[Public-List] Engine and Prop

Wed Jul 31 11:15:42 PDT 2019

Thank you everybody for the warm welcome and replies! Gordon, Don, Michael,
you’ve all convinced me to stay inboard. The reliability of the engine
(when properly maintained) and boat maneuverability was a big deal, and I
do like the idea of keeping the boat as original as possible, both for
myself and for the next owner. Hopefully I can fix the A4 to a high
standard; it is still running fine with the work I’ve done so far but I
won’t trust it until I dig deeper and see what sort of shape the internals
are in, particularly if there has been corrosion. Thank you Don for
pointing that out, it has been in brackish water for the past several years
so hopefully it hasn’t been too bad. It sounds like the A4 shouldn’t be
hard to maintain as long as I can start off right with it, and I’ve got a
bunch of spare parts already. If I can’t save the A4 I may look into diesel
for the fuel efficiency for longer range motoring. Thank you Eric for your
Beta Marine suggestion, I will look into it. And Thank you Gordon for your
troubleshooting tale!

Regarding the Prop, I will look at Propcalc (thanks again Don) and see what
I should look at. I’ve also got a local prop shop I will visit. I did find
a suspiciously cheap prop designed for the Atomic 4 engine here:
http://www.atomic4.com/propeller.html , anybody know what this is? I would
generally prefer a 2 blade but wouldn’t rule out 3 blades.

On Wed, Jul 31, 2019 at 12:38 PM Jonathan Bresler via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> Come on now, Gord.
> You cant throw out "photos of SURPRISE reefing her old mainsail while on a
> Misery Trip that George has on the Alberg30 website"
> and then not provide a URL!
>
> On Wed, Jul 31, 2019 at 1:08 PM Gordon Laco via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>
> > BLOODY HELL!  Is nothing secret any longer?
> >
> > Well what happened there was this.
> >
> > We were happily motoring along when the engine stopped like someone had
> > turned off the ignition.   What ho, thought I.   Hmm, perhaps a speck of
> > dirt in the carb.
> >
> > Off came the carb, I took it apart, cleaned everything with solvent, put
> > it back together and reinstalled it.   Tried the engine, nothing.
> >
> > Hmm.   I pulled #1 plug and after insulating my hand with a rag (good
> > thinking, eh?) had Caroline hit the starter.   No spark.
> >
> > Well that makes sense.  If the problem was dirt in the carb, the engine
> > would have sputtered a bit before conking out.  It must be electrical.
> >
> > So, I decided to check the easy stuff first... off come the spark plug
> > leads one by one… all clean both ends.  Off comes the lead from the coil
> to
> > the centre of the distributor… AHA!  The coil end was covered in
> corrosion
> > and powder.
> >
> > A few swipes with my little brass brush and back in it went… engine
> > started like nothing had happened and away we went.   Didn’t have to look
> > at the points because I tried the easy stuff first… clever, no?
> >
> > I’ve since replaced all the leads, which I think were originals.
> >
> > So have you folks seen the photos of SURPRISE reefing her old mainsail
> > while on a Misery Trip that George has on the Alberg30 website?  We were
> a
> > couple miles out years ago when we where outbound… I had no idea my
> friend
> > Ken Woods on Midland Point was taking pictures with his store-bought
> camera
> > that was practically looking over my shoulder from that far away…   I
> guess
> > I’ll have to bear all this surveillance in mind next time I get the urge
> to
> > scratch my bum or whatever while sailing….
> >
> >
> > Gordon Laco
> > #426 Surprise
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Jul 31, 2019, at 12:52 PM, Rod Symmes via Public-List <
> > public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > Oh, Rats !  I wasn't quick enough off the mark.  I was about to confirm
> > the "dumbfounded" remark but then Gord got in his rebuttal before I could
> > relate that he had been seen motoring on Friday about 2 miles out and
> then
> > drifting in the steamer channel for about 30 minutes .  When the sound of
> > head scratching and muttering in the bilge had gone on long enough I
> > thought I had better go out and see what he needed.  Before I could get
> the
> > oars in the locks Gord fired up the engine once more and roared off out
> the
> > channel--- which, I guess proves Gord's contention that  <<  I very much
> > like my A4 and have never yet not been able to resolve whatever is
> > happening with it.  >>  given enough head scratching and muttering.
> > >
> > > Cheers,     Rod
> > >
> > > ~~~~_/) ~~~~~~~~~~
> > > ~~~~~~~_/) _/) ~~~~~~~
> > > ~~_/) ~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: Public-List <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org> on behalf
> of
> > Gordon Laco via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > > Sent: July 31, 2019 9:53 AM
> > > To: Michael Connolly <crufone at comcast.net>; Alberg 30 Public List --
> > open to all <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > > Cc: Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net>
> > > Subject: Re: [Public-List] Engine and Prop
> > >
> > > I agree with all except ‘dumbfounded’… I very much like my A4 and have
> > never yet not been able to resolve whatever is happening with it.
> > >
> > > Basic maintenance avoids nearly all potential issues.
> > >
> > > Gordon Laco
> > > #426 Surprise
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> On Jul 31, 2019, at 9:32 AM, Michael Connolly via Public-List <
> > public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Ryan,
> > >> I know James Baldwin and his work. The quality of what he does is
> FIRST
> > RATE. He
> > >> NEVER begins a conversion until he has a confirmed buyer. Then he
> finds
> > a boat
> > >> and does the conversion. If you attempt to do a conversion and do not
> > do a top
> > >> shelf job, forget ever reselling your boat. Outboards in Alberg 30's
> is
> > a NICHE
> > >> market.......................a VERY small niche.
> > >>
> > >> Atomic 4's are simple, reliable, and "Falling off a log" easy to keep
> > running. Except for Gord who is often dumbfounded by
> > them...................sorry Gord I couldn't resist.
> > >>
> > >> My opinion keep the inboard unless you desire the characteristics of
> > what the outboard offers.  Speak at length with James Baldwin and learn
> > what is involved and what resulting handling to expect afterwards.
> > >>
> > >> I would not think that the conversion is a less expensive route that
> > fixing what you already have.
> > >>
> > >> Michael #133........... Gray Marine Yeah!
> > >> _______________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> Jonathan M Bresler
> S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
> Annapolis/Eastport MD
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-- 
-Ryan Kiefer