We noticed a lag bolt that was shipped with the engine had screw threads that were full of rust and suspected the wood would not hold the threads of the new Stainless Steel lag bolts securely. We were right and had to plug a total of 5 of the lag bolt holes and then re-drill the plugs with pilot holes for the new lag bolts. In case you some day have to do this on your own boat the procedure is to drill out the old holes with a drill bit of known and matching diameter to the plugs (dowels ) to be installed. We then wet the dowel and apply Gorilla glue. The water is used to assist in the cure of the glue. You wouldn't believe it if you didn't read the instructions... now ... who does that? Last we cut off the dowel flush with a flexible flush cut saw.
The next thing we notice was that the water fitting on the through hull was plastic. We also found we could turn this fitting by hand, I don't like plastic because I can not gauge when it is likely or not to fail as I can with bronze. We couldn't allow this to be a "show stopper" so initially we tried to tighten it. When we couldn't get a tight fit on it we decided to attempt to purchase a new bronze fitting from a marine suppler in Belize City with the help of the resort where we are installing this engine. So we pulled the fitting off of the through hull and found that there was some type of obstruction on the INSIDE of the strainer. Since we had brought needle nose pliers (in an 84 pound bag) we were able to pull it out - still don't know what it is but it won't damage the water pump upstream of it nor will it reduce cooling water flow.
While waiting on the part to come from Belize City we installed the new cut water on the boat. When asked how long we might expect an engine to last with Fresh Water Cooling (which we installed) I never thought to compare the corrosion of the engine without fresh water cooling to that of the 304 stainless cutwater we replaced (see 318 engine page). The original 304 stainless lasted only approximately 2 years in the salt / brackish water and 304 is superior in corrosion resistance than cast iron. We used 316 Stainless steel which has the best salt water corrosion resistance of anything other than some possibly some $VERY EXOTIC $ other metals.
Well the part wasn't going to get here until the last flight of the day... by the way air travel is apparently the way to go here. There is so much water and so many swamps plus the roads aren't that great so air is used A LOT it seems. Anhyway, we needed to make the best use of our time and get the engine installed. we will be able to reach under the engine and install the new part... but it would have been easier if... Well... it is what it is.
We have our hook ups of exhaust, fuel, sea water, and oil pressure gage hoses tomorrow morning... before it gets so brutally hot...We will also be installing the throttle and transmission linkages, battery, battery cables, coil, start solenoid and such. By the end of the day we should be launching the boat and running it again - this time at its home......
