I have a 1995 C36 Mk II with the Universal/Westerbeke M35 engine. A few weeks ago after motoring to a harbor 4 hours away without incident, the engine died 1/2 mile out of port on the return voyage. The local boat yard replaced both the Racor and engine-mounted fuel filters and declared the problem fixed. We motored 3 or 4 hours back home without incident. A week later (the next time we used the boat) we motored 4 hours to another port. This time we travelled about 2 miles on the return trip and the engine died again. I have replaced both the Racor and engine-mounted fuel filters again and can get the engine to run. My problem is that I must keep the bleed valve on the manifold open 1/4 turn or the engine dies. I added [I]Seafoam[I]fuel stabilizer to the tank prior to storing last fall and have no previos engine problems. We sail in Lake Michigan and cannot risk being becalmed without engine power again. Any suggestions are greatfully appreciated.
PS: Thank goodness for TowBoat US!
Have you checked the bottom of your fuel tank for sludge? This symptom happened to a friend of mine on his Hunter 33, and that turned out to be the problem. The sludge finally built up to a point where it was sucked into the intake line on a windy, bouncy day.
The sludge may also show up in the intake line of the primary fuel filter coming from the fuel tank, if you disconnect that line. I found that to be the case on my boat a couple of years ago, but it didn't stop my engine.
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263