Universial Atomic 4 (inboard , salt water cooled) - 2 years ago I found
salt water in 2 cylinders and my mechanic suggested and then did a head
gasket ; she ran fine for 40 to 60 hours of use, and then - more water in
the aft 2 cylinders nearest the exhaust ; I was in rough seas - and there
is a possibility water sloshed it's way back up - I did some work on the
system to make this less likely, and used the engine for 10 more hours ;
worked fine - and then it happened again, in seas much less rough but still
rougher than the prior 10 hours - so my question is , can a head gasket
fail randomly ? Can it hold most of the time and then give out , and then
hold again, or is this a matter of water working it's way back up through
the exhaust ?

You are probably getting water coming in from the exhaust.

It happened on a boat I taught on when in big following seas.

A flapper valve on the exhaust would help. I have a gate valve on
mine, and I'm considering putting a ball valve on it to make it
easy to secure.


Barret Bonden wrote in message
link.net...

Universial Atomic 4 (inboard , salt water cooled) - 2 years ago I found
salt water in 2 cylinders and my mechanic suggested and then did a head
gasket ; she ran fine for 40 to 60 hours of use, and then - more water in
the aft 2 cylinders nearest the exhaust ; I was in rough seas - and
there
is a possibility water sloshed it's way back up - I did some work on the
system to make this less likely, and used the engine for 10 more hours ;
worked fine - and then it happened again, in seas much less rough but
still
rougher than the prior 10 hours - so my question is , can a head gasket
fail randomly ? Can it hold most of the time and then give out , and then
hold again, or is this a matter of water working it's way back up through
the exhaust ?

"Barret Bonden" wrote in message hlink.net...
Universial Atomic 4 (inboard , salt water cooled) - 2 years ago I found
salt water in 2 cylinders and my mechanic suggested and then did a head
gasket ; she ran fine for 40 to 60 hours of use, and then - more water in
the aft 2 cylinders nearest the exhaust ; I was in rough seas - and there
is a possibility water sloshed it's way back up - I did some work on the
system to make this less likely, and used the engine for 10 more hours ;
worked fine - and then it happened again, in seas much less rough but still
rougher than the prior 10 hours - so my question is , can a head gasket
fail randomly ? Can it hold most of the time and then give out , and then
hold again, or is this a matter of water working it's way back up through
the exhaust ?

Most likely it is getting in thru your exhaust. How high is the riser
in the exhaust system?

Here a friends trawler did the same thing, he anchored and had stern
seas wash over a 1 foot tall riser in his exhaust. Got water on top
the pistion. When he went to start the engine he bent a connecting
rod, and fractured a liner. If you havent bent a rod yet you better
get it fixed, you could throw a rod thru the block. But since its a
dangerious gasoline engine it might be a blessing in disquise. Start
looking for a safe diesel. Or put in a riser thats tall enough to keep
water from backing into your engine. Flapper valves are a freekin joke
and a waste of money IMO.

Joe

"Bart Senior" wrote in message
. net...
| You are probably getting water coming in from the exhaust.
|
| It happened on a boat I taught on when in big following seas.
|
| A flapper valve on the exhaust would help. I have a gate valve on
| mine, and I'm considering putting a ball valve on it to make it
| easy to secure.

My buddy did that to his boat on the Trans Atlantic. He said the insurance
company frowned on the idea... but he installed it anyway. He used a ball
valve.

CM

You just need to be sure to open it.

I would have a big yellow flag I'd tie around the wheel
as a reminder when it was closed, or something of that
nature as a reminder to open it again.

I think it is a smart way to avoid loosing your engine or
boat.

In fact a boat I sailed in charter in the Caribbean was
lost on it's return north because the engine failed. What
were they using it for? There was plenty of wind?

The crew were a bunch of screw ups. They didn't have
all the right safety gear, tried to rely on the engine in
rough seas, and were helicoptered off near Cape Hatteras.
Why? Because they were sea-sick!

All they needed was to make a drogue with the three
corners of the sail tied together or drag some line, or
something.

The boat wound up on the beach wrecked. It didn't sink,
which will tell you what losers the crew were.

Every time I read a story like this, I wish the helicopter
would drop me off when they picked up the crew. I'd
like to have a free salvage boat.

Capt. Mooron wrote
"Bart Senior" wrote in message

| You are probably getting water coming in from the exhaust.
|
| It happened on a boat I taught on when in big following seas.
|
| A flapper valve on the exhaust would help. I have a gate valve on
| mine, and I'm considering putting a ball valve on it to make it
| easy to secure.

My buddy did that to his boat on the Trans Atlantic. He said the insurance
company frowned on the idea... but he installed it anyway. He used a ball
valve.

CM