Madifonzo
New Member
- Sep 30, 2013
- 716
- Boat Info
- 2005 280
Zodiac Zoom 310 9.9 Honda
- Engines
- Twin 5.0 MPI with Bravo III Drives
The back story:
Had my mechanic install new seawater impellers a few weeks ago. I am FWC'd.
Today I was to be splashed. Now normally I get splashed very close to my storage spot and cruise the 15 miles or so to my home harbor. My normal splash ramp is just a ramp...no pier or docks to tie off...I usually power off the trailer throw a wave to the truckers and off I go.
This year was different. The 15 mile cruise would normally cost me money in fuel. Since the haulers include a 10 mile minimum in their charge I insisted they drop me at a ramp that was much closer to my home marina. Once at the ramp the haulers backed down and I simply floated off the trailer and tied off to the dock. Away the truckers went and I had plenty of time to do all my checks.
I started both engines and of course made sure seacocks were open. Once engines were running I started to check other systems. A few minutes later I noticed that the temps on both engines were increasing rapidly. I always run at around 161-165. Seeing them go over 170 made me a little alarmed. I thought that maybe it was an instrumentation issue. I placed my hand on the exhaust elbows and sure enough...too hot to touch. Came back to helm and saw temp reaching close to 200. Shut them both down and called my mechanic. After a few hours he met down at the ramp with new impellers. He recalled a bad batch the Merc put out a few years ago and opted to check that first. Once disassembled he observed that the impellers were in spec but put new ones in just in case. Reassembled engines. Started the engines and again observed minimal water flow. Removed blue plugs from heat exchanger and it sounded like opening a soda can...lots of air released. The pumps were air locked! I think for sure I was going to be doing new pumps to the tune of $800 each. I asked my tech (who I trust completely and comes highly recommended) if a burping procedure was part of the RR seawater impellers and he stated that he has never had to do it and has done hundreds of impellers on Merc engines. Dumb luck that both engines would need it. So thankful for my tech who dropped everything to meet me and, the Salem Harbormaster (for letting me take up their pier space)
I can't help but to think how differently things would have been had I splashed at a different ramp and made a cruise. Overheat to the point of irrepratable damage? Require a tow? Most likely.
And since I am expecting some criticism saying "why weren't the engines fired on the hard?" Well they were. But due to poor water flow at the storage location they could only be run for a few minutes and not up to operating temps.
Hopefull this his is my one hiccup for the season!
Had my mechanic install new seawater impellers a few weeks ago. I am FWC'd.
Today I was to be splashed. Now normally I get splashed very close to my storage spot and cruise the 15 miles or so to my home harbor. My normal splash ramp is just a ramp...no pier or docks to tie off...I usually power off the trailer throw a wave to the truckers and off I go.
This year was different. The 15 mile cruise would normally cost me money in fuel. Since the haulers include a 10 mile minimum in their charge I insisted they drop me at a ramp that was much closer to my home marina. Once at the ramp the haulers backed down and I simply floated off the trailer and tied off to the dock. Away the truckers went and I had plenty of time to do all my checks.
I started both engines and of course made sure seacocks were open. Once engines were running I started to check other systems. A few minutes later I noticed that the temps on both engines were increasing rapidly. I always run at around 161-165. Seeing them go over 170 made me a little alarmed. I thought that maybe it was an instrumentation issue. I placed my hand on the exhaust elbows and sure enough...too hot to touch. Came back to helm and saw temp reaching close to 200. Shut them both down and called my mechanic. After a few hours he met down at the ramp with new impellers. He recalled a bad batch the Merc put out a few years ago and opted to check that first. Once disassembled he observed that the impellers were in spec but put new ones in just in case. Reassembled engines. Started the engines and again observed minimal water flow. Removed blue plugs from heat exchanger and it sounded like opening a soda can...lots of air released. The pumps were air locked! I think for sure I was going to be doing new pumps to the tune of $800 each. I asked my tech (who I trust completely and comes highly recommended) if a burping procedure was part of the RR seawater impellers and he stated that he has never had to do it and has done hundreds of impellers on Merc engines. Dumb luck that both engines would need it. So thankful for my tech who dropped everything to meet me and, the Salem Harbormaster (for letting me take up their pier space)
I can't help but to think how differently things would have been had I splashed at a different ramp and made a cruise. Overheat to the point of irrepratable damage? Require a tow? Most likely.
And since I am expecting some criticism saying "why weren't the engines fired on the hard?" Well they were. But due to poor water flow at the storage location they could only be run for a few minutes and not up to operating temps.
Hopefull this his is my one hiccup for the season!
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