Posted: September 03 2007 at 23:26 | IP Logged

Hi folks,

1)Would like any first-hand information regarding replacement of the engines in a flush-deck MY (such as the 460/500 or a similar Uniflight).  And no, I'm not talking about in-frame rebuilding.  I mean bench built DD's and installed without tearing the engines down (again) just to get them in.  It has been suggested the cabin roof be cut in panels  (port and starboard) and the old engines be removed and new engines installed, then the panels are re-glassed.  Sounds reasonable, if not expensive.  However, the time it takes to tear down the old engines for removal AND new engines for install wouldn't be very cheap either, not to mention the cost of any damage done getting the (very heavy) heads, manifolds, short block, etc. out through the cabin space.

2) Has anyone had a "fuel starvation" issue?  Low RPM @ full load?  I'm only getting 1950 rpm at full load! Can the old fuel lines cause this?  My fuel lines are original (1986) and I've had to replace a couple of them at the valve manifold.  I had to do a lot of work on the port engine over the last 3 years and, yes, I've stood on the fuel line on more than one occasion.  Of course, my low rpm doesn't seem to change whether on the forward OR aft tanks.  Plenty of soot on transom too.  For some reason, the exhaust note on the port engine even sounds different also.  Got any ideas?

If anyone has had any experience in this area, I'd love to hear from you.

Capt. G. Emory Shover - Eastern Marine Services,  LLC

m/v Southern Charm - Mill Creek, Md