It’s been a season on the hard for Splendido and for us. Through it all, though, we’ve been mindful how fortunate we are to be healthy and safe, and looking forward to better times ahead. Inspired by the sailing videos I’ve watched over the past year (thank you, SV Delos and Off Center Harbor), I am learning video storytelling to add a little zing to our blog. I also bought a used drone which I’ve been learning to fly (only three heart-pounding—and thankfully, minor—crashes in a month!), with the aim of getting some footage of Splendido at Tahoe this summer. Oh, yeah … and if anyone along the West Shore at Tahoe can give me a tip about finding a new mooring for her this summer, that would be much appreciated. Evidently our old mooring was snapped up. C’est la guerre.
Fair winds and following seas! DB
Sailing Lake Tahoe on a good old boat 
Hello Dave
Enjoyed your blog about Splendido. I am looking at the purchase of a ’93 Catalina 270 with the Perkins M20. Wondering if you have any recommendations on items I should look out for on this particular engine.
Thanks
Paul
LikeLike
The Perkins Perama is a workhouse little diesel engine. I think of it as highly durable and pretty bulletproof, like a tractor engine you’d find on a farm. I have owned our boat for 11 years and the maintenance has been very light … I keep it clean and change the oil and filters every season. We’re now at around 450 hours with no major issues. One thing I do is polish the fuel (basically, filter the entire tank of diesel) from time to time, and she keeps humming along! Let me know if you have other questions—happy to help! DB
LikeLike
Hi, Paul! I’d say just look for a low-hours engine, and maybe one that has been in freshwater rather than salt. Mine just sat for 18 months and fired up within 17 seconds when I tested it yesterday. Good luck!
LikeLike