Fischer Panda Question

[CabezonBD]

Hi All

After thinking about, searching, boarding and trying many boats, We are in the process of buying our cruising boat for post retirement (6-8 months away). We have selected a very fine Hylas 49 that includes many options. We will be the third owner. One concern is that the boat has a 8 kW FP generator. It has about 1350 hours.

Our concern is that it doesn't look like it had been maintained very well. The cooling fluid seemed like it was mostly water, the belt was in pretty bad shape, dirty oil, evidence of prior leaks. During the sea trial of the boat, we ran it hard and under load and it ran great without shutting down or skipping a beat.

After reading a lot of negative comments about FP generators, I am concerned about the life left on this unit. Any advice of how best to service the generator? Any flushing to the cooling system that would be good to try? Sure I will do the normal stuff of changing the fluids, belt, filters etc, but what else can I do to help get the generator off to a good new beginning?

Thanks

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by CabezonBD

Hi All

After thinking about, searching, boarding and trying many boats, We are in the process of buying our cruising boat for post retirement (6-8 months away). We have selected a very fine Hylas 49 that includes many options. We will be the third owner. One concern is that the boat has a 8 kW FP generator. It has about 1350 hours.

Our concern is that it doesn't look like it had been maintained very well. The cooling fluid seemed like it was mostly water, the belt was in pretty bad shape, dirty oil, evidence of prior leaks. During the sea trial of the boat, we ran it hard and under load and it ran great without shutting down or skipping a beat.

After reading a lot of negative comments about FP generators, I am concerned about the life left on this unit. Any advice of how best to service the generator? Any flushing to the cooling system that would be good to try? Sure I will do the normal stuff of changing the fluids, belt, filters etc, but what else can I do to help get the generator off to a good new beginning?

Thanks

We have owned an FP for 12+ years and have found that, so long as one rigorously observes the maintenance requirements, they are quite reliable. There is a flushing procedure for the coolant. I will not go into a discussion of that here as that information for your specific unit is available on the FP site. Essentially, it involves draining the existing coolant, whatever that might be, flushing the entire unit with fresh water by using the engine's own pump which activates when the power to the unit is turned on and the power cable to the oil pressure switch disconnected and then, refilling the unit with the proper coolant and evacuating air (which may take several cycles. Replacing belts is no problem. More important, is replacing the impeller and seals in the raw water pump, which should be done as a routine matter. Failure to do that can, and will, result in leakage in the pump which, at worst will destroy the pump itself and cause collateral damage to adjoining equipment. Lastly, one needs adjust the valves periodically which really isn't particularly difficult either. You can pull the documents for the generator off the Fischer Panda site and, if you have specific issues, Jim Gagnon in the Service Department and Jeff Till, the head of sales, are both very responsive and can help you as needed (call 800-508-6494 or
954-462-2800)

FWIW...

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by CabezonBD

Hi All

After thinking about, searching, boarding and trying many boats, We are in the process of buying our cruising boat for post retirement (6-8 months away). We have selected a very fine Hylas 49 that includes many options. We will be the third owner. One concern is that the boat has a 8 kW FP generator. It has about 1350 hours.

Our concern is that it doesn't look like it had been maintained very well. The cooling fluid seemed like it was mostly water, the belt was in pretty bad shape, dirty oil, evidence of prior leaks. During the sea trial of the boat, we ran it hard and under load and it ran great without shutting down or skipping a beat.

After reading a lot of negative comments about FP generators, I am concerned about the life left on this unit. Any advice of how best to service the generator? Any flushing to the cooling system that would be good to try? Sure I will do the normal stuff of changing the fluids, belt, filters etc, but what else can I do to help get the generator off to a good new beginning?

Thanks

FP generators are awful. But if this one actually made it to 1350 hours without getting tossed overboard, then you ought to be home free.

[marlinmike]

I would perform a full servicing like you observed in addition valve adjustment. At some point you may have to replace it, but I would use it until that day comes and replace with a Northern Lights unit (or equivalent) .