Association Forum - Motor Oil Change

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Motor Oil Change

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Bob3589
1st Mate

Member Avatar

31 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/18/2003 : 23:06:52

It's time for me to change the oil and oil filter in my new 8hp Honda 4 stroke and I was wondering how most of you do yours with the boat still in the water. I have an 83 TR/FK (bought 5 months ago) that stays in the water (no trailer), motor on starbd side. I've never changed boat motor oil with the boat in the water before. I'm thinking i can pull the stern over to the finger pier as close as i can get it to do the oil change. I'll tie up a pan under the motor to catch any oil that might accidentally spill or drip down and have plenty of rags nearby. Then hold a can right next to the oil drain plug to catch the old oil. Or would it be better to go ahead and buy a vacuum oil changer ?? I don't want any oil to spill or drip into the water for environmental reasons and the marina water is mucky enough already -- besides possible EPA fine for any spills. Any suggestions on how to do it will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.
Bob 83 Cat25 TR/FK #3589

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2003 : 23:34:12

Hi Bob,

I've a feeling that many with the right answers are without power tonight, here is a related previous thread until they get back.

[url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4211"]Changing lower case oil on wet slipped boat??[/url]

Hope that helps,

J.B. Manley
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d609b3127cce8d2e212441c60000002010" border=0>
Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
36°29'58" -94°59'59"

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2003 : 01:11:18

I recently pulled my Honda 8 HP motor off and brought it home. Two people can lift it off easily. I did the oil change in the garage. Oil still went everywhere and I had a big mess to clean up. At least it was on land.

I also changed the plugs, fuel filter, and cleaned all the wire connections while I was at it.

I'd suggest that you don't do it in the water. Drop anything and your in trouble. Just back the boat into the slip and have a friend help you lift it off. Although I worried about it for a week, the lift was simple.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

Edited by - on

ddlyle
Captain

Members Avatar

302 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2003 : 08:12:32

I wouldn't change the oil in the water WITHOUT a vacuum pump system.
Maybe if you ask around the marina someone will let you borrow one.
When I had my boat hauled back in the spring, I drained the oil in the parking lot and put a catch-basin (whatever you call it) under the engine (the same thing I use to change the oil in my cars in the driveway). Really simple on the hard.
If you can't borrow a pump, I guess you'll have to buy one.
But I don't know what to recommend for brand or style or price.

Cap'n Dave
Sailing The Blues
1986 C25 sr/sk #5413

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2003 : 10:15:56

Agree with Cap'n Dave... I wouldn't try a conventional 'pull the plug' oil change in the water. One slip-up and you can have the dreaded 'sheen on the water'.

Might as well pull it off and do a lower unit oil change at the same time.

BTW... I run Mobil-1 synthetic in my engines.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

jm
Captain

Members Avatar

Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2003 : 13:54:11

I doubt if you will want (or need) to change the oil filter, as it is
buried in the oil resevoir and you have to take the engine block
off to get at it. It's a fine wire mesh filter that doesn't need to be replaced very often (if at all).

re: changing oil on water - I've used some duct tape and a funnel to drain the oil into an empty one quart oil container. Just attach half the width of a piece of tape to the inside rim of the funnel, and the other half directly below the drain plug. Unscrew the drain plug about half way (or until a small drip of oil becomes visible), hold the empty quart container under the funnel, then remove the plug completely. (if you are afraid of "fumbling the plug", then back out the plug far enough to wrap some fine wire around the thread, then secure that wire to something (wrist) so that the plug doesn't get fed to Neptune.) (and/or have a back-up plug available)

Edited by - on

deastburn
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2003 : 11:01:22

One of the major advantages of the newer Honda 8 is its (comparatively)light weight. There is no way I can easily remove my 9.9 during the season, but it gets its changes of oil and lube when the boat is pulled in November. Once a year seems to be fine.

If I were in your position, I would get help to pull the motor. Build (very easy to do) or buy a motor stand, and working on the motor becomes very simple. I made a motor stand of 2x6's, plywood and put four old refrigerator dolly wheels on the bottom so it can be moved around easily.

I would not try doing the oil change over water. I have already lost too many screws, bolts, clevis pins and tools o/b. The extra stress of being named as a scofflaw, insensitive polluter of pristine waters in the Martha's Vineyard Gazette would definitely cause me to fumble the whole thing at the worst possible moment. I just do not have nerves of steel.

Dave on "Wood Duck" (#2616)

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.