Engine-Hours Survey

[sastanley]

I selected - "no idea..." - but I also just bought an hour meter to put on the engine..I wonder if I could plug it into a 12v source to run it up to 800-900 hours which is what I suspect the motor has on it so it is more accurate when I install it?

Really, I bought the meter so I can track my own usage more carefully since taking ownership & fuel consumption. My wife and I were trying to count the hours this year based on memory (I am very bad about filling out the log book), and the best I can come up with from an estimate of consuming 29-30 gallons of fuel is about 35-40 hours, assuming .75 gal/hour.

Next season, I hope to use the boat more, and have more accurate numbers!

[Jesse Delanoy]

I never had an engine hours meter, but I installed one when I repowered with a MM rebuilt engine three seasons ago. I find it highly useful to monitor fuel consumption (like Shawn, I see about 0.75 gal. per hour, unless I'm running right up around 2000 rpm, then it's just under a gallon), and to keep me on track for regular oil changes. I log the hours in a notebook at every gas fill-up and every oil change. In three seasons of use, I've logged about 300 hours, although last year got cut short due to some hull and keel damage, and we lost a lot of sailing time this year due to rainy weather. I just wish I'd installed the thing in a more convenient location - as it is on the front of the engine compartment, about a foot off the floor in the main cabin - and my eyesight isn't getting any better with age!

[sastanley]

Jesse - good thinking..I was trying to decide where to mount it..at least I know where NOT to. (if I recall correctly, you have a C-30 also)

Anytime we drill holes in the boat it seems so permanent! I've already moved my Racor filter!

I was assuming for hookup, this is just another device that connects to the coil...assuming the coil is energized, the meter is running, and the engine is running.

[Jesse Delanoy]

yup, 1977 Cat 30, no. 664.


yes, the meter has three wires:

hot - should be connected to constant 12 volt power - it's ok if this wire is cold when boat power is off - it just provides power when needed. I made sure to double check that the meter retains engine hours in memory, and does not go back to zero if all power is shut off, like radio station memories do (another story for a later time!).

sending - should be connected to a 12 volt power source hot only when the engine is running - this is the coil connection. I think it's hot even when the engine is off, if the ignition circuit is on - but since this is never the case on my boat except for very brief periods, it's not an issue.

ground - obvious.

Best place I can think of to mount it in our boats would be at the end of the galley counter, as high up as possible, opposite from the chart table, making sure to keep the wiring clear of the drawers in the galley console. If there's enough clearance between the back of the gauge and the sides of the drawers - not sure.

[sastanley]

Jesse, thanks..I currently have my little automotive tach there, and I ran the wires external to the cabinet, down behind the cushion, in case I wanted to move it.
I ordered an analog hour meter so I won't have the memory problem, and I would expect my coil/ignition circuit to work the same way..powered only very briefly during start up procedures with the engine not running. Should be negligible.

I seem to recall there is probably enough room inside the cabinet for wires, but maybe not a 2" deep cutout for my analog meter. When I rebuilt my cabinet, I extended the counter top about 3" since you can't really effectively utilize that little area anyway...I have a little extra overhang for more instruments now

[mike boyd sr]

atomic 4 hrs

hey don would this be hrs since original install or recient rebuild thanx

[Administrator]

Hi, Mike, and welcome to the forum.

I'm guessing that most folks would interpret the question as asking about the hours since the original install.

Bill

[Mo]

The engine in my C&C 30 has 1378 hrs on it. Runs like a dream although it sat unattended high and dry in the boat for a couple of years. Hauled it apart, cleaned it up... the major problem was the exhaust manifold froze and cracked.

I also have a full drop in "freshwater" great lakes engine that a friend sold me last year. He went for a diesel just because...well, he is a marine engineer so diesel is his thing. That one has less hrs on it and looks better cosmetically than mine. It and ran perfect the day I helped him pull it.

So, there's 2 with less than 2000 on them.

[Dave Neptune]

Dave's lil beastie

I don't have an hour meter so all I can do is guess. As some of you may no when I bought the Volador 26 years ago the engine was rusted/frozen tight. At that time it had set in the slip fro 5 years as the 3 guys I bought her from only used the boat as a plase to bring their girlfriends so their wives wouldn't find out. Well they found out just as I was walking by to hand a check to a guy further down the marina for a differant E-35 and I wound up making them an offer "as is" with an engine that wouldn't start or turn. It took me 5 days to get her running and I have used the boat a lot since. The original owner used the boat for 6 years cruising and racing and I have no idea how much he used it other than it sat due to his heart problems for a couple of years until those 3 bought her.
I'm guessing she has about 2000/2500 hours on it in forty years of ticking. That number may be a little high so I'm putting in 2000 hours which may be a bit high.
I will attest to the durability of the A-4. A friend of mine who worked on them as a marine mechanic said he saw many of them with over 4000 hours and still in good shape if they were properly maintained. He also said many were trashed due to neglect with only a few hundred hours on them.

I am planning on doing a compression check this weekend to satisfy my and others curiosity. I will use my screw in Snap-on guage.

Dave Neptune
Volador's A-4 about 2000 hours and a valve job 26 years ago.

[ILikeRust]

I had to select "no idea" but I do bet it's a bunch.

The boat is a 1968 model; the engine is 1983. The engine hours meter is non-functional and apparently has been for some time.

[charles@pricefarrington.c]

I have 395 on a local rebuild. When purchased in 08 she had less than 40 on rebuild, not even broken in yet...We don't let the wind gods dictate when we go....

[Mo]

More hrs than usual this year....

Installed a new hour meter this spring. Old one had 1378 prior to changing it; 47 hours currently on the new meter this year. Chartplotter records my mileage and it is 709 nm currently for this year. That is more engine time than I normally rack up. A few times I had to motor home in driving hail, no wind on one cruise...small things like that add to the hours. To give you an idea, due to weather, I am about 600 nm short of last years mileage for this time. The hours on the engine are about the same.

Currently coming up for her 3rd oil change this year. I change it at the beginning of season, about mid June, then around mid August. Boat laid up due to steering failure a few days ago, so while I wait for parts, some preventive maintenance.

[joe_db]

Update:
My "new engine", installed in May, was assumed to be relatively low time when installed based on condition when torn down.

I now have 38 hours since installing it and so far the oil is clear and NONE has leaked out or burned
This is confusing me - the old engine did both with enthusiasm

[Bingy]

Ranger 30

I currently own a Ranger 30 and have had very little problems with my A4.
I have a maintenance question. The rervoir for the transmission has a shallow well for lubricant. Is there a proper level to look for or do we assume as long as engine oil level is good then all is good.
New member but have owned two boats with A4. Previous was C&C 35 Mk 1

[ILikeRust]

The rervoir for the transmission has a shallow well for lubricant. Is there a proper level to look for or do we assume as long as engine oil level is good then all is good.

Yes. The reversing gear and crankcase share a common oil pan. There is no separate reservoir for the reversing gear.