Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 46)

ask chuck AskChuck@BoatUS.com the difference between the two. It gets into the cushions, clothes, everything. About three years ago, I went in search of the escaping exhaust. I removed the aqua lift muffler and sent it back to Catalina for testing. They X-rayed the welds and put it under a pressure test. They found no problems with it. We replaced the gaskets when reinstalling it. We also used a carbon monoxide sniffer to try to search for leaks without finding anything. Visual observations revealed exhaust leaking from the manifold. After replacing the gaskets, we could no longer “see” any leaks. To this day, we still get the diesel exhaust smell. I now use an “ozonegenerating” Cabinaire box when we are away from the boat. It’s running on auto all week long. We clear the cabin by opening the hatches when we come on board. Any ideas on any options to get rid of the smell? Mike Walsh Chicago, IL the bow; 600 lbs. of boat and motor added to the stern; and that’s why my shower doesn’t drain. The shower is fiberglass. Is there a product that I can use to level the shower toward the drain? Mike Corcoran Benicia, CA “Ask Chuck” encourages a two-way communication and an ongoing dialogue between longtime BoatU.S. Magazine Technical Editor Chuck Husick and BoatU.S. Magazine readers on a wide array of questions involving gear, the latest equipment and the best technology for use on your boat. Chuck is a sailor, pilot, engineer and former president of Chris-Craft Boats. He is a wellknown expert and lecturer on diesel engines and is a member of the federal Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Sciences. If you are looking for a credible expert to guide you through some of the more complex and arcane aspects of boating, Ask Chuck is your answer. We invite your questions by e-mail. Address your inquiry to AskChuck@BoatUS.com. We look forward to hearing from you. An interesting example of unintended consequences. I don’t know of any product that can be used to solve your shower drain problem. I believe you have two choices — install a new shower drain fitting into the shower pan at the new low point or rebuild the sole at the angle required to allow the water to drain through the existing fitting. I would explore the installation of a new drain fitting in preference to rebuilding the shower pan. If installing a new drain is impractical, I would plan on creating a new shower pan. A: Using a CO detector to find leaks in a diesel engine’s exhaust system will not provide useful information since diesel exhaust contains an extremely small amount of CO. I suggest that you check the exhaust hose between the engine and waterlift muffler and the hose from the muffler to the thruhull fitting. You may want to try wiping the hose and end fittings/hose clamps with a clean, wet cloth and then sniffing the cloth for evidence of the exhaust odor. If you find evidence of the odor, you may wish to thoroughly clean the hoses with detergent and recheck for the odor after the hose has dried and the engine has been run again. You can also use a spray bottle to wet suspect joint areas with a water /soap solution; however, I suspect that unless the hoses have already been replaced, they will be found to be the cause of the problem. A: Q: I have an alcohol stove and oven that’s a pain in the butt. I’d like to install a propane unit but there are none available that will fit the space without major cabinet and fiberglass modifications. Is it possible to convert the present stove by changing the burners and orifices in the oven? Where can I buy the components? I already have a vented locker, regulator, etc. for the barbecue; I’d love to get rid of the alcohol tank, pump, etc. and clean up the lazarette. Peter Greer Thousand Oaks, CA Q: Q: I have a 1999 Catalina 36 MKII with a Universal/Westerbeke 30-hp engine. I have had problems from the beginning with an odor of diesel exhaust in the cabin for years. It is not “raw diesel.” The boatyard has checked the tank for leaks, and found none. It is an exhaust smell. I know BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 I have a 1985 Ocean Alexander Europa Sedan that was refurbished in 2000. The boat is great, but the shower doesn’t drain. When the bow thruster was added, they cut the water tank down 50 gallons, which is under the bed in the forward salon. An 11-foot Zodiac, with an 18-hp motor, was added and stored on the upper deck, aft. In summary, 410 lbs. of water taken off I do not know of any approved means for converting your alcohol stove to propane. The obvious, but likely costly, way to use propane from your existing system would be to buy a marine propane stove. A possible alternative is to use a small portable propane stove of the type that uses small (less than 8 ounces) disposable propane cylinders. If you decide to go this route, be sure that the stove is well secured and that only the gas cylinder in use is kept below deck (you might store spare cylinders with the main propane tank in its ventilated locker). Use of such small cooking appliances is approved under ABYC A-30. A: My vessel (Monk 36) has a stainless rudder and prop shaft. Keeping them clean Q: 46

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

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