Mending my Westsail 32

Just a quick overview of the projects I will be working on to get Sparrow back on the ocean. If you have thoughts or suggestions about the engine trouble or the woodwork, please let me know, I could use the help. Thanks for your support!!

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[georgewashington]

Looking forward to your next voyage!

Webb Chiles is in Hilton Head with Gannett (Moore 24) the boat he did his 6th(?) circumnavigation in. It would be cool if you could do a sailor to sailor interview with Webb!

My goal for the coming summer is Monroe Mich-Buffalo NY across Lake Erie on my Montgomery 17 “Reef or Madness” non-stop. Erie can be a B^%*ch!

[siegberge]

Engine room looks great try putting a 12 V electrical primer pump for the fuel system makes it easier to bleed the lines🧐

[svjobeth]

Hi Jerome, enjoyed the video. We had similar damage to the caprail on Jo Beth following a collision (a boat hit us while we were docked!) and I think the better option is to cut out the fractured wood and 'scarf' or splice in the new wood. Steve, in the comments below, has some great suggestions for the repair. I would also suggest you fill the fastener holes with thickened epoxy and then re-drill the holes when the new rail section goes on. As for the diesel situation; sounds like either air in the lines, junked up filters, or a failing injector pump - possibly a combination! Looking forward to updates!

[jonathanalcarez]

I took ownership of a W32 in San Diego this last Friday, 24th. Your videos have been great to browse through! Looking forward to you posting any work related to this idle issue as it sounds like what my Perkins may be facing as well.

[OldGuySailing]

Your approach to the cap rail is spot on. You may want to coat the bottom and the joints with epoxy

[redwood]

When wood working dry fit every joint more then 1 time. When you splice the ends together use a type of joint. Lots of choices. Dowels not my choice for your condition. A flat splice into each piece of wood from inboard to outboard. You might want to marry the ends at angles so the slip together. Leave room for expansion and contraction.

[scotthood]

Looking at your cap rail project, it looks like you could create a scarf from the aft outboard edge forward to a spot aft of the track.

[Steve-ulqb]

Re the cracked cap rail. Is that teak?
Epoxy likes to fill a gap and not be squeezed to bejeez.
I would take one of 2 options depending on weather I wanted to see a line or not.
Epoxy, clamp together lightly and run a skill saw the length of the cut. I do clamp and scratch the surface of your new cut up. Wipe with acetone and in 10-15 mins epoxy it.
With oily Timbers like teak you want to paint neat epoxy on the seams and let stand for 20 or so mins before adding the thickened.
West system has a YouTube channel with great vids on all this.

If you don’t want to have a visible join I would try titebond 3. Open up gently and Pressure wash the split. Get all the salt and grime out. The next day fill with titebond 3 and this glue is different. You want to clamp the bejeezus out of it. Clean up with a damp cloth Let the clamps sit for 24 hours and good to go.

[andydetweiler]

To check lines disconnect them close to pump or engine, and blow air back into tank until you hear it bubble. That's how I check my diesels out here logging 😬

[bdlii]

Nice video. Considering what you recently accomplished getting home safely after being knocked down these projects don’t seem so bad. Being over 50 and fixing lots of broken stuff while also watching a number of sailing channels I will offer some free advice that’s probably only worth the price 😊. As for the wood it sounds like you are spot on in plan. Make sure grain follows the existing grain. Not something I would have immediately thought about but Kevin on the How to Sail Oceans channel recently did a small wood repair and didn’t get grain right and heard about it in the comments 😅.

Sounds like you got good advice on the engine. What’s the engine model? Do you have the service manual? Are there forums? I can help you look if you post the model type. Again from other channels they always start with the filters as you said.

Only other thing I would add is having spares of all the real critical stuff. Not sure the cost of AIS antenna but maybe get an extra same as your thought process for the solar panel. That was smart thinking. Your wind vane too. Every extra available part and or supplies to make a repair. That thing really saved you. I would think it needs a serious inspection before heading out again.

Great stuff man. You’ve really put yourself out there. Takes a lot of guts to not only go Bluewater sailing but maintain a YouTube channel showing all your success and failures. Glad you are safe.

[svwanderlust]

Thanks for posting, sounds like you are getting some solid advice, tank pickup line broken or cracked, filter, etc. if all that checks then small electric fuel pump after the tank will do the trick and buy you a lot of time if you are on a budget, it did for me. Also if your exhaust mixing elbow is more then few years old it is suspect and a total show stopper if breaks. In the 28 years I owned by boat I limped along a very old diesel on min budget. Never let me down but had many homemade mods that worked. until finally 5 years ago fixed everything by installing a bran new Beta!

[sailingsolo]

I seem to remember or maybe not you mentioned a oil issue. If you have any diesel smell to the oil you have a leak in the fuel pump diaphram. Onviously if youre making extra oil then its is a no brainer its leaking.
My buddy had this on his perkins. It was overheating was a symptom. But it took hours to overheat. Jfyi

[maddogmaz]

I scuba dive and launch my Macgregor 25 out of Gloucester. Start with the fuel filters. Check for air leaks or vent blockage and water in the system. If you can, check the fuel pressure while running but you probably don't have the tools for that. But probably the fuel pump

[BryanAltman]

I really hope someone that knows engines and fuel will step up to help. You've been battling that quite a while and I know resources and knowledgeable people in beaufort is limited.

🤞🙏🙏

[russcampbell]

Hey Buddy!! sounds to me like you are getting air in the fuel line. Good luck are you heading back to Maine this summer?

[mosh]

I have no idea :) but you will be having videos of you doing the work ?

[pontoonrob]

Examine the fuel pickup in the tank 1st.