Page 1 of 1

13 Meter Project

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2021 11:47 pm
by Lumpy
Hello,
I'm starting work on my 1985, 13M Express. It's been a long road and I'm confident she's mine now. I'll go into more detail down the road on the process of acquiring her.

A short history; in November of 2020 she went under and was raised within 24 to 36 hours. The reason for her going under was pure negligence, the batteries drained the pumps stopped working, and overtime rainwater filled up and she slowly went under. ( I wasn't the owner). Unfortunately nothing was done to the engines until 3 months later, when I came on to the scene. At that time all I did was drain the blocks and put oil back in her.

My first major step is to remove the generator. You'll notice a large hose going across the front of the starboard engine. That hose is actually the exhaust from the generator. You also notice a white smaller hose that comes out of the bilge and exit through the starboard side of the hall where the sink exits as well from the entertainment Island. The only thing I can think of that the white hose is connected to in the bilge is the bilge pump, but I haven't pulled up the floor to look under it yet. Wow, can you say Jerry rigged. I've got a good feeling I'm going to see a lot of that throughout the boat. Once I get the generator removed I'll start to tear down the engines and see what we have. I'll post pictures of my progress along the way. I've never worked on diesel engines before so I'm really looking forward to this. She has Detroit 6-71TIs with Capital gears.

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:28 am
by prowlersfish
Look like you will be busy for a while. Is there a water lift muffler before the gen exhaust hose goes over the starboard engine? will the Engines turn over at all?

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:54 am
by Lumpy
Yes, there is a small water-filled baffle next to the generator. Engines are seized, I can't manually turn them over. I was thinking of removing the injectors to pour a penetration spray in the cylinders and let them sit a day. Either way I'm pulling the heads so it probably make more sense to just pull the head and see if I can't un-seize her. I'm going to tear down to the blocks and will most likely remove them so I can remove the crank to inspect and replace the bearing etc. The Generator is ready to pull out, don't have much information on its condition but I was told it wasn't running before she went under.

Any advice, suggestions, questions or the like please feel free.

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:59 pm
by prowlersfish
Good looking boat. The engines do scare me, you will know soon. Btw good to see you on boat diesel I was going to reamend joining. Ron is the best on DD.

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2021 3:25 pm
by Lumpy
I´m looking for some suggestions for the following: I looking at having the engines pulled out next week, but I don´t have any transport lined up. I´m an hour away and need to find an inexpensive transport solution. I have a 1500 truck, so I was thinking about renting a trailer but not sure where to find one that can handle at least one of the engines, preferably both but then I´m not sure my 1500 could handle the trip. Does anyone have experience in moving these beasts? Suggestions welcome.

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2021 5:23 pm
by WayWeGo
How far do you have to go and how hilly is the route?

I towed a 10,000 lb car trailer with a F150 rated for 3,500 lb for a year before buying a F350. It wasn't fun, but it did work.

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:35 am
by Lumpy
I was thinking about finding a trailer that could handle the weight. I've towed some heavy things as well with my 1500. My driveway has a killer hill but the real challenge would be how to get it off the trailer. I'd have to rent something and the cost just keep going up. I'm thinking about just taring it down to just the block in place. Have a DD mechanic look over the lower half and if it needs to come out at least it will only be the block left. Much lighter and easier to handle.

Re: 13 Meter Project

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 12:05 pm
by prowlersfish
The engine is over 2000 lbs be careful