Exhaust water

[Dixon Hemphill]

During the 10 years that I have owned the boat as soon as I started the Yanmar 2GM20F engine on my Cape Dory 28 water started coming out of the exhaust pipe on the lower transom but since the past three months it has taken about five minutes for any water to appear. Why the delay? Where is the water going? Yes, the water inlet valve is open and eventually water does start coming out of the exhaust pipe.

[moctrams]

Sounds like your exaust riser elbow is clogged.

[Steve Laume]

Sounds like your exaust riser is clogged.

Or your seawater inlet, the seacock or the raw water impeller is not right. It might be that there is not that much water coming in, so it takes a while to come out, Steve.

[Tom Keevil]

Perhaps there is a small leak in your muffler, allowing the water to drain into the bilge while it sits. Then when you start up, it takes a while to fill it back up again. I never heard of this, but it would explain the symptoms.

[Dixon Hemphill]

Moctrams, What is the best way to unclug the exhaust riser elbow? This may be the reason water takes so long to appear.

[moctrams]

It will require removing it. This happens often with Yanmar diesels.

[GeorgeH]

I had a similar problem just before I hauled out Spartina last week. I didn't think it was a clogged riser because it was working fine the week before. I suspected a clogged seacock opening but when i removed the water hose and opened the seacock it seemed to let water flow in. I checked the impeller and it seemed fine as well. I finally had to arrange a tow to haul her and when I was at the dock I tried the engine again and it was pumping water fine. Turns out I did have a lot of soft marine life attached to the through-hull opening that would clog when the pump was running.

[jen1722terry]

Great photo, George,

We had a barnacle issue just inside the strainer two years ago. We carry wetsuits and snorkeling gear so we were able to spot the growth inside the strainer with a waterproof flashlight. A small icepick got them out (mostly) and we checked the raw water stainer the next day to see if any remnants got up that far (none did).

The problem for us is, with aging, I can't stay below on one breath like I used to. So we're considering getting re-certified in SCUBA this winter and carrying basic SCUBA for easier underwater maintenance. It seems the basic gear now costs about a boat dollar ($1K) and will also help pay for itself with freeing expensive snagged anchors. Also, I dropped about $150 of tools overboard this summer that would have been retrievable with SCUBA.

Plus, I love the old Sea Hunt shows with Lloyd Bridges as the intrepid Mike Nelson, professional diver. Now I can live the dream!

Bubble, bubble, bubble

Terry

[Dixon Hemphill]

To all who came up with answers to my problem I thank you.

Would you believe, the last time I went to go sailing with my daughter and son, I started the engine and within one minute water started coming out the exhaust pipe! Why on about five previous engine starts did it take 3-5 minutes for the water to appear whereas this time it took only one minute?

The answer must be that the water inlet was clogged each time except the last one.

[Astronomertoo]

Plus, I love the old Sea Hunt shows with Lloyd Bridges as the intrepid Mike Nelson, professional diver. Now I can live the dream!

Bubble, bubble, bubble

Terry[/quote]
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Sorry, I must tell you that the character Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) was not much of a diver, and all the action shots of him underwater were performed by a great stand-in diver who did the dirty work for those movies. I too grew up on those TV shows, and was anxious to meet him along with my friends who were doing serious diving for a movie, shot by Jordan Klein (of Mako compressors). We all spent a week aboard a research vessel and on shore working with him and other celebrities one summer over at West End and Lucaya, GBI. We were disappointed in his capabilities, but enjoyed the time and the stories. I can tell you he had the most gorgeous real gold necklace with a perfect piece of eight, with 5 golden dolphins circling it.
Bob C