too much. I would have thought that most attention needs to be given to the sailing side. Bearing mind that you have a yacht. Any engine that has been regularly maintained should be Ok. But when you suggest that the exhaust elbow was last changed 2017 it makes one wonder. A lot depends on hours run since .

I know of people who have had issues after flushing with Rydlyme. So worth doing then running the engine for a few hours to see if any leaks occur after the sludge shifted.

Of course it depends on the circumnavigation. ie. Lundy, or a longer one like the Scilly isles.
You have not said what it is you want to circumnavigate.

I think you know what I mean. Route is:

UK Canaries Senegal Cape Verde Brazil Patagonia Chile Pacific New Zealand Indonesia Madagascar South Africa Caribbean Europe

I know how to maintain an already working engine but I’ve never had to do much other than the usual. So I don’t think I’m over thinking things. Already had some feedback I hadn’t considered in this thread.

 

[Daydream believer]

I think you know what I mean. Route is:

UK Canaries Senegal Cape Verde Brazil Patagonia Chile Pacific New Zealand Indonesia Madagascar South Africa Caribbean Europe

I know how to maintain an already working engine but I’ve never had to do much other than the usual. So I don’t think I’m over thinking things. Already had some feedback I hadn’t considered in this thread.

To be honest I thought that you were talking about the Uk
With all due respect, It would have been helpful if you had said so in the first place.
Your itinery makes a much different situation regarding preparation.
Anyway. Good luck with the trip. Hope it goes to plan.

 

[ridgy]

If you're carrying a new alternator and starter motor why not replace them now and get the old ones serviced and kept as spares. Then you know you can definitely change them and have the right tools. Starter motors especially can be tricky to extract.

My old alternator was totally fine year before last but got an alternator light early last season and took it a specialist who quickly condemned it. He didn't have a replacement in stock so he wasn't simply trying to sell me a new one as I got a new one elsewhere.

I would simply replace every easily accessible part (assuming you don't already know it's age) and keep the old as spares. Or buy spares too and keep as thirds.

 

[johnalison]

To be honest I thought that you were talking about the Uk
With all due respect, It would have been helpful if you had said so in the first place.
Your itinery makes a much different situation regarding preparation.
Anyway. Good luck with the trip. Hope it goes to plan.

I have to say that I got the message from the first post. I assumed that your casual response merely reflected your usual approach to sailing problems, something that I probably share myself, and look where that got us.