my 26' tolly has a freshwater cooling system. i put new water lines on
last year so everything is in great shape.

took it out last weekend in the fairway to practice docking. engine
kept stalling at slow speed (600 rpm). got it back into the slip and
found the bilge pump was running. opened the bilge and found the
cooling water line from the throughull to the cooling water pump had
completely collapsed even though it was wire reinforced. the end of
the line had ripped away from the throughhull and water was streaming
in.

i shut the seacock and let the boat pump out put a new water line on,
started the engine and it ran like a charm with no overheating.

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.

On Jul 9, 11:59*am, wf3h wrote:
my 26' tolly has a freshwater cooling system. i put new water lines on
last year so everything is in great shape.

took it out last weekend in the fairway to practice docking. engine
kept stalling at slow speed (600 rpm). got it back into the slip and
found the bilge pump was running. opened the bilge and found the
cooling water line from the throughull to the cooling water pump had
completely collapsed even though it was wire reinforced. the end of
the line had ripped away from the throughhull and water was streaming
in.

i shut the seacock and let the boat pump out put a new water line on,
started the engine and it ran like a charm with no overheating.

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!

On Sat, 9 Jul 2011 12:44:35 -0700 (PDT), Tim
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.

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 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.

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:11:07 -0400, Wayne B
wrote:

On Sat, 9 Jul 2011 12:44:35 -0700 (PDT), Tim
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.

yep used the hose...worked great