Hello all,
New member here and new 1997 Catalina MKll owner as of last October. Been working on Even Keel all winter getting her ready for launch but have a couple issues I'd like to resolve before splash down...
First, last season I noticed the temp gauge was all the way to about the 2:00 position, meaning way too hot! I almost had a heart attack and immediately shut down the engine. After sailing for a while I noticed the temp didn't go down, and hasn't moved since. Is this a temp sending unit issue or the gauge itself?
Secondly, I fired up the engine yesterday to heat up the oil prior to an oil change and noticed a leak between the raw water pump and block. About a drip per second. Any ideas and/or advice would be appreciated. Thanks all!
Cheers,
Jim
Even Keel
Swansea, Mass
On your second item: You didn't indicate which brand raw water pump. Our C36 had an Oberdorfer, and that water leak is usually an indication that its time for a rebuild. There are two seals (and a carbon bearing) on the shaft, and when the seals begin to hit their end of like it will drip out a small hole at the bottom (better there than into your engine). You can get a rebuilt kit from Oberdorfer, or better yet get a replacement pump AND the rebuild kit -- that way you can have a spare pump in the boat, ready to do if it starts leaking while away from home. Here's a link to a youtube video on how to rebuild the pump.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cOec7fNM_A
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
Jim, if I read you correctly, the oil is dripping near the engine block. This would indicate the gasket between the pump and block needs to be replaced. You can get a sheet of gasket at an auto store and cut one as needed. You did not indicate if the drip was oil or water.
The temperature problem may be a corroded contact between the sender and the display. You can run an extetnal wire temporarily bypassing the original wire and see if that solves the problem. If not I would replace the sender unit first.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
My temp gauge had the same problem last year. After replacing sender and gauge, it turned out that the wire to the gauge had gotten trapped between the alternator and the engine block. The vibration had slowly eaten through the insulation shorting it to ground on the block. Wrapped it with some electrical tape and zip tied it out of the way fixed the problem.
Ron St. Onge
1995 Catalina 36 MKII Hull 1384