[C320-list] White Smoke and Overheating Diagnosis (A Lesson)

[Ken McCrimmon]

Novice C320 question, which is the raw water intake, so i know where to look on the outside if i have a problem
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com>
Sent: June 1, 2021 3:18 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] White Smoke and Overheating Diagnosis (A Lesson)

After talking about strainers here, I recalled reading something about
them. It was Rod at marinehowto.com, who is not a fan.  Food for thought.

https://marinehowto.com/external-strainers-omg/

On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 2:09 PM Christian <ccaper at gmail.com> wrote:

> I too will be looking at a scoop after my next haul out.
>
> Morale of the story is your exhaust, and color if present, is like tarot
> cards for your engine, and problems, if you learn how to read them.
>
> On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 2:05 PM P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Christian,
> >
> > Very similar thing here.
> >
> > We were leaving on a multi-day cruise, boat was fully packed and we were
> > quite happy to finally be getting underway.  I started the engine an hour
> > before we shoved off to get some heat on it and an instant after if fired
> > up I heard a light thump, not necessarily alarming but different.  One
> > thing I have always done is to look at exhaust water (and listen to it as
> > well) after the engine has started.  After 26 years of doing this, I knew
> > what it should look and sound like.  The small stream coming out told me
> > something was wrong and I shut down the engine.
> >
> > I went below to check the strainer and thru-hull.  Strainer good, but
> when
> > I exercised the valve, I could not close it all the way so it was
> obvious I
> > had sucked up something.  Since the thru hull is a 90 degree elbow
> > configuration, I figured It would not be easy to run a wire through so I
> > thought I might be able to flush it out with a water hose.  I removed the
> > hose from the strainer end (and found very little flow) and was able to
> > make a good seal against the nozzle of my dock water hose and backflushed
> > it.  I then found the thru hull valve would now move normally through its
> > full 90 degree travel so patted myself on the back.
> >
> > We cast off but I was still cautious heading down our canal to the bay.
> > Good thing, too, since before we got to the end of our canal, water temp
> > was rapidly climbing.  Fortunately, we were able to get turned around and
> > back to our dock without overheating although water temp was higher than
> I
> > had ever seen it (200 on my gauge).
> >
> > At this point, it was about 2 o'clock on Fri afternoon and our trip was
> > about to be scuttled.  Had we been in the Gulf, I would have gone in
> > myself, but the dark tannin waters of our canal are just a little too
> > creepy for me.  Amazingly, I was able to get our diver out on very short
> > notice and he pulled most of (albeit somewhat shredded) a 13 gal white
> > trash bag out of the engine cooling water inlet.  We were underway at 3pm
> > and barely made it to our first stop before dark.
> >
> > So, all's well that ends well although next time our boat is on the hard
> I
> > will look into a scoop strainer.
> >
> > Frank Ross
> > Beta Wave #206
> > Naples, FL
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 11:15 AM jackbrennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > My story varies slightly. We were anchored in the Keys a couple of
> years
> > > ago when the diesel went hot on startup. Turns out some grass clogged
> the
> > > hose between the through hull and strainetr. Found it by accident when
> I
> > > noticed no water was coming into the strainer, even though the flow was
> > > fine from the through hull.Jack BrennanSonas, 1998 Catalina 320Tierra
> > > Verde, Fl.Sent from my Galaxy
> > > -------- Original message --------From: Mike Mellon <
> mmellon at cruzio.com>
> > > Date: 6/1/21  11:12 AM  (GMT-05:00) To:
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> > > Subject: Re: [C320-list] White Smoke and Overheating Diagnosis (A
> Lesson)
> > > We had an identical problem on LaVida with a plastic bag stuck in the
> raw
> > > cooling water intake.  So apparently not unusual.  We overheated so
> > quickly
> > > we had to get a tow back to the berth, at night.  I'm going to
> > investigate
> > > the strainer idea.Thanks.MikeLaVida 324On 6/1/2021 8:03 AM, Chris White
> > > wrote:>   Hi Christian> Thanks for the story.I had a similar experience
> > > some years ago and have since fitted a scoop inlet strainer.These are
> > > available in brass or composite.Once the boat is out of the water you
> can
> > > easily fit these over the existing water inlet.> Regards> Chris
> WhiteC320
> > > #449 'Dandy'Hythe Marina VillageUK>>      On Tuesday, 1 June 2021,
> > 15:28:20
> > > BST, Christian <ccaper at gmail.com> wrote:>   >   This list has taught
> me
> > > so much, other's stories have helped me, so I> thought I'd share an
> > > experience I had on Sunday, so others might learn.>> I sail in Chicago,
> > > where we are on the hard for 7.5 months of the year.> Sunday, we
> > launched,
> > > and launch day, though cathartic, is always a nerve> wracking shake
> down
> > > cruise for me of what's gonna go wrong now after being> on the hard.
> My
> > > yard is on a river, about mile-ish off Lake Michigan.>> Before leaving
> > the
> > > yard dock, was idling engine for about an hour, checking> engine temp
> > > (fine), exhaust flow (seemed a hair low, but wasn't terribly>
> concerned,
> > > just a mental note).  After casting off, I had to wait for 2> bridges
> to
> > be
> > > raised, requiring circling for about 45 mins with light load> on the
> > > engine.  After we passed the second bridge, now revving to higher> RPM
> > > (about 25) I checked exhaust again, and noticed some light white smoke>
> > > from exhaust, steady stream.  Started monitoring engine temp, and
> began>
> > > seeing the engine temp creep up slowly, going higher than normal (180),
> > > and> ticking up to about 190, still steady light white smoke.  We went
> on
> > > to our> harbor, able to raise sails soon.>> Got to mooring safely.
> > > Concerned I had coolant mixing with oil and was> burning coolant, once
> > the
> > > engine cooled I checked oil color for milkiness.> Clean, and no oil
> > > burned.  Checked coolant level, same level.  Reading up> that night on
> > > white smoke, I read it's often steam or unburnt diesel.> Could be
> cooling
> > > problem, or could be a valve, timing, or injector pump> problem,
> crossed
> > > fingers it was cooling.  Since I wasn't blowing white> smoke on cold
> > engine
> > > start, only when engine got hot, this was likely> steam, and an
> > overheating
> > > problem.>> Monday, I went back to the boat to dive into problem.  I'd
> > > replaced my> fresh water pump, thermostat, and mixing elbow 4 years
> ago,
> > so
> > > eliminated> those as likely culprits.  I'd just replaced impeller, so
> > knew
> > > that wasn't> a likely culprit either.  I took off the raw water
> strainer,
> > > clean.  With> the bowl off, I opened raw water thru hull to inspect
> flow,
> > > just a> trickle.  Interesting.  So I took the hose off the sea cock,
> > opened
> > > thru> hull again, barely a trickle.  Felt into sea cock with pinky,
> felt
> > > squishy> stuff.  Flash light showed white plastic shopping back
> pieces.>>
> > > Luckily I keep a coat hanger on board for random needs like this.  Bent
> > an>
> > > end 90 degrees, went on a fishing expedition.  Over the next 2 hours,
> I>
> > > worked out a complete plastic shopping bag that had been sucked into,
> > and>
> > > deepy jammed, in the valve on my seacock.  It was so jammed, at one
> point
> > > I> thought I would have to rebuild the seacock to free it, but
> eventually
> > > got> the entire bag out.  Most of the time I had to rock the seacock
> > lever
> > > back> and forth to inch the bag through the valve. Now seacock flowed
> > > perfect.  I> think I picked up the plastic bag in the river, on our
> last
> > > Fall return to> yard, is my guess.>> Hope this story helps others
> > diagnose
> > > overheating problems, and the> importance of monitoring your exhaust,
> > every
> > > sail.  This random mishap> could have become a costly repair if I
> wasn't
> > > closely monitoring my exhaust> and engine temp. And happy 2021 sailing
> > > season for us Great Lake sailors!>> -Christian Caperton> 1994 C320 #138
> > > "Canuck" Monroe Harbor, Chicago, IL>    -- Michael Mellon45 Ortalon
> > > AveSanta Cruz, CA 95060mmellon at cruzio.com831-425-5583 Home
> >
>