[C320-list] Boat Yard Blues

[Jeff Church]

PJ, (?)

Regarding the engine hours: It really doesn't seem likely that they let the engine run for 40 hours, but the math might work. I use about 1/2 gallon per hour underway at maybe 2500 rpm. If you double or triple that at idle your 9 gallons would get you anywhere from 32  to 60 hours. As far as damage is concerned, idling for long periods of time can cause carbon to build up on your combustion chamber, valves, injectors and exhaust elbow. Oil pressure at idle is a bit low, so that could cause some internal wear. Probably not fatal.  

Regarding Larsen: I've been in Waukegan for 5 years. I stored my boat at Larsen's for only one season, so you can guess how satisfied I was. Few of the boaters in our harbor would consider them one of the better yards in the area nor would anyone be surprised at the problems you have had with them. They are big, and they are expensive.

I stored the boat at Northern Marine for 4 of the past 5 years and have had excellent service there. The only downside I have found is that the subcontractor that does their fiberglass repairs is not the best. Northern reorganized last fall. One partner bought out the other and renamed the company Waukegan Boat Services. I'd expect their service to continue as in the past, and hopefully they will bring the fiberglass work in-house. You'll probably want to consider WBS next year. Another advantage with storing there is that SailPlace operates their brokerage out of WBS's yard. The guys at SailPlace are extremely knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to any issue related to Catalinas. 

Good luck.

JeffC



 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PJACKERMAN at aol.com 
  To: c320-list at catalina320.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 3:21 PM
  Subject: [C320-list] Boat Yard Blues


  The weather finally broke here in Chicago and I went up to Larsen Marine  
  boat yard to check on the boat.  When I dropped the boat off it had just  around 
  60-70 hours and full tank of fuel so I ordered the 50 hour service  on the 
  yanmar.  When I stepped on her today she had 111 hours and 1/2 tank  of fuel.  
  Someone must of let her idle for two days!  When I  confronted the service 
  manager I got the same thing I've gotten from them since  I've been there.  We 
  couldn't have done it, must have been you!  
   
  A few questions for those of you out there, 1) does it make sense that the  
  boat could put on 40 hours at idle on 7-9 gallons of fuel, 2) what should I 
  look  out for or what harm could be done running at idle for 40 + hours and 3) is 
  this  the type of service I should expect from all yards?  Year one 3 gel 
  coat  gouges and spider cracks up and down the stern from using the boarding 
  ladder on  land, their response, we couldn't of done it had to be you, year two 
  missing vhf  antenna, same response, this is my third year in the yard and this 
  is the third  time I've gotten the same response.  They are supposed to be one 
  of the  better and expensive yards around!
   
   
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