[C320-list] Running engine with seacock off?

[Bill Carr]

A time appropriate topic. Yesterday we left deer harbor on the way to anchor at Reid harbor when I noticed no water from the exhaust. Fortunately the winds were favorable for a reach I put my wife on the helm and determine something had blocked the seacock to the point when I opened it with the strainer removed it only gave a trickle of water. I scavenged my lockers trying to figure out a way to un block the offending  lack of water. First I try my shop vacuum blowing and suctioning . Still just a trickle. Finally I found a large electrical tie and forced it through the opening twisted it around and dislodged the blockage. I reinstalled the strainer and all is well. after 20 years with the boat it’s the first time this has happened. We would have been upset too say the least if we had caused damage to our only 80 hours old  Volvo penta. 
 Bill Carr
Utopia #31 c320

Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 3, 2020, at 12:19 PM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> Oops
> Finally did it
> Started the engine and let it idle for a few minutes then slipped my lines and gently motored off
> Suddenly realised I hadn’t turned on the seawater cooling seacock
> Turned it on. Water coming out of exhaust. No external signs of damage to exhaust hose or water muffler
> But will there be internal damage?
> Am I risking sudden hose rupture for example?
> As I recall it’s nigh on impossible to remove hoses without damaging them
> Ideas?
> Graeme
> #366
> 1996
> Falmouth
> England
> 
> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos!