[C320-list] High Output Alternators

[Larry Frank]

WindSwept has a 100 AMP Balmar driven by the original Westerbeke belt.  I
monitor the belt tension and get some dusting, but have never had a
problem.  I did put a slightly larger diameter pully on the alternator
which may help to give the belt a better grip.

On 11/22/18, 10:58 PM, "Gerald Rouillard" <pearson39b at yahoo.com> wrote:

>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
>
>Sent from my iPad