FACTS:
The original Yanmar 3GM engines are no longer available.
The Yanmar recommended replacement is a 3YM30
The 3YM30 is 10lbs lighter and has a slightly lower center of gravity.
In light of these facts a discussion was started as to how to handle this as all boats had the 3GM installed till now.
The J35 Class Rule 3.4 is as follows:
3.4.1 The engine shall be from a supplier and type approved by J/Boats, Inc.
J-Boats has approved the 3YM30 for One-Design use in the J35 with no other modifications.
Thanks to Mark McGonigle, Captain of Fleet 7 and J35 National Class V.P., who made contact with Jeff Johnstone at J-Boats. The following is the correspondence, you may be best to read from the bottom up:
From: Jeff Johnstone <jeffj>
Date: Oct 31, 2007 8:49 AM
Subject: RE: J/35 Class Needs Engine Ruling
To: fleetcaptain, Kendra
Cc: Mark McGonigle <windependent >
Hi Mark,
We just received back from Yanmar a drawing of the new engine. Their engineering staff confirms that the VCG of the two engines are within 10mm of each other. Based on this finding and the negligible difference in weight, J Boats approves the use of the 3YM30 as a replacement engine for the J/35 class. Please let me know if you need anything more formal from us.
Cheers,
Jeff Johnstone
J Boats, Inc
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Johnstone [mailto:jeffj]
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 5:22 PM
To: ' fleetcaptain'; 'Kendra'
Cc: 'Mark McGonigle '
Subject: RE: J/35 Class Needs Engine Ruling
Hi Mark,
We'll double check with Yanmar on the engine recommendation and see if we can get confirmation of the vertical center of gravity difference between the engines. The 10lb weight difference is insignificant in the scope of the overall J/35 displacement, and I suspect that the VCG difference will also not be enough to warrant any special provisions. Pending any feedback to the contrary from Yanmar, we'd be happy to approve this for the class.
Yours truly,
Jeff Johnstone
J Boats, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: J/35 Fleet 7 - Chesapeake Bay [mailto:fleetcaptain@j35-fleet7.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:55 PM
To: Kendra; jeffj
Cc: Mark McGonigle
Subject: J/35 Class Needs Engine Ruling
Hello Jeff and Kendra,
My name is Mark McGonigle and I'm the Vice President of the J/35 Class and Fleet 7 (Chesapeake Bay) Fleet Captain. The issue has recently been raised that the original Yanmar 3GMD engines are often no longer repairable and need to be replaced. However, Yanmar does not manufacture the 3GMD and suggests replacing this engine with the 3YM30. The issue with this is that the 3YM30 weighs 10 pounds less and sets lower which provides a lower center of gravity advantage.
The J/35 Class Rules state: "The engine shall be from a supplier and type approved by J/Boats, Inc.". Could you please let me know if J/Boats does approve the 3YM30 engine for the J/35? If so, do J/Boats have any suggestions for how the Class should address both the weight and lower location issues of using this engine so that it remains a level, one-design consistency across the rest of the boats who continue to use the 3GMD?
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Mark
Mark McGonigle
Fleet Captain
Fleet 7 - Chesapeake Bay
www.j35-fleet7.com
www.j35.org