I spent some quality time with my engine this weekend.

As any diesel auxiliary powered sailboat owner will tell you, most sailboats leave something to be desired in terms of engine access. Most engine compartments would challenge Houdini. Olivia is no exception

Originally powered by a Volvo MD2B, a diminutive 2 cylinder diesel, it was upgraded by its former owner to a powerful Westerbeke W27 four cylinder diesel, capable of producing 30 horsepower, a sizeable amount for a Westerly Centaur. More than enough to wiggle off of most shallows and sandbars.

Engine access seems to be fairly good, with only a few areas that are wrench-challenged. No, it is more a matter of Westerbekes own design that causes me to re-evaluate the sanity of owning an inboard diesel in the first place.

Consider the following: Several weeks ago, I ordered a spare raw water impeller from Tormmented-son marine. Those of you who have, or have had a diesel powered boat know that the raw water pump provides the necessary heat exchange in order to regulate engine temperature. It is a vital piece of equipment, subject to failure, and replacement is pretty much a given. It is a vital part of the cooling system.

So where does Westerbeke decide to mount the thing? (insert demonic laugh here); on the left (port) side of the engine facing aft-backward. It certainly appears that the harbor is going to learn some new words when I tackle this job in the very near future. I couldn’t imagine having to do this in an emergency situation.

Whoever designed this location, along with whoever approved it for manufacture should be required  to give justification as to why  they located such an important, and high failure subject part in such a torturous location. If they are unable to give a satisfactory justification, than they should be required to perform an impeller change in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico in 8 foot seas during the middle of August. I guarantee that they’d think about it the next time they considered that sort of location.

I finally found the zinc anode location, on the starboard side of the heat exchanger, and managed to get the old one out, which was nothing more now than a brass plug, the zinc pencil having long ago been eroded off.

Later, I scrubbed the engine and bilge, checked the oil, turned on the raw water strainer seacock, switched on the batteries and started the Westerbeke, letting it come to temperature, and exercising the transmission before shutting down, putting everything back together and away, and retiring to the back deck for a cool beverage, reposing on the beanbag and watching the Sunday crowd trying to trailer their boats.

This week I’m going to change the oil. It looks like a pretty straight forward job, but we’ll see. If you’re around the harbor, and hear new and creative sailor talk, it’s just me spending a little quality time with Olivias’ engine…….