Yanmar diesel under water - big worries?

[Honning]

Hi,

I'm in the process of buying a sailboat from the late 70's (Kings cruiser 29) which sank recently before being raised.
The engine is a 20hp Yanmar, expectedly from the same period, and I assume it needs some TLC before being it goes back into service. Electricl wiring will also have to be given a thorough check-up.

Can anyone offer any advice on what needs to be done, and if serious damage must be expected?

 

[pappaecho]

Happened to me 20 years ago when my boat got dragged under by a coaster.
You will need o change the oil in the engine, which should have been done the moment the engine was raised. Clean the diesel system as it may have water in it. Clean the diesel tank, dry it out, and refill with new diesel. Change the air filter, and check the alternator still works.
As regarding wiring and switches, again it will depend if the systems was washed with fresh water when lifted out. Obviously the gearbox oil will need to be changed and if the engine has an indiect cooling system, again replaced with 50:50 water and antifreeze/ inhibitor

 

[[448]]

I hope you factored in the cost of a replacement engine when negotiating the buying price.
The engine might be OK as long as it hadn't been long under water.

 

[TimG]

Do you know if the engine can be barred over? If not, then decompress if possible or remove the injectors and bar it over with a socket on the crankshaft pully. If it won't move, it is probably best regarded as nothing more than a small iron ore deposit.

If it has been left for any period after being submerged in salt water, then there is no real chance of recovery.

 

[onenyala]

Cannot help you on this one however I have a Kingscruiser 29 and would be interested to hear how the restoration goes on.
Good luck.

 

[colvic987]

just browsed the web, and average price is £9000, so i would expect them to vertually be giving the boat away to you, as the cost of a new engine and sails rigging etc, would cost you at least or very close to a boat which hasnt sunk. if you know that history of sinking why take all the worries of practically a full refit including electrics throughout and new engine purchase, which isnt really a cheap option, at least 4 thousand for new engine and fitting.

 

[scottie]

Allow for complete rewiring if in salt water anything else will end up with problems
Engine should have all replacement starter alternator and instruments c/w senders and that's before the mechanicals

 

[Blueboatman]

You might be lucky.
With these kind of posts, are we meant to guess whether its been under water for a tide or a year?
Make sure when you crank it over that you are pumping diesel and not salt water through the injector pump.
At least its a wooden boat .

 

[Tranona]

Hi,

I'm in the process of buying a sailboat from the late 70's (Kings cruiser 29) which sank recently before being raised.
The engine is a 20hp Yanmar, expectedly from the same period, and I assume it needs some TLC before being it goes back into service. Electricl wiring will also have to be given a thorough check-up.

Can anyone offer any advice on what needs to be done, and if serious damage must be expected?

Welcome to the forum

The fact that you are asking the question might suggest you should not even be considering taking on such a project. If you don't know what is wrong with it and how you are going to fix it, how can you even guess at what you should pay for the boat - if anything at all?

As already suggested, a new engine will be £4k+ and even a strip down and rebuild (of what is a 30 year old engine) will be a similar cost if you pay somebody to do it. Add to that all the other things you will have to do to bring a boat that has been underwater to a serviceable condition could easily cost you twice what a pristine functioning boat would cost.

If you want to spend a big chunk of your life working to make good a problem boat and running up bills you can't even contemplate at this stage, go ahead. But if you want to go sailing in a nice old boat, get your running spikes on and go looking for the very best condition boat you can afford. If you can't afford it, lower your horizons or save up until you can afford it.

Just look around the back of boatyards and the small ads on the web to see what happens to most project boats.

 

[Johncon121]

I presume

I presume it needs some TLC then was it is going into service. Electricl wiring will also need to be given an in depth check-up. Can any person offer any guidance on what should be done, and if significant damage must be anticipated?

 

[doug748]

A grand boat, nothing like it built right now and the build costs would be massive it it were - so well done.
Ignore the rays of sunshine, do your best with the engine and if it fails, take it out and look out for a secondhand replacement. The old lump will do for spares, strip it and clean the bits in freshwater and then oil.
As you will know the boat was designed by Tord Sunden (of Folkboat fame, I assume it is the GRP boat not the earlier, quite different, wooden job) and there are not many about in the UK.
I have I couple of pages from period adverts, if you would like a copy give me a PM. I will be away for a month though, so you may have to wait a bit. Good luck.