1983 Ocean Alexander Trawler - 40'
Name: Sunset Dream
1983 Ocean Alexander 40
Hailing Port: Kemah, Tx
Length: 40'
Beam: 13.5'
Draft: 3.5'
Displacement: 36,000 pounds
Survey Completed: 9/27/21
Boat Notes:
Marina:
Watergate Marina - Kemah, TX
1500 Marina Bay Dr, Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565
(281) 334-1511 Contact: Maggie
Pier 13, Slip 21 (45' slip)
Fees: $495/month + $85 liveaboard
Sub web pages:
ENGINE Page: https://sites.google.com/site/danrobertstx/lehman-engine-projects
Trip notes (Distances): https://sites.google.com/site/danrobertstx/trawler-trips
Battery Wiring: https://sites.google.com/site/danrobertstx/battery-wiring
Trawler Projects List: https://sites.google.com/site/danrobertstx/trawler-projects-list
See also:
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTATION NOTES:
Documents expected to take up to 4 months to arrive (possibly late Jan. 2022 - or later).
First year requires an ANNUAL RENEWAL.
After that, documentation will renew for 5 years (only option) - 5 years @ $26/yr, $130 total renewal.
Clean Water (TX) - Reminder set to renew in late December. Renewals are good for 2 years.
Thru-Hulls:
1 - Under forward sink
2 - Starboard side of forward engine room - Generator(?)
3 - Port side forward engine room - Forward head(?)
4 - 2 main engine thru-hulls in main engine room, forward of engines
5 - AC Thru-hull - port side of fwd engine room
6 - Aft cabin center floor hatch to aft head
Completed projects include:
Replaced / repaired bilge pumps / float switches.
Installed high water alarm
Replaced soap box
Bottom Job
Replaced main engine impellers
Replaced helm radio (twice - both died from rain...)
Installed dock rollers
Replaced both heads with manual heads
Replaced engine exhaust elbows
Lower deck bench pontoon seat installed
Replaced main 8D batteries with golf cart batteries.
Isolated house from engines, installed 400Ah house battery
Installed fuel scales behind fuel tank sight glasses
Replaced horn
Replaced searchlight
Replaced anchor windlass - wired to stbd engine battery instead of house bank
Installed galvanic isolator
Replaced shore power cables and inlets with Smart Cords
Replaced house water heater
Replaced fresh water house pump
Installed house 5 micron filter
Replaced Racor primary fuel filters
Replaced main engine air filters
Shaft seals replaced, new studs installed
Props straightened / filled, balanced
Changed Nav lights to LED. Moved stern light to davits
Purchased dinghy, equiped with electric outboard
Installed Starlink, but going with T-Mobile Home Internet
Next round of To-Do's
Engine heat exchanger zincs
High water alarm float switch
Tighten head bolts / replace valve cover gasket
Oil change
Teak Deck (experiment first?)
Generator?
Torture test house battery
Move window unit to aft cabin, install room AC in main cabin
Fix / replace stair courtesy lights
Extend forward bunk / new mattress / re-org storage
Replace electrical panel (breakers)
Measurements:
Side deck width: 16-17"
Lower (boat) deck: 8' deep x 9' wide
Flybridge: 9' wide x 7.5' deep
Main salon: 8' long x 5' wide (open area)
Main salon, overall measurement: 9'3" wide x 11' long x 6'4" tall
Port Door: 26" wide
Starboard Door: 23.5" wide
Starboard space between lower helm wheel and galley cabinets: 38"
Forward cabin entrance door: 19"
Forward V-berth: 75" x 24"
Forward locker door: 15"
Forward head door: 19"
Forward cabin, overall: 7'9" x 6'3" + 2' x 3' hall x 6'5" tall
Aft cabin overall: 10'5" wide x 9' long x 6'4" tall
Aft cabin entrance door: 19.5"
Starboard bedside space, dresser to bed: 24"
Port bedside space, dresser to bed: 18"
Aft bed: 74" x 53"
Aft head door: 19.5"
Aft hanging locker: 16"
Misc Notes:
Deck:
Deck caulk is in tube in forward closet.
Teak decking thin, with cracks in caulk.
Dirty / sticky - assumed to have been oiled with teak oil
Windlass:
Switch only activates "up". Use spanner in cabinet under winch to loosen winch for free-fall anchor deployment.
Breaker for windlass in cabinet under windlass, but also switch "breaker" switch at lower helm.
Washdown bib under anchor windlass (with hose)
Helm:
Horn does not work - Use hand held air horn
Engine Room
Engines:
Valve Covers - leaking small amounts of oil (normal - don't do anything about this - the valve cover bolts are spaced too far apart to get a good seal).
Oil (at survey) was very new - no point in taking samples.
Small amount of oil in the bilge - no drip pans or diapers under engines.
Velvet Drive Transmissions - Very robust design - should be extremely reliable.
Transmissions change direction - engines are both same rotation.
Oil Change System (Reverso pump + valves)
NOTE: Eng Room Blower breaker must be ON for oil change pump to function.
Exhaust elbows need to be replaced (port side leaking)
Shafts dripping about every 4 sec - good (at survey)
Batteries - 8D (one each engine - appear to be new
Fuel Tanks:
Assumed to be 200G each
Sight Glasses port and starboard - tanks full at survey
Red diesel is very faded - indicates OLD fuel - need to run it out.
Fuel tanks entirely encased in insulation - almost no observation.
Note: hatch in floor under port sofa gives small area of visibility to port tank - surface rust observed.
Spare belts in Engine Room
All sea cocks work! (at time of survey)
Props
Port prop had bend on one blade. Starboard prop had small ding (bend, not gouge) on one blade tip. Props thought to be too thin to be able to be re-worked.
Check with Hood Props
Prop size 22 x 17 (?)
Air Conditioners
AC Condensate drains to bilge
Breaker located behind panel in back of forward stateroom closet (starboard side).
Condensate drains to bilge (ugh).
Forward: 16000 BTU, replaced 2020
Mounted under salon settee, forward part of salon.
Aft: 10000 BTU, replaced 2020
Mounted in bottom of master closet.
Electrical
Galvanic isolator needed!
50A battery charger (2016) - ProNautic 1250P, 50A, 3 bank
Breaker panel pump switches
Bilge; Aft Bilge; Shower; Unused
Auto; Auto; Man?? N/A?
Electronics
Auto pilot may be Raymarine p70 (?) upper helm, with SmartController at lower helm.
Garmin GPSmap XSV multi function display
Autohelm ST7000 depth finder at lower helm, with repeater at upper helm
Raytheon Nav398 GPS/Loran non-functional (?)
Lower Helm Autopilot non-functional (use wireless remote on lower helm?)
Rudder angle indicated on Auto Pilot
Breaker labeled "Trim" is for Ray Marine
Depth is from sensor at bottom of hull (not keel). Draft under 4' (? - owner thought it was 4.5')
Nav lights - breaker on panel + switch on lower helm
Generator
1990 Model 8KW Onan
New Stop solenoid, fuel filter, oil, antifreeze, sensors, electrical control board
Shows 95 hours (not reliable)
Kill switch must be held down to start generator (backwards logic) - must be held down for generator to continue running (bad sensor or wiring?)
Hold pre-heat switch for 30 sec, then hold stop solenoid on while cranking
Kabota motor?
Put in service June '91
Possible fuel issue?
Possible repair: Jose at Land and Sea -
Land and Sea did last repair, and was supposed to re-attach wiring from generator to lower helm - never done.
Galley
Norcold 7cu foot AC/DC Fridge Main Fridge
DE0061R
0.8A @110AC, 3.1-6.5A DC
Norcold Mini Fridge NR740BB
1A max @110AC, 5.5Amax DC. 75W max
Toilets -
Raw Water / Sea Water
18 gal waste tank (forward - in engine room)
35 gal waste tank (aft accessible through aft deck/transom hatch? or aft engine room?)
Jabsco 37010-3092
Forward toilet replaced with Jabsco Twist-N-Lock manual toilet.
Galley:
Sink - Rt hand dispenser is hand soap, Left hand dispenser is dish soap
Mystery switches above galley: Left - Light; Right - Fan
Water Heater replaced Oct. 2022 with Kuuma 6 Gal (West Marine). Preset temp (non-adjustable: 140F).
Installed AO Smith (Lowes brand) Whole House Sediment Filter with built in shut off valve.
Dinghy was 10' West Marine 2015, with 9.9hp engine
Sea Trial Data:
Initial port engine max rpm was 1540. Props cleaned, fishing line removed
RPM Speed (Knots)
1620/1620 7.6
1875/2330 8.2 (WOT)
1842/2091 8.1
1800/1745 7.6
1264/1355 6.62
1630/1680 7.9 - Downwind, headed south on Clear Lake back toward marina (with current?)
Lower gauges match upper gauges.
Projects:
Bottom job - Quote for $5480
IMPORTANT - CLOSE THRU HULLS before pulling boat to keep water in engines / AC, so that they don't have to be re-primed (hopefully)
OJ's Marine - Brian
Strip to gel coat, fill small blisters
2 coats Interprotect 2000 (barrier coat)
Trinidad Pro Paint - hard bottom paint good for boats that sit more than move.
Compound and wax: ~$3000
Starboard side fiberglass repair ~$4500
See Sammy (Darrell's reference) for reference quote on bottom job/barrier coat/bottom paint / crack repair
Replace zincs
Add galvanic isolator
Replace exhaust elbows
New props
Repair crack on starboard side
Fix stair lights in master cabin
Aft Deck lights
Replace blower breaker
Replace fuel filters - Get new engine fuel filters. Clean and replace Racor filters - get spares!
Bug Land and Sea about generator - get repair records. They were supposed to re-connect wiring at lower helm for generator controls. Talk to Jose?
Remove Windlass main wire, clean terminals, lube, re-connect.
Aft macerator - remove tail piece and put in cap.
Vent from aft tank needs to go overboard, not into bilge!!
Upper Rudder brackets need to be wire brushed, primed, and painted (rusting)
Additional hand held air horn(s) for flybridge and lower helm
Check life jackets (add more). Check throwable / add another one.
Snappy Teak - for cleaning teak decks - two part teak cleaner that is tough on teak - only use occasionally.
Project Page Notes:
https://sites.google.com/site/danrobertstx/lehman-engine-projects
BOTTOM JOB:
Boat hauled out at Clear Lake Marine Center on Tues, 11/9/21.
4141 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook, Tx.
Simpson Yacht Painting - Contact Jose Yanez, 281-381-6938
Quote: $5000 cash
Job to include sanding down paint and prior primer (barrier coat), repairing blisters as needed, new barrier coat - Interlux, Interprotect 2000E (gray), then black bottom paint (hard?). Job also includes replacing all zincs. Expected launch in 2 weeks, by 11/23/21
Jose applied 4 coats of primer (Interlux Interprotect 2000E barrier coat), and 3 coats bottom paint - Interlux Ultra, 3669F, Blue; And zincs. Anticipating splashing the boat 11/20/21, if the weather cooperates.
Props reported by Jose to be 17 x 24"
Waterline Measurements: (all heights reported in inches from ground)
Transducer: 3'
Waterline: 4'6"
Rudder (lowest edge measured): 14"
Props: 11"
Keel: 12.5"
There was some angle to the boat. It is possible that the props may be slightly exposed below the keel, or very slightly protected. On next trip, would be interesting to measure mid ship and at the bow to check height of keel above ground vs. waterline height above ground.
Total height without bimini from keel to tip of windshield is about 17 feet. Would need to remove upper helm to trailer.
Boat is sitting about 1' low by the bow. Due to an all chain rode?? Slight list to starboard.
Transducer is about 16" below the waterline.
Max draft at front/mid of boat appears to be right about 4'.
Draft at stern appears to be about 3'8".
Depth finder needs to show at least 2.5 - 3' to not touch bottom.
Weight: 39,400 pounds as she was put back into the water.
Boat was splashed about 8:30am on Saturday, 11/20/21 - but the batteries were totally flat dead. After charging batteries till about 12:45, the engines FINALLY started! Made it back to the dock by about 1:30pm without any other issues. Weather by then was overcast and a little breezy (10mph?), but not too bad. Lots of other boats still going out.
Note - Boat bottom was sanded, given epoxy barrier coat (primer), then painted - but was NOT faired. All of the sanded tiny blisters into the gel coat are still obvious, and leave a poc marked finish that will probably attract lots of algea growth(?).
Zincs:
Shafts: 2" shaft zincs, 2 per shaft, 4 total
Plate zincs: 2HC-2 plate zinc - 2 zincs on the transom
Rudder - R4 zincs - 2 per rudder?
Engine Exhaust Elbows
Elbow kits (included gaskets and new screws) ordered from American Diesel (Brian)
Part number (2 ea) 510-0301, total with shipping: $361.54
See further notes in the Engine projects section
Tank Monitors
Garnett tank SeeLevel Tank monitor system installed to monitor fresh water tank and forward waste tank.
Garnett sensor failed to monitor aft holding tank - read 100% full at all times - probably due to accumulated <crud> on the sides of the tank wall.
Aft holding tank came with 1-1/2" threaded port on top of tank. Conventional threaded float sensor was installed in this port and will be wired to a water tank monitor gauge.
Trips to plan:
Practice anchoring
Red Fish Island
First trip to Red Fish Island - 2/21/22, after port exhaust elbow replacement.
Weather: Cool (60F, overcast, ~5-10mph South winds)
Departed: 12:38pm Engine hours: 4275.0, 4265.6
Arrived: 2:02pm 4276.4, 4267.1
Ran at about 1400RPM, about 7.3 knots on average after leaving Kemah Boardwalk.
From Red Fish went through West Pass toward Galveston a bit, then returned to marina.
Back at 4:20pm, 4273.7, 4269.3
Wind caused ugly docking, but otherwise the trip was without incident. Ran portable generator on forward deck during the trip - consume about 1/2 tank of gasoline providing AC power for the cabin - but was under fairly light load.
Top Water Grill - Note: Water probably too shallow to go to Top Water Grill or even Pier 6. Consider anchoring at A-Frame (San Leon coast, near 25th & Ave A.
A-Frame - 25th and Ave A, San Leon
Offat's Bayou
Double Bayou
See Job Beason Marina near the entrance to Double Bayou - might be a good place to over-night.
See: (getting there) https://www.dropbox.com/s/uupfjt43f3cqh2k/Double%20Bayou%20Navigation%20%28Pasture%20version%29.pdf?dl=0
See: (mooring at "The Pasture") https://www.dropbox.com/s/morh4ja5t35he7s/DB%20Pasture%20mooring.pdf?dl=0
Trip Planning
Slip to end of channel in Galveston Bay: About 45 min, about 3.8 miles
Red Fish Island - From Channel Marker 1 (Galveston Bay) about 8 miles to Red Fish Island area, depending on how direct a route is taken, and where in the shoal area the destination is set.
A-Frame - San Leon. Ave A and 25th Street. (John Allison reference)
Top Water Grill - From Channel Marker 1 (Galveston Bay) About 13 miles (2+ hours), depending on path. Will need to consult with local experts on where to go through. NOTE: May be too shallow to comfortably get to.
Offat's Bayou - From Channel Marker 1 (Galveston Bay) Approximately 30 miles
From BoatTrader Listing:
2021
Two electric heads
New black water holding tank 20 gal
New macerator pumps for both tanks
All interior headliner lights replaced with LED red and white
Reading lights with USB chargers
Engine room lights LED
200 foot of chain
Dinghy davit ropes replaced
(6) 12 V fans
New mattress in master suite
2020
16,000 BTU AC and Heat Unit
10,000 BTU AC Unit
Upgraded AC pump
7 ft.³ Norco refrigerator
New fresh water pump
New back Bimini frame
New canvas on aft the money
Cetol West redone
New fenders and ropes
All window covering canvas
New interior settee cushions
Accommodations
A classic tri-cabin configuration. Forward is a split V-berth with ensuite head. Large storage lockers and opening ports create space and offer great ventilation for guests on board.
Moving up and aft the salon is spacious, very bright, and offers great visibility. A settee with dinette is to port directly across from the helm station. The helm offers a starboard side door, helm seat, and an uncluttered dash. The salon windows are adorned with Double Cell Signature Series pull down shades! An entertainment center, and bookshelves line the aft bulkhead of the salon area.
Moving aft behind the helm station is the L-shaped galley. Generous counter space, a large double basin sink, Norcold AC/DC frig/freezer, and loads of storage adorn this galley area.
Dropping down and moving aft brings one into the owner's stateroom. An island berth, large hanging locker and ensuite head with separate shower stall gives this stateroom a warm and spacious feel. Blinds and opening ports offer plenty of fresh air and privacy while on the dock.
All interior headliner lights replaced with LED red and white 2021
Reading lights with USB chargers 2021
Engine room lights LED 2021
All window covering canvas 2020
New interior settee cushions 2020
New mattress in master Suite 2021
Salon fitted with sunshades to reduce heat 2015
Large custom solid teak swivel and up-down table 2016
Ice maker converted to 40 degree beer cooler thermostat-can be switched back to ice maker
Galley
L-shaped galley
Large double basin SS sink
Moen fixture
Icemaker
Princess electric stove and oven
7 ft.³ Norco refrigerator in 2020
GE Microwave and coffee maker
Full reach drawer slides in 3 primary galley cabinets for convenient access (2015)
Electronics
Garmin ChartPlotter with Radar
Ritchie Compass
Autohelm Depth/Speed
VHF Radios
Raymarine Auto Pilot
Remote Control Spotlight
Garmin GPS map
Electrical and Mechanical
12V 110V Service
30 Amp shore power inlet
Battery selector
8D house batteries
Onan diesel Generator needs works
(1) 16,000 BTU AC and heat in 2020
(1) 10,000 BTU AC in 2020
Upgraded AC pump in 2020
New fresh water pump 2020
Two electric heads 2021
New black water holding tank 20 gal 2021
35 gal Additional waste tank (55 gal Total). A macerater at each tank and direct discharge valves (Feb 2015)
New macerator pumps for both tanks 2021
Ford Lehman 120 HP diesels approx 4200 hours each
Racor fuel filters on main's and generator
12 Gallon hot water tank w/ loop coil thru engine
50 amp battery charger (Feb 2016) - ProNautic 1250P, 50A, 3 bank
Both engine heat exchangers replaced (Jan 2016)
Deck and Hull
Nilsson vertical Windlass
Bruce 40 lbs. anchor at bow roller w/150' 5/16 triple B chain
CQR anchor mounted at aft w/ 150' Nylon Rode
(2) Snubber lines w/chain hooks
Magna propane Barbeque
Garhauer SS heavy duty dinghy davits
Dinghy davit lines replaced 2021
Full bridge enclosure (Refreshed 2015)
Bimini top cleaned and water sealed
Improved flybridge seating and new upholstery 2015
Fresh bottom paint in 2017
New canvas aft 2020
200 foot of chain 2021
Bright work redone in 2020
New fenders and lines 2020