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Just purchased an Ericson 28+!

Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
If this is your first sailboat you'll have lots of questions. This is a great forum for asking for advice as there are lots of knowledgeable sailors, mechanics, electricians, riggers, etc. who offer their advice freely. Also, if you are new to maintenance, Nigel Calder's book "Boat owners electrical and mechanical manual" is highly recommended as the best in the industry for maintenance and problem solving all the various systems aboard our boats.
Enjoy your boat!
Frank
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
If this is your first sailboat you'll have lots of questions. This is a great forum for asking for advice as there are lots of knowledgeable sailors, mechanics, electricians, riggers, etc. who offer their advice freely. Also, if you are new to maintenance, Nigel Calder's book "Boat owners electrical and mechanical manual" is highly recommended as the best in the industry for maintenance and problem solving all the various systems aboard our boats.
Enjoy your boat!
Frank
Thank you I am so glad to be here. I will look into getting this book, thanks. I have a feeling I'll on here a lot posting questions. In fact, I'm due to move Sonia Saturday north about 30 miles to MDR. I imagine we'll be motoring a great deal. My question is that I don't know where the fuel port is on the boat to fill up the boat with diesel at the fueling dock!!! I have no owner's manual and the previous owner is in London and not easy to get ahold of. Anyone know? Help!
 

Eric Gordon

1975 E27 - Sea Star, Yanmar 3GM30F Dana Point, Ca.
In my Ericson 27 (circa 1975), the fuel tank is accessed on the floor of the cockpit. It is a stainless steel cover which unscrews to allow you to fill the tank. Sorry, I don’t have a pic. Also, do you have a working fuel gauge? Mine is inside the cabin where the main DC electrical panel is. Mine only works when the engine is operating.

I spent a year(ish) in a slip at MDR before moving to Dana Point. Where is the boat now?
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Just a guess. In that era EY tended to install the fuel tank under the cockpit. My SWAG is that there is a deck fuel fitting at the aft part of the side deck or even on the outside of the sloped combing. Does the surveyor's description mention this?
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
In my Ericson 27 (circa 1975), the fuel tank is accessed on the floor of the cockpit. It is a stainless steel cover which unscrews to allow you to fill the tank. Sorry, I don’t have a pic. Also, do you have a working fuel gauge? Mine is inside the cabin where the main DC electrical panel is. Mine only works when the engine is operating.

I spent a year(ish) in a slip at MDR before moving to Dana Point. Where is the boat now?
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
Thank you so much for responding. I don't think it's on the floor of the cockpit, don't remember seeing any kind of access or openings there. Right now it's at the Holiday Marina in San Pedro.
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
Just a guess. In that era EY tended to install the fuel tank under the cockpit. My SWAG is that there is a deck fuel fitting at the aft part of the side deck or even on the outside of the sloped combing. Does the surveyor's description mention this?
Thanks for the reply. There are two white plastic round access covers which screw off(?) one aft port and one aft starboard on the outside of the cockpit enclosure. In fact I noticed the portside one is missing and I'll replace. Looking inside of that one it looks like a dryer vent hose-type thing going down. I assumed it's for ventilation. I'll have to check the starboard one, see if that's for the fuel loading. I didn't not get a survey as I got it at a very low price.
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
If this is your first sailboat you'll have lots of questions. This is a great forum for asking for advice as there are lots of knowledgeable sailors, mechanics, electricians, riggers, etc. who offer their advice freely. Also, if you are new to maintenance, Nigel Calder's book "Boat owners electrical and mechanical manual" is highly recommended as the best in the industry for maintenance and problem solving all the various systems aboard our boats.
Enjoy your boat!
Frank
Just ordered the book. Thanks!!
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
I didn't not get a survey as I got it at a very low price.
In my boating region we must show proof of insurance in order to rent a slip, yacht club, corporate, or public/port. To write an insurance policy the insurer will normally require a recent survey. Perhaps this is different where you are? Hope so.
As for the plastic vent ports, yup, there should be one for air intake and another for air exhaust from the engine compartment. The hose they use is indeed the marine version of "dryer" hose.
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
In my boating region we must show proof of insurance in order to rent a slip, yacht club, corporate, or public/port. To write an insurance policy the insurer will normally require a recent survey. Perhaps this is different where you are? Hope so.
As for the plastic vent ports, yup, there should be one for air intake and another for air exhaust from the engine compartment. The hose they use is indeed the marine version of "dryer" hose.
Thank you. Around here most marina also require at least an in-water survey. My marina is a little more laid-back but they do require an inspection by a party they approve of to make sure the engine functions, seacocks are good, safety stuff and that the boat is sea worthy, etc. Still costing me a few hundred $ but much less than a survey. They do, of course, require insurance but my insurance company (Progressive) did not require a survey either, so I guess I lucked out. So I found the vent ports! But I don't think I can stick the diesel nozzle in there to fill up the tank. :D So I still have to figure out how to fill the tank.
 

Second Star

Member III
I have a 28+ as well. My fuel point is aft, on the port outboard side of the cockpit combing, about 2 ft forward of the port side air scoop. It is a chrome screw-in plate about 1.5 inches in diameter From inside the lazerette you can follow the hose down and over to the fuel tank on the starboard side of the boat. The fuel tank vent is about 1 foot below the stern rail port side almost in line with the exhaust (which itself is very near the water line). If you over fill the fuel, it will come spewing out the vent and into the water, so be aware!
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
Bless you!, you have 28+ also!! I should be able to find it thanks to you detailed description. If I can't, I'm not smart enough and have no business on a boat. What year is yours?
 

Second Star

Member III
Second Star is hull # 504 laid up in 1981. At some point it was retro fitted with a M18 Universal 15 HP diesel, which this forum will tell you is also a Kubota tractor engine (for much cheaper parts than Universal)
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
Second Star is hull # 504 laid up in 1981. At some point it was retro fitted with a M18 Universal 15 HP diesel, which this forum will tell you is also a Kubota tractor engine (for much cheaper parts than Universal)
Thank you! Sonia is a 1983 and has a Universal diesel as well, not sure the HP or model. Hopefully I'll be able to find out on Sat. And hopefully I'll be able to top off the tank with diesel. Great tip on the Kubota thing!
 

Jimmyvix

Member I
I have a 28+ as well. My fuel point is aft, on the port outboard side of the cockpit combing, about 2 ft forward of the port side air scoop. It is a chrome screw-in plate about 1.5 inches in diameter From inside the lazerette you can follow the hose down and over to the fuel tank on the starboard side of the boat. The fuel tank vent is about 1 foot below the stern rail port side almost in line with the exhaust (which itself is very near the water line). If you over fill the fuel, it will come spewing out the vent and into the water, so be aware!
I easily found my fuel point exactly where you said it would be! Thank you!! Any idea aprox. how many hours you can run on a full tank. I'm pretty sure I have the same gallon tank as you and I also have have a Universal 15 hp or possibly a 12 hp. I couldn't find the model number but it has 2 cylinders.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Other owners will know the likely model of your engine, probably based on the year. From some experience I would predict you will burn about a half gallon per hour, keeping the speed down to 6 kts.
In rougher/bouncier waves you always will want to preserve about a quarter of the tank contents as a reserve to prevent sucking some air into the furl line to your injectors when the boat rolls. My guess is that there is a label on the top of the tank with capacity and name of the vendor. Of course, getting an eyeball onto that part of the tank may be .... challenging. :)
 
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