Another Aussie Member

[Saltydoc]

Hello fellow Boaties,

Just introducing myself to your wonderful forum website.

Now retired, I have been a cartographer for almost 50 years, from pen and ink to GPS and GIS. Spent most of my younger days sailing dinghies.

We live in Maryborough, Queensland, on the east coast of Australia. Our 36' Flybridge Cruiser is moored in the Marina at Hervey Bay, the whale watch capital of the world.
This fronts on to the magnificent protected waters of Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay, just near the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

I go under the name of Saltydoc, not because of any medical connection, but because of my initials DOC (Dennis O'Connor). From memory, there was a sailor of some note from the USA with a similar name but without the 'O'.

Cheers All
PS love your forum site.

 

[Capstan]

Hi Saltydoc!
Welcome. Nice place you live in! We have a place in Rainbow Beach up near the sand blow but unfortunately don't get back to spend anytime there. Maybe one day we will get to have a cold one anchored somewhere in the Great Sandy Straights!
Your boat looks perfect for that area.

 

[Fletcher500]

Welcome. I am new here as well and find this to be great site.

My daughter just flew to your beautiful country last night for her senior year of college. A heavy heart, but excited for her.

 

[Lepke]

I knew many HMAS Melbourne sailors from my USN days. We were in a SEATO exercise together. I thought they were one of the most professional, skilled crews I ever met. They could drink me under the table, too. Taught me to drink Fosters. I understand you use it in Australia for romantic purposes.
I've been wanting to take my boat down under and have been trying to plan refuel places. I have a 2500 mile range.

 

[RT Firefly]

˙pɹɐoqɐ ǝɯoɔlǝM
'sƃuᴉʇǝǝɹפ

 

[Steve]

Welcome! I visited Maryborough a couple of times in the 1990s, we were selling sugar cane harvesters, our branch office was in Bundaberg, very nice area and good cane farmers.

 

[Tidahapah]

Welcome bloke.
Enjoy the ride, a lot of us pass thru your area each year and also stay a while to play with the whales in.
may be back this year but may be not can't plan to far ahead.
Welcome again
Benn

 

[BruceK]

Welcome Saltydoc! Nice boat the Blue Seas. Had it long?

 

[Saltydoc]

Heat exchange problem

Had the Blue Seas for over 2 years now. Maybe spending too much on it but that's boating.

Some of the major improvements have been to the electrical system, new davits, replace old SS water tanks with Atlas food grade plastic tanks, new HWS, replace majority of old ply wood core on fly bridge, fit bow thruster and now in process of bringing the heat exchange unit up to scratch.

This is becoming an issue as, this afternoon, diesel mechanic rang to say we will need a replacement core in the unit. Not sure where we can get one of these.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers
Dennis

 

[stornoway7]

Welcome Saltydoc,another Aussie here from a bit further downunder that others.
Are we talking engine heater exchanger or hot water cylinder ?
What sort of engine do you have ?
Good to see you on the forum.
Cheers Craig.

 

[Tidahapah]

Check out Dicon in Brisbane for all your heat exchanger needs. Good units at a reasonable price.

 

[Peter B]

Had the Blue Seas for over 2 years now. Maybe spending too much on it but that's boating. Now in process of bringing the heat exchange unit up to scratch. This is becoming an issue as, this afternoon, diesel mechanic rang to say we will need a replacement core in the unit. Not sure where we can get one of these.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers
Dennis

Been there, done (had done ) that. Not cheap. I had to have the whole exchanger and exhaust water injection knuckle replaced a few years ago, but hey, it has lasted 35 years..!

They may have to get it in from American Diesel in the US, but the fellow (in Sydney, I think - advertises in Trade-a-Boat), who deals in/organises Lehman parts, is able to be contacted here.... 0418 427 474

Hope that helps. He may have a replacement core in stock. He tries to be prepared, but sometimes there's a wait while they get it in.

PS. Sorry, but knowing the Blueseas boats quite well, I just assumed it is a Lehman. Am I right..?

 

[Andy G]

They may have to get it in from American Diesel in the US, but the fellow (in Sydney, I think - advertises in Trade-a-Boat), who deals in/organises Lehman parts, is able to be contacted here.... 0418 427 474

Hope that helps. He may have a replacement core in stock. He tries to be prepared, but sometimes there's a wait while they get it in.



I can second that. If it is a Lehman, Bruce is your man. He has done two complete FL 120's engine rebuilds for me & has always handled the mechanical work on our current IG 36 and our previous 34 Clipper. I have known him going on 20 years, a good bloke & what he doesn't know about these engines ......etc.

Oh, and by the way Saltydoc welcome aboard, good to see another east coast Oz member posting.

 

[Saltydoc]

Heat Exchange Proplem

Thank you all for your kind advice.

My Blue Seas 36 has a single Ford Lees 120 hp 6 cylinder engine. The marine cooling system was made by the Lees Group in New Zealand.

Would appear that Dicon were the experts in providing and revamping heat exchange units. They provided this service for Australia and SE Asia.
Cor Cooling at Murarrie in Brisbane has now taken over the business and no longer provide the marine heat exchange revamp service.

A gentlemen at Cor Cooling suggested I contact Tasocs in Western Australia or the Lees Group in Takanina, Auckland, New Zealand.
I have emailed both these firms today but have not received a reply as yet.

If I have not received a reply by tomorrow I will phone the these companies and also 'Trade a boat' who may have Lees parts as well as Lehman Parts.

Thanks Again for all great advice. Hope to get back on the water soon.

Cheers
Saltydoc

 

[Peter B]

Salty, as I understand it, the Ford Lees is very similar to the Lehman, and both are derived from the same stock truck engine, so the parts may in many cases be interchangeable. So it's still worth giving Bruce (thanks Andy) a call on that number I put up I would think - while you wait to hear from those other contacts.
Please let us know on here how you get on.

 

[Saltydoc]

Hello Pete,
Maybe a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Marine Tech Engineering Services (0418 427 474) advise that the Lees system is not comparable with the Lehman system. He advised that they may be able to provide advise where a heat exchange unit to fit the Lees could be manufactured.
I have had no luck in contacting Lees in New Zealand, either by phone or email.

Mike from Tasocs in Western Australia, advises that they could manufacture a core to fit my existing Lees system. I need to send photos and a few specs to him for an estimate.

First promising lead so far.

Salty

 

[Saltydoc]

Heat Exchange

Hello Pete,

Hope to be back on the water soon. Finally located a firm that specialises in heat transfer units.
Allied Heat Transfer at Darra have repaired my unit and hopefully it should be with the courier tomorrow.
Would seem folks with Lees systems will have to rely on Allied Heat Transfer for heat transfer issues or replace the motor /motors.

Salty

 

[Andy G]

. So it's still worth giving Bruce (thanks Andy) a call on that number I put up I would think - while you wait to hear from those other contacts.
.

.

Sorry i must be going senile, Bruce? I meant Jason- Jason Bott.

 

[BruceK]

.

Sorry i must be going senile, Bruce? I meant Jason- Jason Bott.

I heard of him recently, keeps stock of Lehman parts.
I had success with cooling system parts from fredwarner1 on ebay, bought from him several times, cheaper than from Seakamp who make aftermarket heat exchangers,. and cheaper than ADC for exhaust angles.

 

[Peter B]

Pleased you'll soon be back on the water Salty. Must have seemed an age sorting it all out. Only mitigating thing being its winter for us this part of the world. All those with Ford Lees engines best take note.

 

[Saltydoc]

Contacted Jason at Marine Tech Engineering Services. 0418 427 474.
They have Lehman parts available and can import from US if required.
However Lees parts from New Zealand are no longer available.
Salty

 

[Peter B]

Contacted Jason at Marine Tech Engineering Services. 0418 427 474.
They have Lehman parts available and can import from US if required.
However Lees parts from New Zealand are no longer available.
Salty

Then best look after her very carefully...