Ruthless Marine Engine Surveyor needed in Santa Barbara or Ventura, CA.

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bligh

bligh

Guru
Joined
May 29, 2013
Messages
1,531
Location
USA
Vessel Name
Concerto
Vessel Make
1980 Cheoy Lee
Hi. I made an expensive error by not hiring a thorough mechanic for the mechanical survey for my last boat purchase:banghead:. Could anyone provide me of an engine surveyor who will do a quality survey and a sea trial for a couple old diesels and an 8k generator? The boat is located in Santa Barbara and will be hauled out in Ventura.
Thanks in advance

Scott
 
The usual best bet is the local company that actually services that brand of engine.

Not the local DD dealer to check a Cat.

You might also ask at the local commercial fish boat service yard .

Few areas have enough white boats to have a specialist for a marine (except IO or outboard) engines.

IF you can not locate anyone at all, a simple check is to start with a dead cold engine , get ready to leave the dock, start the engine and observe the white smoke.

Leave the dock right away at modest RPM and see what temp the white smoke clears.

This should find a low compression engine if it takes 140f or more to clean up.
 
SBar Marine (Tony Athens) out of Oxnard can provide a good reference.
 
bligh said:
Hi. I made an expensive error by not hiring a thorough mechanic for the mechanical survey for my last boat purchase:banghead:. Could anyone provide me of an engine surveyor who will do a quality survey and a sea trial for a couple old diesels and an 8k generator? The boat is located in Santa Barbara and will be hauled out in Ventura.
Thanks in advance

Scott
Click to expand...

I'd start with the local factory certified dealer for the brand of equipment in question.
 
marine mechanic

Steve @ Gold Coast Marine in Oxnard. Good with Ford Lehman and older diesels.

Dan
 
Sorry. The engines are FL 135's.
 
Survayer

I am not surprised
Try Ross Hubbard in Oxnard



Dan
 
No. Not really. Supposedly the broker 'has a guy' that will do the engine survey. We will see. The boat survey is scheduled for next week along with the rig survey. I have purchased my own oil sample kits and was advised by my mechanic to look carefully all around the head gasket for water leaks while each engine is under full load.
 
The engines are FL 135's., was advised by my mechanic to look carefully all around the head gasket for water leaks while each engine is under full load.

These engines are almost never operated at full load.

I would take care and watch the engine temps at full load , and only operate at full load for a short period of time , perhaps 2-3 min.

With the usual low power trawler operation service life can be 8,000 hours , but not at full tilt.
 
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FF said:
The engines are FL 135's., was advised by my mechanic to look carefully all around the head gasket for water leaks while each engine is under full load.

These engines are almost never operated at full load.

I would take care and watch the engine temps at full load , and only operate at full load for a short period of time , perhaps 2-3 min.

With the usual low power trawler operation service life can be 8,000 hours , but not at full tilt.
Click to expand...


I am asking for them to be run at full tilt for 10 minutes each and the head gaskets will be inspected at that time.
 
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Are you asking them to survey 3 engines for the price of one?
 
bligh said:
No. Not really. Supposedly the broker 'has a guy' that will do the engine survey. We will see. The boat survey is scheduled for next week along with the rig survey. I have purchased my own oil sample kits and was advised by my mechanic to look carefully all around the head gasket for water leaks while each engine is under full load.
Click to expand...

Just general rule, never to use the broker's guy.
 
BandB said:
Just general rule, never to use the broker's guy.
Click to expand...


I know. But I dont seem to have a choice. Everyone I call says they are 2 to 4 months out.



Is Ski is available to fly out there?
 
bligh said:
I am asking for them to be run at full tilt for 10 minutes each and the head gaskets will be inspected at that time.
Click to expand...

Not sure I would allow 10 minutes at WOT. 2 to 3 would be enough to learn if they would over heat.
 
Read the Steve D article on Engine Survey.

5-10 minutes at WOT
Then 30-mins at 80% Load

"Nearly all engine manufacturers warrant their engines to operate at WOT for 10-minutes, often much longer without encountering problems with overheating, fuel and air starvation, provided the engine has been properly installed and maintained."

If the seller is uncomfortable with this, you may want to find out now before you hire people. Or decide you're okay with a short duration WOT test. Personally, when buying, I always recommend the seller provide the captain as I don't want to be responsible for any helm time (your mechanic, once you find one, will agree). As a seller, I'd be nervous about this and would certainly pre-test to make sure I'd pass. But I do believe it a reasonable test. Like JLeonard , I'd definitely be reluctant too - 8-seconds as in Bull Riding is a long time. 10-minutes would go at glacial pace......

Good luck!

Peter
 
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bligh said:
I know. But I dont seem to have a choice. Everyone I call says they are 2 to 4 months out.



Is Ski is available to fly out there?
Click to expand...

So, if all the good surveyors are 2 to 4 months out and the broker's surveyor is available immediately, what does that tell you?
 
Many Lemans are rebuilt using rebuilt parts. The blocks and parts are often 50 years old and only the rebuilder knows how close to spec everything was when rebuilt.

My Lehman has 3800 hrs on it now and hasn't gone over 1800 RPM for 8 years and 3500 hours except for momentary bursts when docking.

I dont care as the oil analysis is great and it keeps on chugging.

At what point is testing max rpm for 10 minutes and 80 percent for 30?

If I could buy a bolt in exact swap engine of 50HP, I would if this one ever dies.

Kinda silly that I have to torture test it for a new owner who will probably run it just like me.
 
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