SVJoli: New Engine and Generator

When we bought Triumph in the Spring of 2002, she had an old Northern Lights generator and a Westerbeke diesel engine. We had removed the generator right away because it was old, had a dry-stack exhaust design that we didn't like, and with the generator and support systems in the engine compartment, there was no room to work. We also removed three 55-gallon drums of old, abandoned wiring and electronic equipment before getting Triumph in the water in Muskegon Lake to head home to Lake Erie. Although the engine had at least 6000 engine hours and the seals were leaky, it was in acceptable working order. In the fall of 2003, we had to decide if we were going to have the engine rebuilt or replaced. Westerbeke had a good deal on the like-for-like replacement engine and a 5 KW generator, so we decided to tackle the replacement in the winter of 2004. Bryan broke out the Sawzall and cut a hole in the cockpit sole to remove the old engine and install the new engine and generator. He has never been afraid of cutting holes in a perfectly good boat! With the help of Toledo Beach Marina (Les Lashaway - thanks!) toledobeach.com, we rigged the old engine out and the new in. We included a dual Raycor fuel filter, a preluber that runs prior to starting the engine and a crankcase vent filter to keep the engine box clean. Our friends Rick and Judy at Latanick (latanickequipment.com) fabricated the new stainless steel motor mounts and Jim Zima of Great Lakes Diesel (greatlakesdieselmarine.com) installed the diesel and the generator with Bryan's help.