On 7/9/2011 5:11 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 9 Jul 2011 12:44:35 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

looking at the collapsed line...i remembered that the previous week
the marina had filled with seaweed. some of this probably got stuck on
the strainer and blocked the inlet.

before i put the new water line on, i backflushed the strainer with
water and got good flow. but will keep an eye out for seaweed in the
future.

Bob, I dont know how course the strain3er is but I'[d think you'd see
evidence of the sea weed stuck in the hose or the screen. Then again,
i wouldn't think you'd gotten a bad hose but.... still a bummer!

It's possible that seaweed plugged the strainer on the outside of the
hull (usually the through hull intake has either an integral strainer
or a domed strainer cover). When you started the engine in your
slip the seaweed would have become stuck on the outside due to the
engine suction but would have dropped off after you stopped. If you
suspect that there might be more, you could either hop over the side
and take a look, or back flush the through hull with a fresh water
hose.


Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, Jay wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.

On 7/9/2011 11:37 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.


A lot of folks don't glance at their instruments often enough. In bobs
case, a gauge or horn probably would have alerted him to problems. Also
the steam coming out the exhaust usually foretells engine damage.
Misfiring or backfiring could also be a warning sign. Or if the engine
slows down without any other signs you might be experiencing engine
seizure. I'm not trying to scare bob, but he needs to pay attention better.

On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 08:01:28 -0400, Jay wrote:

On 7/9/2011 11:37 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.


A lot of folks don't glance at their instruments often enough. In bobs
case, a gauge or horn probably would have alerted him to problems. Also
the steam coming out the exhaust usually foretells engine damage.
Misfiring or backfiring could also be a warning sign. Or if the engine
slows down without any other signs you might be experiencing engine
seizure. I'm not trying to scare bob, but he needs to pay attention better.

real problem was that i was in the fairway when the engine
stalled...trying not to hit the other boats

On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 08:01:28 -0400, Jay wrote:

On 7/9/2011 11:37 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.


A lot of folks don't glance at their instruments often enough. In bobs
case, a gauge or horn probably would have alerted him to problems. Also
the steam coming out the exhaust usually foretells engine damage.
Misfiring or backfiring could also be a warning sign. Or if the engine
slows down without any other signs you might be experiencing engine
seizure. I'm not trying to scare bob, but he needs to pay attention better.

My point was that no one can watch their gauges every second, and
warning alarms usually go off too late to save damage. Most engines
have some sort of audible alarm for high cylinder head temperature and
low oil pressure. The problem is that by the time temperature hits
the alarm level, you've already cracked the cylinder head or blown the
gasket.

By moving the alarms farther upstream in the cooling system you get
more advanced warning and can shut down without permanent damage being
done. Most of the newer Mercruiser engines with computer controls are
alarmed on both raw water pressure and exhaust elbow temperature. My
7 year old Kohler generator is also setup the same way only with auto
shutdown instead of an alarm. It is relatively easy and inexpensive
to retro fit an older engine with an exhaust elbow alarm and it will
go off almost instantly if cooling water is disrupted for some
reason.

On 7/10/2011 3:24 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 08:01:28 -0400, wrote:

On 7/9/2011 11:37 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.


A lot of folks don't glance at their instruments often enough. In bobs
case, a gauge or horn probably would have alerted him to problems. Also
the steam coming out the exhaust usually foretells engine damage.
Misfiring or backfiring could also be a warning sign. Or if the engine
slows down without any other signs you might be experiencing engine
seizure. I'm not trying to scare bob, but he needs to pay attention better.

My point was that no one can watch their gauges every second, and
warning alarms usually go off too late to save damage. Most engines
have some sort of audible alarm for high cylinder head temperature and
low oil pressure. The problem is that by the time temperature hits
the alarm level, you've already cracked the cylinder head or blown the
gasket.

By moving the alarms farther upstream in the cooling system you get
more advanced warning and can shut down without permanent damage being
done. Most of the newer Mercruiser engines with computer controls are
alarmed on both raw water pressure and exhaust elbow temperature. My
7 year old Kohler generator is also setup the same way only with auto
shutdown instead of an alarm. It is relatively easy and inexpensive
to retro fit an older engine with an exhaust elbow alarm and it will
go off almost instantly if cooling water is disrupted for some
reason.


I'll defer to the engineers who designed the alarm systems. I think we
both agree that an audible alarm is the best way to get the helmsman's
attention. Then he can look at gauges to determine what's wrong.

In article , says...

On 7/10/2011 3:24 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 08:01:28 -0400, wrote:

On 7/9/2011 11:37 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.


A lot of folks don't glance at their instruments often enough. In bobs
case, a gauge or horn probably would have alerted him to problems. Also
the steam coming out the exhaust usually foretells engine damage.
Misfiring or backfiring could also be a warning sign. Or if the engine
slows down without any other signs you might be experiencing engine
seizure. I'm not trying to scare bob, but he needs to pay attention better.

My point was that no one can watch their gauges every second, and
warning alarms usually go off too late to save damage. Most engines
have some sort of audible alarm for high cylinder head temperature and
low oil pressure. The problem is that by the time temperature hits
the alarm level, you've already cracked the cylinder head or blown the
gasket.

By moving the alarms farther upstream in the cooling system you get
more advanced warning and can shut down without permanent damage being
done. Most of the newer Mercruiser engines with computer controls are
alarmed on both raw water pressure and exhaust elbow temperature. My
7 year old Kohler generator is also setup the same way only with auto
shutdown instead of an alarm. It is relatively easy and inexpensive
to retro fit an older engine with an exhaust elbow alarm and it will
go off almost instantly if cooling water is disrupted for some
reason.


I'll defer to the engineers who designed the alarm systems. I think we
both agree that an audible alarm is the best way to get the helmsman's
attention. Then he can look at gauges to determine what's wrong.

They make nice LED gages for race cars that flash one color (like
Yellow) as you get near the limits you set, and then Red when you go
over the threshold...

--
Team Rowdy Mouse, Banned from the Mall for life!

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:37:12 -0400, Wayne B
wrote:

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, Jay wrote:

Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

It has been proven that water temp gauges do a great job of telling
you when it is already too late. No joke, usually the damage is done
unless you catch it very quickly.

There are two different sensors that can alert you in time: The first
is a raw water pressure sensor/alarm installed downstream of the raw
water pump. The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.

that's a good idea. checked the exhaust lines and no damage so it
looks like the engine was getting enough water to keep it happy

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:37:12 -0400, Wayne B
wrote:

The second is a temperature sensor/alarm at the exhaust
elbow. Either or both of these give you enough warning time to shut
down before damage occurs. Many modern engines have both.

I have a glycol cooled engine, and and elbow sensor would warn long
before the coolant began to boil at 250 plus.

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:30:26 -0400, Jay wrote:

On 7/9/2011 5:11 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 9 Jul 2011 12:44:35 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

looking at the collapsed line...i remembered that the previous week
the marina had filled with seaweed. some of this probably got stuck on
the strainer and blocked the inlet.

before i put the new water line on, i backflushed the strainer with
water and got good flow. but will keep an eye out for seaweed in the
future.

Bob, I dont know how course the strain3er is but I'[d think you'd see
evidence of the sea weed stuck in the hose or the screen. Then again,
i wouldn't think you'd gotten a bad hose but.... still a bummer!

It's possible that seaweed plugged the strainer on the outside of the
hull (usually the through hull intake has either an integral strainer
or a domed strainer cover). When you started the engine in your
slip the seaweed would have become stuck on the outside due to the
engine suction but would have dropped off after you stopped. If you
suspect that there might be more, you could either hop over the side
and take a look, or back flush the through hull with a fresh water
hose.


Bob should install water temp and oil pressure gauges. Also an audible
idiot alarm and maybe an idiot light. He could use the same audible
idiot alarm for both water and oil.

already have oil and water temp gauges.