What do I look for in/on an engine?

[Sean Austin]

This is a good thread. I have learnt a lot. It sounds like my boat's (Beta keel cooled) engine is in good condition. Rainwater ingress is a problem on the cruiser stern and the bilge pump wasn't fitted correctly so I have to bail the water out manually every time it rains.

[Tony Brooks]

1 hour ago, Sean Austin said:

This is a good thread. I have learnt a lot. It sounds like my boat's (Beta keel cooled) engine is in good condition. Rainwater ingress is a problem on the cruiser stern and the bilge pump wasn't fitted correctly so I have to bail the water out manually every time it rains.

 

Typical bilge pumps can not totally drain the bilge, they will always leave a little water when they can no longer pump, but are still running. Often, the trim of the boat and any list increases the amount of water left. If you want this water out then it will require mopping, bailing, wet vac, or absorbent pads (nappies) to do it.

 

On my boat the baseplate at the back had a square cutout just under the stern gland and the skeg, welded to the boat below this cut out, sealed the hole and made a little sump, but even then a slight list reduced its effect. So the question is, in what way is your bilge pump incorrectly fitted, and then, if it really is incorrectly fitted,  why can't you refit it properly? 

[Sean Austin]

8 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Typical bilge pumps can not totally drain the bilge, they will always leave a little water when they can no longer pump, but are still running. Often, the trim of the boat and any list increases the amount of water left. If you want this water out then it will require mopping, bailing, wet vac, or absorbent pads (nappies) to do it.

 

On my boat the baseplate at the back had a square cutout just under the stern gland and the skeg, welded to the boat below this cut out, sealed the hole and made a little sump, but even then a slight list reduced its effect. So the question is, in what way is your bilge pump incorrectly fitted, and then, if it really is incorrectly fitted,  why can't you refit it properly? 

The pump was shoved under the prop shaft/ stern gland. The stern gland don't drip much so the water that gathers underneath it can be bailed out with an old food can. The rainwater collects just behind the engine compartment's bulkhead.  I haven't refitted it yet due to personal circumstances. Besides, it doesn't take me long to bail out the water manually. I have been reading the other thread on water pumps and the discussion there has been useful.

[Tony Brooks]

1 minute ago, Sean Austin said:

The pump was shoved under the prop shaft/ stern gland. The stern gland don't drip much so the water that gathers underneath it can be bailed out with an old food can. The rainwater collects just behind the engine compartment's bulkhead.  I haven't refitted it yet due to personal circumstances. Besides, it doesn't take me long to bail out the water manually. I have been reading the other thread on water pumps and the discussion there has been useful.

 

Fair enough, but your description of where the water collects suggest to me that you may be talking about the engine drip tray (area) rather than the bilge proper, and if so, you must not have a pump in it. Doing so should result in a BSS fail

 

The engine beds on a cruiser stern normally run from the back of the rear bulkhead right back to the swim. If they are welded to the swim, then they should have had limber holes cut into the so any water collecting either side of the engine can drain into the area under the stern gland because most boats trim down a little by the stern, is the deepest part. Then a mini-bulkhead is welded between the engine beds, typically just below the gearbox shaft coupling.

 

Any wtaer and oil that collects in the drip tray can be removed y the use of bilge mats or disposable nappies, but in the latter case don't leave them in for long because they tend to fall apart and deposit jelly in inaccessible places.

 

[Sean Austin]

1 minute ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Fair enough, but your description of where the water collects suggest to me that you may be talking about the engine drip tray (area) rather than the bilge proper, and if so, you must not have a pump in it. Doing so should result in a BSS fail

 

The engine beds on a cruiser stern normally run from the back of the rear bulkhead right back to the swim. If they are welded to the swim, then they should have had limber holes cut into the so any water collecting either side of the engine can drain into the area under the stern gland because most boats trim down a little by the stern, is the deepest part. Then a mini-bulkhead is welded between the engine beds, typically just below the gearbox shaft coupling.

 

Any wtaer and oil that collects in the drip tray can be removed y the use of bilge mats or disposable nappies, but in the latter case don't leave them in for long because they tend to fall apart and deposit jelly in inaccessible places.

 

I will take a photo next time I am at the boat (and post it on the bilge pump thread). I think I will leave it for a boatyard to refit or replace the pump.