Blew the engine coolant line off.. talk me through this..

[capn272]

Yesterday on my way to put the boat into the slip for the first time this season after working on it a lot of the past few weeks, I blew the outfeed on the impeller pump off. As best I can tell, the clamp wasn't on there very well.. and that'd be my fault from winterizing time, I suppose, as I haven't touched it since. I ran it on the hose just fine last week, even with some extra revs!

I went to put it on plane outside the marina's wake zone and noted that the engine quickly sounded.. off.. a few seconds later my auxiliary bilge pump was running quite energetically - the main one failed to automatically fire ! yay! (I bet a battery cable is on the float...) I noticed the temp gauge was around 180F. I shut it down and raised the motor box to a plume of black smoke. Blower was on the whole time, but I suspect the smoke was choking the engine.

The smoke cleared, and the bilge sloshed. Once I was able to see, the culprit was pretty clearly identified. I let the bilge pumps do their thing. Once the lake was back outside the boat, I got it all hooked up as best I could and started her back up. She fired right up and the temp gauge cooled down.

She idled happily to the lift over the course of the next 5-10 minutes. P&T's stayed good. No water appeared to be leaking back into the bilge - so I suspect I didn't completely smoke the boots.. all electrics appear to be working.

but now, recovery!

I didn't have any time to survey the damage once I got back, beyond making sure the oil wasn't milkshaked. Good there. I had to get her buttoned back up and home to get kids from school, so I'm operating based on what I know.

Luckily I have great access around the motor. I assume flapper valves are probably toast if they weren't long gone already, and I should be replacing the boots.

Beyond that I'm thinking it's time to upgrade to T-bolt clamps.. that are tightened correctly.

And I'll get that battery cable.

Anything else I need to consider?

[jhnmdahl]

Sorry to hear it. I had a similar problem a few years ago in not having everything buttoned up in the spring (I think it was also a loose hose from winterizing), but nowhere near as severe. Another demonstration of why it's a good idea to always have a spare impeller handy!

[capn272]

The impeller has proven very well that it works great! It filled the bilge in no time! I apparently have two backups for it on the boat - one new in a bag and an old one in good condition... they were worthless!

[capn272]

So to follow-up, I think things turned out as best they can..

Now I have actual flappers (I suspect these have been long gone...) and a couple new exhaust boots..

flapper1.jpg

new flapper.jpg

And a clamp that appears to be trust worthy on the hose..

Now if the weather would just warm up..