Question about a westerbeke genset on a 2000 340 DA

friscoboater

friscoboater

New Member
Dec 19, 2010
113
Frisco Texas
Boat Info
Signature 220 BR
Engines
7.4 with Bravo I
My father has a new to him 2000 340 DA and I am helping him get to know his boat and teaching the best practices and maintenance. My question is about the genset. Should you close the seacock if you are underway without the genset running? We have been running with it open (cooler weather, and do not need it) for the past month.

Also where do you check the oil on the thing? I cannot find a dip stick.

Is there anything else I need to know about this genet?
 
Running with the seacock open is fine as the impellar will not let water past when it is not running. The dip stick is just above the heat exchanger. Find the oil filter and look down and slightly to the left and you will see it.
 
Always keep the seacock closed if you are not running the genset. While underway, and under the right conditions, water could be forced through the raw water cooling system, and slowly fill the water lift muffler. Once enough water is in the muffler, it can "slosh" into the genset engine via the exhaust system. So, keep it closed if it's not running.

On the other hand, you can run the generator while underway, and the genset engine exhaust pressure will prevent any water from reverting into the engine. One work of caution - be sure to start the generator, and confirm positive water flow, before you get underway. If you try to start the generator once you are already moving, the raw water pump may not prime.

Dale
 
With all due respect to MasterFab, I have never heard of the problem he describes actually occurring. I personally know dozens of boaters who never close the seacock to their generator.

Westerbeke designed the generator to have a mushroom style through hull fitting and the generator can be safely operated while under way at planing speeds.
 
I agree, it probably won't happen under everyday conditions. But, let's say you are out one day, and the conditions deteriorate to the point that the boat is getting slammed a bit. Then, you realize it's been a year or more since the impeller was changed, and the vanes may have taken a set, allowing water under slight pressure to bypass the impeller. Very slowly, water may begin to accumulate in the muffler, and once that happens........

I think here we need to be clear on what may be OK, at least most of the time, and what is considered a "best practice". Best practice is to close it, or run the generator while underway. If you feel confident in the ability of a $20.00 impeller, that may be overdue for replacement, to protect a $7,000.00 generator, then by all means leave the seacock open. Personally, I run my genset underway, or take the 40 seconds to close the seacock before I leave port - no exceptions.

Dale
 
My boat has been in the water for 4.5 years, and the only time the generator seacock was closed was to change the impeller. It gets run on a regular basis. I have never considered closing it.

Don
 
I guess I am more anal than the norm....maybe my wife is right (Do NOT tell her I said that!).

Dale
 
This is a very interesting discussion. I think your 2000 hull is very similar to my 330 hull. So I'm interested in knowing can the genny be run under way. I was told no by the dealer. Matter of fact when we were going out on our orientation cruise the mechanic yelled at the captain to shut down the genny to avoid damage as it had been on at the dock to run the heat.
 
Well, let me ask this question:

What are the reasons NOT to run the generator ALL the time?

I start mine before leaving the dock and don't shut it off until I am plugged back into shore power somewhere. So, I never close the seacock except to exercise it. However, if I was going to run around with the genset off, I would close the seacock just like I do on the macerator pump. Why would you even want to tempt fate?

Alegria
You mechanic is ill-informed. The generator is perfectly fine to run while underway.
 
Rick is correct - that mechanic is ill informed. Accepted practice is to start the genset before getting underway, to establish raw water flow, then get underway.

Dale
 
Below is a link to your manual, page 2 shows you where the dip stick is. Page 8 contains a CAUTION box warning of water filling the muffler and reverting into the engine due to excessive cranking without starting. There is nothing about it filling due to impellar failure or while leaving seacock open underway. Certainly it could occur, in theory, as Dale states but I would think if that was a major concern there would be a CAUTION about that in the manual as well. No where in the manual does it say to close (or to leave open for that matter) the seacock when gen is not in use. Page 17 explains the raw water intake procedures (to include the seacock) and again there is no discussion of open or closed seacock when not operating the gen.

For what its worth, I dont close mine and I have never known anyone to close their gen seacock when not in use and underway. However, I have never known anyone who has more knowledge, skill or experience with the 340 and its systems than Dale does.

Hope this helps and I guess it is a matter of preference.

http://www.westerbeke.com/OnlineManuals/44200_4.5bcgb_7.0bcgb_oper_man.pdf
 
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I leave mine open as well. In thinking about the idea behind it, I can't find the logic in having to close the sea cock. You're out on the boat with family and friends, cruise to your favorite spot. Now, you want to fire up the genny but you've got to crawl down into a very hot bilge, wiggle between engines etc to open the sea cock??? That would be a poor design by any boat builder. So, I think it's not a major concern. A possibility?? Yeah, we could "what if" a situation to death but I really don't see any reason to have to close it except during winterization or some other PM work.
 
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