[C320-list] New Boat knocking noise

[Robert Seastream]

Good.  I didn't know you'd known the dealer for some time, hence my  
initial response.  I hope it works out to everyones satisfaction.

Bob

On Jun 21, 2008, at 10:05 AM, Jerry Brown wrote:

> 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