I ordered and just received a new heat exchanger for my M25XP. The exchanger does not have the 2 welded on mounting brackets for the backside of the engine. Not sure about having it just hanging on by the hoses. Has anyone encountered this? Maybe I return it and find one that has the brackets. Any help would be appreciated.
Bill
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Bill Deliman
Vivacious 2
1989 Catalina 36, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, m25xp
Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
Bill;
I'd return it (if possible) and get one that has welded mounting brackets. I'm sure you could jury rig something to hold it in place or even mount it off the engine (which would require new hoses), but given the amount of vibration and shaking the heat exchanger will see in operation, I'd have it securely mounted. Curious who supplied the heat exchanger ? I worked with an outfit over in Long Island call LENCO INC over in North Amityville, LI, NY for my M-35 and it was an exact fit. Tel. 631-842-4049. Two day delivery but there are other suppliers.
P.S. ; Most folks use some neopryne washers between the exchanger and the engine.
Bill
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'
Both my previous HEs did not have welded / soldered brackets. They were mounted on the engine with brackets, strapped to the HE with large hose clamps, over curved flanges separated by the HE with rubber / neoprene strips. Never had an issue.
I thought it as a better mount, because a cracked weld on a HE, would spell disaster
Good luck.
Yianni Spiropoulos
Zefyros
1988 C36TR HULL # 896
Marina del Rey, CA
Bill, This is a Lenco from Long Island.
Bill Deliman
Vivacious 2
1989 Catalina 36, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, m25xp
Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
Bill...
I'm with Yannis... when I replaced mine they had the two separate pipe-hanger type brackets. These are better IMHO because the welded on brackets actually broke off from vibration and I ended up with a small hole in the heat exchanger. I got my HE from Hansen Marine in Mass and it came with the new brackets. FYI, if you go this way you'll need longer bolts than with the welded on brackets.
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
While you are at it, you might consider relocating the HX to the front of the wood box that holds the center water tank, as several owners have done:
www.catalina36.org/comment/56893#comment-56893
www.catalina36.org/comment/57504#comment-57504
Makes access to the transmission dipstick far easier (to say nothing of access for adding or replacing tranny fluid), and also access to the HX anode and as well to adjust the rear starboard engine mount.
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