Visit our Popular Forums

spav350 · 22-03-2017, 11:35

Hi all,

My name is Sean. I just wanted to introduce myself as a somewhat veteran boater but new sailor. I acquired a 1984 Lancer 45 motor sailor about a year and a half ago and have been working on her since. It sat for 10 years never hauled out and never started for 5. To say the least after about 3 straight months of working on the engines, we got her fired up and finally hauled out. Every bronze piece on the bottom and inside had to be replaced due to electrolysis. Many many dollars later, she's now mechanically sound and I have started on the cosmetics. I have a wife and two boys and plan to use this regularly along the Gulf Coast as I never grew up with this opportunity and want my boys to learn and enjoy the water as much as I do. I look forward to learning from you guys and gals on here.

SP

Diesel Bill · 22-03-2017, 12:29

Hi Sean, Welcome aboard. I bought a 1980 Lancer 44' Motor Sailor in La Paz, Baja Ca Sur
Last year. It had sat for a few years and badly needed lots of TLC. I brought it up to San Pedro, Ca. where it's now docked. I just got home from working on the boat for a couple of days. Seems like there's always more to do. If you want to P.M. me We can compare notes and boats. I put about 1200 miles on mine and am very impressed with how solid they are.
I did lots to the engines to make them run cooler and not overheat. Now I'm starting to get into the electrical systems. Much more to do.
Diesel Bill

spav350 · 22-03-2017, 12:53

Thanks Diesel Bill. What engines do you have? I have twin Perkins ST6.3544M's in mine. They run great and don't have any issues overheating yet. However I had to buy all new after/oil coolers for mine since they sat way too long. New water pumps, thermostats, raw water pumps, everything. Even a front timing cover was ate up too far to repair. I'm dealing with years of dead algae and old water in my fuel tank right now. We drained it to empty but am still getting junk every now and then. Trying to polish the fuel the best I can without doing anything else. Getting better every time i do it. Pretty close to satisfactory where I don't need to mess with it anymore. I am also replacing my compression post and cabin sole due to a water leak that was never addressed. Too much going on at once but am always at a stand still.

Diesel Bill · 22-03-2017, 13:51

Hi Sean, My Lancer has dual Perkins 4-346M 4 cylinder engines. They had plugged up tubes in the heat exchangers and the exhaust manifolds were rotted out and leaked salt water from the freeze plugs. The cast iron holding the freeze plugs was wasted away and JB weld only slowed but not stopped the leaking. I recently installed 2 new 316 stainless manifolds and matching stainless elbows. Acid cleaned both engine cooling systems , Rodded out both heat exchangers. New t-stats and impellors. Installed new stainless steering cables and did the bottom while in Mex. Running both engines at 1450 RPM gave me 6 Knots OTB true speed at 3/4 gal burn per engine or 1 1/2 gal total.
So far no issues with fuel tank (no water) New filters before leaving Mex. and no plugging.
Have Velvet Drive trans w/ 2.93 reductions and 20 inch Luk feathering props. Can turn boat in it's own length at slow idle. set up for single handing. That's why I bought as well as nice dry pilot house. So far no regrets except high docking prices is San Pedro compared to La paz.