Official 380 Thread

[mrsrobinson]

Winterized her this weekend by myself, and have the cuts/bruises to prove it Not an easy boat to winterize (genny and mains).

 

[mratlndmrk]

Got a quote to replace both fuel tanks. Called Florida Marine Tanks (original mfg.), they recommended Atlantic Coastal Welding, to make new ones. Had the blueprints sent to them.
Given that the engines and generator are out, I'm replacing the Vacuflush system and the batteries, it was the perfect time to replace them. Now I can clean, sand and paint the entire engine compartment (Sherwin Williams Tile Clad HS).

Removing the port tank was straightforward (access hatch in the floor of the port locker next to the cabin entrance), given the Vacuflush system and batteries were out. There are plastic spacers/shims on the sides that need to be fished out, to allow for movement. Used a cordless angle drill to reach in and undo the pvc bracket screws.

View attachment 136787

The starboard tank was a whole different matter. There is an access panel in the bottom of the rear cabin side cupboard. That's the only way one can undo the vent line, pvc brackets and then fish out the spacers/shims. The generator has to come out (already the case for me). The fuel fill elbow is welded on and interferes with the rear cross brace which supports the hatch hinge. Going to have a threaded fitting installed to alleviate this issue for installation.
Was pulling the tank back when it contacted the starboard fiberglass exhaust stack. Damn. After 2 days of ruminating had to bite the bullet and cut the fiberglass exhaust stack below the level of the shelf. Not as bad as it sounds, once the commitment was made. Install will be adding a three internal fiberglass tabs, then a fiberglass/epoxy wrap.

Given the amount of work I'm doing in the engine bay, wasn't going to get that finished then have the potential for a tank leak issue a few years down the road.

Jeezus, what a project. Nice work.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I spent a lot of time in the bilge this weekend winterizing. I could never figure out how water was gathering in the bilge area where the AC Water pump and strainer are located. I shop vacuumed it dry, the next time there was a small amount of water there again.

Well, now I know, it's from the starboard stern bilge area. I splashed/overflowed some pink antifreeze in that area and after a while it showed up where the AC Water pump and strainer are located, thru a small hole on the starboard side of that area. That surprised me as I assumed our boats sat lower in the stern and water would travel to the stern, not in this case.

 

[mratlndmrk]

I spent a lot of time in the bilge this weekend winterizing. I could never figure out how water was gathering in the bilge area where the AC Water pump and strainer are located. I shop vacuumed it dry, the next time there was a small amount of water there again.

Well, now I know, it's from the starboard stern bilge area. I splashed/overflowed some pink antifreeze in that area and after a while it showed up where the AC Water pump and strainer are located, thru a small hole on the starboard side of that area. That surprised me as I assumed our boats sat lower in the stern and water would travel to the stern, not in this case.

I'm assuming you are on the hard and on jack stands. You should check how your boat was leveled on the stands. The water should flow to the aft bilge area. They may not have blocked you correctly.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I'm assuming you are on the hard and on jack stands. You should check how your boat was leveled on the stands. The water should flow to the aft bilge area. They may not have blocked you correctly.

No, in the water year round.

What's interesting is the hole on the starboard side in the space where the AC water pump and strainer are located did not have any pink coming in, it was dry. So, now I am rethinking this, perhaps I am wrong. If so, where did the pink come from? The only other thing there are the V Drives, possibly transmission fluid, but I was not running the boat.

This is the area I am referring to, I highlighted the hole. See how dry it is? After winterizing the generator, where I splashed some pink stuff, it was damp with pink water.

 

[mratlndmrk]

No, in the water year round.

Hmmmm....mine drains aft when in the water.

 

[SCFoster]

If so, where did the pink come from? The only other thing there are the V Drives, possibly transmission fluid, but I was not running the boat.

This is the area I am referring to, I highlighted the hole. See how dry it is? After winterizing the generator, where I splashed some pink stuff, it was damp with pink water.

One way to be sure is find something other than pink and re-pour. Mine was in fact the transmissions, mixed with diesel.

 

[mrsrobinson]

One way to be sure is find something other than pink and re-pour. Mine was in fact the transmissions, mixed with diesel.

Good tip, though where did the water come from that the pink was mixed in with? I dried that area with a towel. Rhetorical question, I will investigate further in the spring since the engines are winterized now. It will be interesting to see if there any pink and/or water in that area when I check next, from the boat sitting, no engines running.

 

[SCFoster]

Jeezus, what a project. Nice work.

Thanks. Once I had to pull one engine and the generator, one thing led to another.
This way, I'll be done with the mechanical side of things in the engine bay. Everything baselined.
Port engine is a CAT remanufactured with 100 hours on it. Dropped off the starboard engine to T&S Marine in Crisfield, MD a week ago. They're going to go over that engine and rebuild the transmission (leaking).
Got the rebuilt Westerbeke back a few weeks ago.
Atlantic Welding is going to give me a few gallons of the Sherwin Williams TileClad to paint the entire engine bay white. Can't buy it in Delaware or Maryland due to VOCs.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I'm curious to learn from those of you who have a heater or something else in the engine compartment that requires electricity, how did you run the cord from the engine compartment to the cockpit locker by the cabin door on the port side? I'll eventually hardwire this, no time for that right now though. I could not find any access panels. Here's what I ended up doing:

 

[jdwky69]

I'm curious too, because mine has a heater in it already with a long cord and I also didn't know where to run it up to.

 

[SCFoster]

I'm curious to learn from those of you who have a heater or something else in the engine compartment that requires electricity, how did you run the cord from the engine compartment to the cockpit locker by the cabin door on the port side? I'll eventually hardwire this, no time for that right now though.

There is an access panel in the floor of the port cockpit locker, forward of the ice maker, to the left of the cabin sliding door. It provides access (not much) to the fuel tank vent connection.
You could pick up wiring on that side.
In the aft cabin on the starboard side, there is an access panel in bottom of the cupboard, above the rear couch/bed. That provides access to the starboard fuel tank vent hose.
Either side will allow you to fish a 110V cable aft into the engine bay.
Just a thought.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I searched and searched in that cockpit locker could not find anything. I'll check again next time I'm on the boat.

 

[SCFoster]

Has anyone dealt with replacing the stuffing for the twin rudder posts?
A replacement packing nut from Flounder Pounder is $324.

Found a source for Gore-Tex packing rope. The question is whether 3/16" or 1/4" is used.

 

[SCFoster]

I searched and searched in that cockpit locker could not find anything. I'll check again next time I'm on the boat.

It's in the floor of the port locker ahead of the ice maker. A round cover with some screws. I'm going to cut out pretty much the whole floor of that locker and replace it, as the access to the fuel tank is worthless.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Just so we're saying the same locker, it's the one at 30 seconds in my video above?

 

[SCFoster]

Just so we're saying the same locker, it's the one at 30 seconds in my video above?

That's the one. It's in the floor under that spray bottle.

For measuring the effectiveness of the heater, I used some cheap units off Amazon, that tracked both the temperature (highest and lowest temps) along with humidity. Worked great over the winter in my Beneteau, to see how well the heater did in 20deg max temp days.


BTW, I noticed your hatch lift strut is mounted next to or on the port engine. I like that. Mine is right in the middle of the bilge floor which sucks. Have to replace it at some point anyway.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I installed some Govee temp sensors while I was there installing the engine compartment heater. I have one in the cabin and one in the engine compartment. It tracks humidity and some other things as well, like yours does. I also installed a blink security camera.

I replaced the engine hatch actuator a few months ago as well, I posted a thread on here for that if you need it.

 

[SCFoster]

I replaced the engine hatch actuator a few months ago as well, I posted a thread on here for that if you need it.

If you could post some pictures of the bottom bracket that would be great. Mine is bolted to the center of the bilge floor which is a terrible location. It turns what would be a relatively spacious compartment into seriously cramped quarters.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I will try to get some pics next time I'm on the boat. I did video it some in that clip.