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

[Christian]

Ken, on hull #138 (Perkins M30), mine is in the aft cabin, near the back,
under the cabin cushions, near center line of boat, behind the engine.
Externally, it sits almost above my prop.  In my opinion, this is the most
important thru hull to be familiar with on your boat.  You can sail with
the others closed, but not this one.

On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 2:28 PM Ken McCrimmon <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
> > >
> >
>