[C320-list] High Output Alternators

[Gerald Rouillard]

Now that I have access to some Catalina 320 focused experience, I want to solicit advice on a couple of issues that I've been wrestling since I bought it this past summer.  The first one is the alternator arrangement I inherited.

Wind Song is Westerbeke powered with a Powermax, 125 amp High Output Alternator.  It's driven  by a single belt, and that causes me some concern.  On a previously owned boat, I had upgraded my 30 HP Yanmar to a 125 amp alternator, and had to change back to the original 55 amp alternator when the single belt configuration failed to drive the alternator once we reached 1400 RPMs.  The belt would just start slipping and sloughing off belt material.

My mechanic advised me that the higher output alternator needed two belts to work well, and that's what causes my concern with this set up.  During the purchase survey this summer, we noted some looseness in the belt and some powdered belt debris in the engine compartment.  I replaced the belt with a Westerbeke part and tightened it up.  So far it seems to be working OK, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any problems with one of these high output units driven by a single belt.

Sailor Jerry
Wind Song, Hull #283
Shoal Draft, Wing Keel

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