Lord Farringdon
New Member
- Feb 19, 2010
- 515
- Boat Info
- 2005 Sea Ray AJ, Raymarine C80.
- Engines
- 285 HP, DP-G Duo Prop Stern Drive
Hi Guys,
I have recently had the stern leg serviced although I dont think that had anything to to do with the overheating I experienced this weekend.
I slipped down the fairway and headed out past two entrance markers. I throttled up to about 1800
rpm and 7 knots while waiting for the engine to get to operating temperature before getting up on the plane. I
noted the temperature rise to 95 degrees but was surpised to see it continue to rise passed 100 c. I handed
the helm to my wife and grabbed my temperature gun and noted a temperature of 110 degrees at
the engine. At this point the temperature gauge was rapidly rising to the stop on the right hand side of the gauge and when I looked back to the engine, the coolant header tank had started to relieve pressure with steam and coolant
spraying out. I immediately shut the engine down.
We were maybe 200 metres of the rocks with a southerly blowing us to shore. I dropped the anchor and was
considering a PAN call but given that it appeared the anchor was holding fast I was satisfied we had time to
consider our situation.
After some analysis of the seawater filter, impellor, and sea water intake hoses I was able to establish that the impellor had been running dry but that whatever the blockage was, it had now gone away and I was able to start the engine and return back cautiously to the marina, with the temp remaining within limits. My assessment is that it was something blocking the stern leg intake.
The boat has suffered overheating before and in prevoius ownership had to have a disintergtrated imprellor replaced. I have experienced a previous event where the temparture was above limits but then stopped before getting too serious. Now this event last weekend which had we not been smart with the anchor may have found us bashed against the rocks and in some considerable distress.
This can't be normal. Is blocked intakes a common occurence or I have got somethin more sinister going on?
Terry
Terry
I have recently had the stern leg serviced although I dont think that had anything to to do with the overheating I experienced this weekend.
I slipped down the fairway and headed out past two entrance markers. I throttled up to about 1800
rpm and 7 knots while waiting for the engine to get to operating temperature before getting up on the plane. I
noted the temperature rise to 95 degrees but was surpised to see it continue to rise passed 100 c. I handed
the helm to my wife and grabbed my temperature gun and noted a temperature of 110 degrees at
the engine. At this point the temperature gauge was rapidly rising to the stop on the right hand side of the gauge and when I looked back to the engine, the coolant header tank had started to relieve pressure with steam and coolant
spraying out. I immediately shut the engine down.
We were maybe 200 metres of the rocks with a southerly blowing us to shore. I dropped the anchor and was
considering a PAN call but given that it appeared the anchor was holding fast I was satisfied we had time to
consider our situation.
After some analysis of the seawater filter, impellor, and sea water intake hoses I was able to establish that the impellor had been running dry but that whatever the blockage was, it had now gone away and I was able to start the engine and return back cautiously to the marina, with the temp remaining within limits. My assessment is that it was something blocking the stern leg intake.
The boat has suffered overheating before and in prevoius ownership had to have a disintergtrated imprellor replaced. I have experienced a previous event where the temparture was above limits but then stopped before getting too serious. Now this event last weekend which had we not been smart with the anchor may have found us bashed against the rocks and in some considerable distress.
This can't be normal. Is blocked intakes a common occurence or I have got somethin more sinister going on?
Terry
Terry