Generator not circulating H20

[Liquid Pleasure II]

New to large Sundancers (2003 340 DA), so cut me some slack....my generator will not take water through and no water is coming out the port side outlet. I am guessing impeller, but it worked last weekend just fine.

Can an impeller quit just like that?? Any band-aid I can try to use it this weekend?

I am going to pull the boat in spring and have all the impellers changed, but how often should I do it on a fresh water lake.

 

[Hampton]

The quick fix bandaid is to replace the generator's impeller - 5 minutes. The long term fix is to fish out all of the broken blades that are stuck in the raw water system, generally in the line to, or inside the heat exchanger on the intake end. Get on the phone to local marine parts stores and get yourself an impeller and gasket.

They can go all at once, but more than likely, the vanes have been breaking off/apart one or two at a time until finally there wasn't enough left to lift the water out of the lake anymore. If you haven't done anything at all, you should at least check to make sure that the strainer is not plugged up with weeds/cigarette butts and that the water intake at the through-hull is clear as well. Even if they are the problem, the lack of water flow likely toasted your impeller.

 

[rondds]

Not a wise crack answer but are you sure the intake seacock is open?

 

[KHARRIMAN]

Let me tell you a short story...but I will include a great pic!

I replaced my gen. impeller, and took the boat out the following weekend. We decided to retreat from the sun and stay in the cabin with the air. About 3 hrs in, the generator dies. I'm furious to think that i've burned through another impeller so quickly. I restart the gen. no water over the side, stop gen. I close the seacock and open the impeller housing...it's fine, hoses down to the sea strainer is fine/clear, strainer is fine/clear...so I figure a plastic bag in the thru-hull. I dive over with a mask...no bag- I look up the intake with an undrwater flashlight and can see the ball of the seacock. Back in the boat I pull the hose off the inlet side of the sea strainer... open the seacock- no water---something lower. Now all that's left is the seacock itself and a brass threaded 90 to hosebarb adapter. Pull the hose fom the 90. open seacock-no water- pull the 90............ :smt009

 

[KHARRIMAN]

That's right, I sucked up a minnow. When I shut the seacock-<snip>. Make sure the line is CLEAR, all the way through the thru-hull.
Good Luck!

 

[rondds]

That's some damn good detective work!

 

[Four Suns]

Those 90 degree elbows on 1" fittings are bad news for clogging up stuff. I had the same issue a few years ago:

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showpost.php?p=50348&postcount=4

Here's a picture of the 90 degree fitting going into the strainer for my generator:

It's not a curve like the one you show but is a hard 90 degree turn. It's the first thing to clog which in turn smokes the generator impeller...

 

[carterchapman]

"Can an impeller quit just like that??"

Mine did two weeks ago. Bad impeller - it didn't loose any blades, but the rubber part appears to have "spun" on the metal collar. 92 hours with the impeller supposedly replaced by the dealer at 67 hrs 10 months ago...

Do you have a Kohler? As Hampton said - 5 minute job to change the $27 impeller.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24971&highlight=kohler+5e

 

[Hampton]

I had a fish, a jellyfish, and a cigarette butt clog my line (3 separate occassions). When the cig butt did it, it was blocking the line where it entered the strainer. It took a little while to find.

My dealer put a cover over my genny intake. It looks like a shower drain cover that is rounded. It's not a scoop (obviously). Since then, I've gone from cleaning my strainer every day on the hook to once every 3 months. Only the thin grass blade-like weeds get in there. Including priming, paint, and install, it was $100. Well worth it. SInce then, only a jelly fish has managed to clog it. Shell fish still grow in the lines, though.

 

[bmac]

Here on Long Island the local Sea Ray dealer installs those strainers on the a/c and gen inlets before delivering a boat, They also install "bay strainers" on the engine inlets too, They're much MUCH larger strainers than the other two.

.............
My dealer put a cover over my genny intake. It looks like a shower drain cover that is rounded. It's not a scoop (obviously). Since then, I've gone from cleaning my strainer every day on the hook to once every 3 months. Only the thin grass blade-like weeds get in there. Including priming, paint, and install, it was $100. Well worth it. SInce then, only a jelly fish has managed to clog it. Shell fish still grow in the lines, though.

 

[Liquid Pleasure II]

I went ahead and called my marina and they fixed it in 45 minutes. They said the impeller was in about 50 pieces.

The net-net here is I've had my boat 2 months and this is my first big cruiser as I had a 26' Dancer before. I have no idea about strainers, seacocks, etc.

What is the best way for me to learn how to do this stuff and to know where it all is...I've read the manual cover to cover but you all know how good that is.

Just seeking some compassionate advice!!!

 

[Four Suns]

I went ahead and called my marina and they fixed it in 45 minutes. They said the impeller was in about 50 pieces.

The net-net here is I've had my boat 2 months and this is my first big cruiser as I had a 26' Dancer before. I have no idea about strainers, seacocks, etc.

What is the best way for me to learn how to do this stuff and to know where it all is...I've read the manual cover to cover but you all know how good that is.

Just seeking some compassionate advice!!!

You need to buy my book:

Ha ha ha

How's that for a shameless plug!

 

[jrirvine1]

Compassionate advice?

In addition to buying Gary’s book which is predestined to win at least one Pulitzer and maybe even the Nobel Peace Prize (hey, some have won this recently for less), I would say relax and realize that it takes about one to two boating seasons for a boat and owner to get fully acquainted with each other.

You have owned a 2003 boat for only 2 months which means you two are still in the honeymoon stage. My advice, if you are going to maintain the boat as much as possible on your own, is to start a maintenance schedule right now from ground zero and assume that everything needs to be checked, changed, tightened and serviced. This will then provide a base line to build from for all following timely and routine maintenance. This regimen doesn’t absolutely prevent stuff from breaking when needed most, but it will get you a head start on the learning curve.

 

[Liquid Pleasure II]

Gary,
Thanks for the suggestion, how/where do I get the book and what is the title?

Jim,
Thanks for the soound advice! I want to be the expert today but your words bring me back to earth and realize it will take time and experience. Both come with the challenge that it can't/won't happen today!
Brad

 

[jpk33]

Keep your laptop handy! First search on this site, there is a wealth of information on here; and even more locked in the minds behind the keyboards. If you cannot find it, ask. PS when you have the opportunity to watch someone work on your boat - pay attention - it may save you a boat dollar or two if you have to do the repair again (such as impellers). Nice boat (enjoy it) and good luck! - Jeff

 

[tobnpr]

If it broke into fifty pieces, better check with them to be sure they got all fifty...
Otherwise, you may have chunks clogging your heat exchanger.

 

[mistercomputerman]

What book? Dude wrote a book? When can you buy one?

 

[carterchapman]

Keep your laptop handy! First search on this site, there is a wealth of information on here; and even more locked in the minds behind the keyboards. If you cannot find it, ask. PS when you have the opportunity to watch someone work on your boat - pay attention - it may save you a boat dollar or two if you have to do the repair again (such as impellers). Nice boat (enjoy it) and good luck! - Jeff

Liquid Pleasure - I admire your "willingness to learn" about your boat!

Jeff is spot on. This site is a WEALTH of information - learn how to use the search function to help answer your specific questions.

Are you handy with mechanical things - have you changed the oil in your cars? Serpentine belts? Air filters? Spark plugs?

IF so, you can do a lot with your boat - if not, you may become a great customer of your marina's service department.

If you are handy with tools, start by doing your monthly service checks - oil levels, strainers, seacocks, flame arrestors, bilge pumps, etc. This alone will give you a great comfort and familiarity with many of the mechanical systems of your boat. Then add tightening hose clamps, following the water lines from seacock to strainer to impeller, to heat exchanger, oil cooler, transmission coolers, manifolds, etc. Use your manual. Follow the fuel lines, etc. While crawling around your bilge, get to know where the HW heater, the fresh water manifold, the waste tank, etc. are located.

As we've said, changing a Kohler 5e impeller is a 5 minute job involving a 7/16" socket, 4 bolts, a pair of needle nose pliers and a $27 impeller.

Anytime you have to get a mechanic out - look over his shoulder, ask him questions. I have appreciated advice from many on this Forum - Thanks to all.

And lastly, don't be afraid of spelling - Google ieSpell and download it, right-click on your posts and your free spell checker does the work for you.