David:

Welcome aboard - and congrats on the W28.... I have a Beta 38 in Pygmalion a W32 and I'll attempt to answer your questions below. 

I can recommend Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual - I think there is a new fourth edition. 

The Beta marine forum at https://82353.activeboard.com/  is a good source of information as well as the manual etc. 

Your questions: 

1) After I changed the oil (I used Shell Rotella 15w40 for my Beta Marin 25), I started the engine and noticed a slight squeaking. More prominent at first, but it waned over five minutes of running. I presume this might just mean that, having drained the oil, the new oil needs to make its way through the system, but wanted to get thoughts.

The engine oil pressure after an oil change should be back to normal within 1 minute IMHO-- I've never timed it on my engine but 5 minutes would be way to long for the oil pressure to be back to normal. 

The squeak is probably from the belt -- which needs to be checked for cracks and wear. Squeaking belts usually means worn and/or loose belts.  

2) I was going to change the oil filter also, but for the life of me couldn't get it off. (It's the original filter to the engine.) On my 28', contorting my body to the right angle to get in there with enough force to remove it seemed impossible. Any thoughts on how to get an oil filter off? Maybe I need some sort of vice grips to clamp on.

I recommend that you take the replacement filter -- which hopefully is exactly like your existing filter -- to a auto parts store - and look for the oil tools -- or ask for assistance. There are several type of tools to remove stuck oil filters. 

Without knowing how well the previous owner maintained your engine nor how many hours on the engine -- let me list a few things to check/replace/maintain - maybe not a complete list but here goes.

Engine/Transmission:  

1.Change the engine oil/filter at the same time - begin by warming up the engine as the warm oil will pump out easier.

2. Change the engine fuel filter and the fuel pre filters.  Look for sediments/water/stuff in the fuel as you remove the filters and clean the pre filter bowls. If there is a lot of stuff and/or discoloration of the fuel.. research solutions as there are diesel treatments and fuel polishing etc. Water in the fuel is a very bad thing if it gets past your filters and into the injectors. 

If your fuel tanks have not been looked at - or you can't look at them - and if the fuel filters / fuel bowls are showing water/stuff - then the tanks are probably the issue and need cleaning.  again research on line for solutions. 

What can happen is that your engine runs great as long as the waters are calm -- but when you hit waves the fuel sloshes around and the filters get over whelmed with junk and plug up... stopping the engine - usually at just the wrong moment. 

3. Replace the belt and water pump impeller.  

4. Check all hoses on the engine/exhaust system for cracks/wear from rubbing or being so old that they are stiff.

5. Drain and replace the engine coollent also check the engine zinc at the same time.. Mine is in the heat exchanger - see your engine manual for the location.  

6.  On board have spares for the oil filter, fuel filter, belts and impeller as well as extra coolent and oil to top off as needed. 

Another source of good information are other boaters - there is usually some one around with lots of advise :).  You may also find other westsailors close by. 

I hope this helps you get started on your boating adventure.

Welcome aboard

Jay Bietz

Webmaster

David , good to hear from you . I remember back when we bought Patricia A , we came from a O'Day 23' with a outboard . We loved that little O'day but we could not stand up in it so we knew it was not our forever boat . Achates ,  Patricia A  became available and I had to act fast . But I didn't have the money I was getting nervous , my stomach was tied up in knots and I was afraid to tell Ms.westi because I thought she would lower the boom on me for trying to spend that kind of money . But when I told her of the boat and showed her Achates she got a little upset with me for not telling her sooner , that was 94' . Anyhow we bought Achates and I named her Patricia A after Ms.westi my wife Patti Ann .  That didn't work out so well , renaming a boat is bad juju if you don't do it right and I didn't . The propane stove blew up and made a nice fire down below , Ms.westi was on fire too . Fortunately I had just mounted a fire extinguisher in the lazarette and one on the companion way ladder , so once I got Patricia A and Mswesti put out I went to my insurance broker and filed a claim . I got some quotes , handed them over to my broker and she said "hey you are in luck you are covered for 5k" I puked in my mouth a little and said "I bought a policy for 50K" . Well the policy got fixed , Patricia A got fixed and Ms.westi healed up just fine . Those were some of our first moments . It's been a long journey for us both of us learning everything on the boat not to mention saling  but it's been all good  , ya know . See you around David , Mark and Ms.westi  .