[Public-List] Engine and Prop

Wed Jul 31 13:28:21 PDT 2019

I have used the Indigo Electronics 3 blade prop for the A4 on two other boats, a Pearson Vanguard and a Pearson Ariel. The main advantage I saw was an increase in RPMs which supposedly lessens carbon buildup in the cylinders and allows better cooling and electrical generation from the alternator. The other advantage I saw was the ability to advance at a slower speed near idle when entering the harbor or slip. When I purchased the A30 2 years ago, the A4 had just been rebuilt by Moyer and had a new 2 blade prop matched to the original. Compared to the 3 blade Indigo prop, I find this one packs a punch especially in stopping power and reverse. Of course, I can only achieve 1800 RPMs max and I have to disengage the forward gear sooner to slow her down. It is a give and take. 
Enjoy your new boat! It always amazes me how well she sails!
Marcelo
#441 Alegria
> On July 31, 2019 at 2:41 PM Michael Connolly via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Ryan,
> Ask around and most likely you can find a decent used A 4 prop, perhaps even within this group. I have been lucky in the past and a guy gave me a decent prop for my Grey Marine.  Diameter, pitch and shaft hole size and search E-bay under vintage Sailboat hardware.
> Best to you,
> Michael
> > On July 31, 2019 at 2:15 PM Ryan via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > 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
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