I have been lurking around on these forums for about 2 years, but I finally feel like I have something to contribute. I did the alternator bracket belt upgrade last year and it came with 2 belts. One wasn't even close and the other just fit. There was a limited range of motion available to tension the belt too. I had it maxed out with the gates xl 7390 and it still wasn't tight enough. It worked, but made belt dust. This season during the startup maintenance I changed it out of a Gates XL 7385 and it seems like a perfect fit. The engine still looks rough, but I'm working on it. The boat is still new to me even though I've had it almost 2 years.
David Hickman
S/V Beach Belle
1983 Catalina 36
Sail No. 154
David
Mobile, AL
S/V Beach Belle
1983 Catalina 36 Mk I #154
Std. Rig, Fin Keel, M25
V-Belts are worn down by rusty pulleys/sheeves. If you use your engine enough the belt will shine up the grooves but will wear quickly in the process. The reason most of us have to frequently adjust the tension is because we don't keep use the engine enough to keep the pulleys clean and smooth. So the belts do not last very long, unlike our cars that we use almost daily, the belts last a very long time.
Steve Steakley
SNOWBALL
1998 C36 #1711
Seattle,WA
https://svwandrinstar.blogspot.com