I have just purchased 365 hull # 30. My first question is how do you get the oil out of the bottom of the sump. Using a small tube in the dipstick tube, with the angle the engine is mounted, gets about 2 quarts out and with the filter only 3 quarts.
Capt Sandy
Since you cannot actually get a tube down into the oil sump, measure the diameter of the oil spout and obtain flexible hosing to fit over the dipstick tube and onto the lead for the oil removal pump. Use suction to pull the oil out. You should be able to remove most of the oil. I used the Moeller Oil Boy Fluid Extractor (West Marine sells them).
My mechanic also mentioned that if during the season you check the oil and find that it is abruptly low, before adding any oil, pull out the fuel stop and turn over the engine to move the oil pump – then check the oil again since sometimes the pump keeps the oil from going up the fill tube.
Sandy,
I, like Evening Ebb, use the Moeller Oil Boy with the rubber seal to remove oil from Sea Dragon... And I am able to remove close to 4 qts (5 with oil filter). For more information go to Sea Dragon's website.
http://www.sailingseadragon.com/winterize.htm (http://www.sailingseadragon.com/winterize.htm)
The oil change is about half down the page.
Garner
Gentelmen, Thanks for the reply. My calculations show that with that engine angle there is still 1.5 quarts in the sump making a total of 5.5. In a previous Choey Lee I owned I had to replace the rear engine mounts. While I had the engine jacked up I replaced the Oil drain in the pan with a banjo fitting and hose to pump the oil from the bottom of the pan. It's good to hear from someone from the Chesapeak. I sailed on the Chesapeak for 40 years before moving to Florida.
Sandy