Engine Maintenance: 250 hours on the Beta Marine 35 (August 2023)

[@igniti0n5lmustang]

250 hours already?? Wow I love that you are getting that much use out of her! Keep on sailing skipper!

[@keeldragger]

I'm not f*cking around this year!!! hahahaha

[@sailingsole]

Nice work captain! That vacuum gauge was a great addition. I can’t believe you left it backwards! 🙄😂 🤙🏼

[@keeldragger]

Lol. Yeah. I didn’t want to overtighten it so I left it backwards. I do not expect to inspect this frequently.

[@dalebunch7870]

Very good maintenance video.

[@keeldragger]

I learned from watching my dad work on tractors.

[@sebrofseven]

Well done Captain. You rock

[@keeldragger]

Thanks, Mike!

[@k5kensails]

“Memory” on the fins. Shows your nerdy side. And the seasons of life knowledge you have. So glad you did this. I have wondered how you like the motor and if you think it was worth the swap. A serious option if I get a boat with a bad motor. Great job!

[@keeldragger]

I am always learning and I am at the point where I am comfortable with basic maintenance tasks and light duty engine work. Aside from the obvious benefits of having a newer, more reliable engine, one thing that I really appreciate about the Beta 35 is accessibility and ease of maintenance relative to the prior Volvo Penta 2003T. Some of that comes from simplification of the install (e.g. upgrade to racors for easier fuel filter swap, manual priming bulb vs. additional valves and electric priming pump, etc.) vs. the actual motor itself. Zero regrets about the decision for a full repower. Only change I would make is getting a Beta 50 vs. Beta 35. Beta 35 has enough power for the conditions I usually find myself in. It would be great to have a little excess power to accommodate another large alternator. Lots of people DIY re-powers and you can save about 30% of total cost doing it yourself. That being said, I'm glad I hired a good mechanic. Engine placement, engine mounts, alignment adjustments are all beyond my current skill level.

[@k5kensails]

@@keeldragger great job. You have one of the most informative channels. You give so Much information as you narrate each voyage. Radio etiquette, sail plan, cooking ideas, etc. and you sail almost every weekend. Amazing.

[@keeldragger]

Glad to hear you find it informative. Any topics I should include in the future?

[@k5kensails]

@@keeldragger power consumption at anchor. A slip meet up for your local subscribers. I’d fly in for that. Would be good to hear your story of how you got into sailing. Then just keep talking to us as you sail. That and the chatter with Andy is pure entertainment!

[@sailingsole]

When he said memory for the vanes I was surprised but Mark is a pretty fart smeller!

[@pavelgantvarg5891]

Nice work! Also a good reminder to do a little engine maintenance myself.

[@keeldragger]

It never ends. I'm almost due for an oil change.

[@sailnsurfthurman9263]

Holy crap you already surpassed me haha. Mine only has 50 hrs since the repower.

[@keeldragger]

That could mean you are doing more sailing and less motoring. Either way 50 is solid.

[@sailnsurfthurman9263]

@@keeldragger to be fair you are on the ocean. much bigger waterway than me

[@keeldragger]

We were hoping to see you at Keeldraggerpalooza

[@sailnsurfthurman9263]

@@keeldragger I was trying to get a group together for a charter but it didn't work out. Maybe next year we can get it together.

[@granularSodacan]

Thank you for this, Amigo. I've got 360 hours on my Beta Marine 25 and it's running a bit rough at idle so I've got to do the filter change for the first time. Kinda nervous. How do you drain the coolant and saltwater from the tubestack/ heat exchanger to do the stack check etc? I need to pull my tube stack and probably just replace the coolant but the manual doesn't say how to drain it 🙄 Super jealous of your engine access 🤯 what kind of boat is that? I used to watch you when you had the Dana 24. Do you know of a good 31-38 foot square sterned full or 3/4 encapsulated keel cutter with external chainplates? I'm considering an Island Packet and just getting external chainplates mounted. I'm on my way to the Sea of Cortez from BC IN A 27' twin fin keeled sloop and it sucks. Absolute trash in heavy weather.

[@keeldragger]

Valiant 40. Pretty good engine access. I still need to check my tube stack. The Beta manual says the coolant drain tap for Beta 25 is "Mid engine, starboard side when viewed from the gearbox end." Open that tap and/or remove a plug if the tap is not there and that should take care of the coolant. Seawater should drain out when you pull the zinc. I'd have to think about square sterned full or 3/4 encapsulated keel cutter with external chainplates, but I can think of several double enders. What kind of 27' fin keeled sloop are you sailing? I had a friend with a Westerly Centaur (26 footer) back in the day. it was sloooowwwww.

[@RandyWHorton]

Nice edit there, I would say that actually took 7 hours? 😅

[@keeldragger]

Probably more like 3 hours. I was a little slow from fighting a cold. Hardest part, which I did not show in video, was me tightening the secondary fuel filter instead of loosening it. Next time I'll get it all done in 1 hour.