[C320-list] New Boat knocking noise

[Jerry Brown]

Thanks Bob.  I believe that someone on the list has Gerry Douglas e mail 
address.  If anyone does, could they forward it (and his phone number if 
possible) to me please.  I think I should comment that I have known the 
dealer for a long time and I know he is as frustrated as I am.  I do not 
want to paint him in colours as black as you suggest.  He is trying to work 
this out in his own way.  My colleague in the next office purchased as new 
Beneteau 10R this year and his dealer problem list is the same if not worse 
than mine.  This is simply not a professional business, as for example the 
car business has had to become, at least in our part of the world. 
Incidentally my first thought was that the mounting bolts had been left 
loose after commissioning.  Unfortunately that has been shown not to be the 
issue by the subsequent realignments.  I am wondering about the security of 
the bonding of the mounts to the hull.  I am planning to look for stress 
cracks or similar when I go to the boat today to take off our personal 
items.

All other ideas or theories gratefully received...........

Regards

Jerry Brown
#1137 Indigo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Seastream" <robert.seastream at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Boat knocking noise


> It almost sounds like your engine mounts are extremely loose.  It also 
> sounds like your dealer just wants to close the deal and get rid of  you 
> and the boat.
> I'd call Gerry Douglas at Catalina Yachts, tell him briefly of this 
> (including the dealership name & info), and tell him you'd like to  send 
> him a followup email with more details.  I'd also make it known  to all 
> parties that I'm considering washing my hands of this dealer  and boat (if 
> possible), taking my business elsewhere.
>
> I feel for you; you simply want to go sailing, and time's running  out. 
> However, with the sort of money involved, this dealers' attitude  and 
> approach is hideous.
>
> Bob Seastream
> Intuition # 906
>
>
> On Jun 21, 2008, at 7:28 AM, Jerry Brown wrote:
>
>> Suggestions Please
>>
>> Our new 320 is sitting at the dealer.  From the day of commissioning 
>> there has been a loud knocking sound from the stern whenever the  boat is 
>> motored over about 2300 revs - we were told it would "settle  down".  In 
>> two hours of motoring from the dealer premises to our  club the engine 
>> moved on the mounts sufficiently that it jammed the  engine cover which 
>> was free when we left (I checked the oil before  leaving).
>>
>> Initially the dealer "blamed" the Kiwi Prop that I supplied, and he 
>> installed.  He realigned the engine and told me to take the prop off  and 
>> reinstall the standard two blader.  While still tied to the dock  we 
>> tried the realigned engine (still fitted with the Kiwi Prop) as I  was 
>> reluctant to move the boat for fear of doing more damage.  The  dealer 
>> also dove under the boat to check that the prop was not  fouled and that 
>> the blades were free. In that test the engine was  moving around 
>> sufficiently to open up the stuffing box under load.   The dealer then 
>> thought that the initial motoring and engine  movement might have bent 
>> the propshaft.  The dealer then arranged to  have the boat moved (with 
>> minimal motoring) back to his premises.   The Kiwi Prop was removed and 
>> the shaft and coupling sent to a  machine shop for checking.  With the 
>> boat out of the water it was  clear that the shaft was not aligned.
>>
>> The machine shop confirmed that the shaft and coupling are true.   The 
>> standard prop was then installed, the engine again realigned  (the 
>> mechanic is getting lots of practice) and the boat put back in  the water 
>> with assurances that all would now be good.  The opposite  is true.  At 
>> 2300 revs the noise is more persistent and louder than  with the Kiwi 
>> Prop.  A subsequent test by the mechanics with the  engine covers off 
>> lead them to say that, at the point where the  noise starts, the motor 
>> can be seen to "move" sideways visually.   Another symptom is that when 
>> the engine is throttled back,  a  relatively low frequency vibration 
>> passes through the hull which can  be easily felt at the wheel.  The boat 
>> almost seems to be "shaking  it's hips"  There are no abnormal engine 
>> noises etc, no black smoke  or any other signs of engine problems.  It is 
>> smooth at idle and  when revved in neutral.
>>
>> Having confirmed that this is not a Kiwi Prop problem (i.e. my  problem 
>> from the dealers perspective) the dealers' next suggestion  is that 
>> possibly the wrong engine mounting rubber blocks were  installed from 
>> new.  That seems a possibility, but a pretty remote  one.  I would 
>> welcome other theories as our season is rapidly  disappearing.
>>
>> Jerry Brown
>> #1137 Indigo