Custom Work - Engine Room Makeovers

This month we feature the engine room makeover on this 1984 Europa. The makeover started with a Wesmar stablizer installation which required more space than was currenty available in the cramped engine room. During the course of this project whch included a new holding tank system, the owner also opted to install a new Vacuflush system. As his old sanitation hoses were due to be replaced, we also changed those and put in Groco bronze vented loops.

We also found that the exhaust hoses were starting to deteriorate and since the engine room was totally torn apart, it was a simple matter to change those. For bends in the hose we use fiberglass elbows and we always use "T" bolt clamps on exhaust connections which allow you tighten the connection sufficiently. Although these are a bit more expensive, it beats the heck out of getting deadly exhaust fumes in your boat. The runs in this boat are as straight as humanly possible and the hose is supported along its length to avoid any chaffing in the future.

As we progressed we found we were running out of spaciousness in the engine room. The whole focus of the project was to allow ample room to work in the engine room and to be able to access all of the equipment easily. We found plenty of unused space below the grate in the lazarette and decided to move the water system there. We installed a new Raritan water heater and plumbed it into the existing water lines. With this out of the way, we were able to return to the engine room.

While the equimpent was out of the engine room we were able to degrease and paint the whole area increasing the brightness and giving it a new boat appearance. The engines were also cleaned and given a new coat of paint. The stablizer equipment was installed after the cleanup. This consisted of hydraulic tanks, pumps, hoses and electrical work. Brackets were custom fabricated to mount the pumps. We also had to reinforce the stringer area where the fins were attached to the underbody of the boat.

The last step of the project was to install new Aeroquip fuel lines and fuel manifold system. The whole project took a few months but the results will last for years. This engine room now looks better than it did when the boat came from the factory 13 years ago. Nothing spruces up an older boat or increases it's resale value like a total engine room makeover.