Boat engine question

[Steveo]

Damn, I love this kind of talk!!!

[hancoveguy]

Thanks to all, this is the kind of feedback I was looking for. Its a Volvo and we are changing the impeller and circulator pump today before we run it tomorrow. As far as I know it has always been a fresh water boat.

Keep the ideas coming and I will post any updates I get.

thanks
HCG

My biggest fear is that it needs a motor, we are not nearly there yet but I am concerned...

[Dave R]

Volvo stopped recommedning the exhaust flapper is in most applications a few years ago. You may want to try running without them. Just be careful not to come off-plane rapidly or water can back up into the exhaust manifolds and then flow down into the cylinders that have open exhaust valves, when you shut it off. If you have no choice but to come off-plane rapidly, DO NOT forget to put the engine in neutral and rev it a few times to blow the water out, before you shut it off.

[Sman]

Even if it is fresh water only, eventually the water jackets in the cast iron manifolds do get junked up with rust and can impede flow. I had this problem with one. When I had the water hooked up to the lower unit running it on the trailer, there was a significantly lighter "spitting" of water out of one of my stainless pipes, I also noticed a slight discoloration in that one pipe, (getting hot). I changed out the manifold, cost about 240, got it from a dealer in MA, came with gaskets, did it myself, problem was solved. I was told I should have just done both but did not, oddly enough I have no issues with the older one, (yet). Just one possibility and my boat at the time was 25 years old, lake winni only and had less than 300 hrs, mercruiser.

[BroadHopper]

2 years ago, I purchased a 1988 Formula F-223 LS with 454 Magnum from a marina in VA. It was pretty much abandoned on a trailer and stored indoors for seven years. The Potomac Marina sold it for what was owed for storage. It was in perfect shape for a 20 year old boat. The boat was put away properly and all it needed was fresh batteries. I had a written agreement with the marina that if it doesn't pass survey and my local mechanic approval, I can get my money back. I bought it for less than a third of the book value with 367 hrs on the clock.

Dave's Motorboat Shop surveyed the boat, checked out the motor and took it for a test drive. They were pleased with the motor and agreed that it was well taken care of. To be safe, they replace the impeller and doublecheck all the rubber boots in case of 'dry rot'.

Good Luck with your purchase.

[hancoveguy]

Okay, went for a quick sea trial today on the Merrimack. Both risers seemed to heat evenly, neither got real hot but warm to the touch in cold water. Boat temp went up slow. oil pressure seemed pretty high if the guage is right (75 ish) at wot. My mechanic babied it for quite some time before we throttled it up. Very smooth, got up on plane much faster than my old express cruiser, which was a treat. We shut it down after running it for 30 minutes or so and restarted it looking for hydrolock and it fired right back up several times.

Overall very pleased. Only glitch was that the exhaust tubes in the back on both sides were leaking a bit. Not weeping but not pouring either. Mechanic will take it apart and diagnose it and we'll go from there.

Again, always looking for thoughts and experiences...

HCG

[robmac]

The one thing I do to try and prevent any rust build up in the coolant passeges is,when winterizing I run a half of a gallon of CLR through the cooling system using a set of ears and very large funnel. I am amazed at the crud that comes out but knock on wood never had an issue with buildup.

[Sman]

The one thing I do to try and prevent any rust build up in the coolant passeges is,when winterizing I run a half of a gallon of CLR through the cooling system using a set of ears and very large funnel. I am amazed at the crud that comes out but knock on wood never had an issue with buildup.

Interesting, can you elaborate a bit on what you do, where you put it in, where is is coming out. I winterize the engine and use a set of ears on the lower to keep water going through, but where are you putting in the CLR and I am taking it that it is the Calcium/Lime/Rust remover product...

thanks

[robmac]

You are correct,Calcium,Lime and Rust remover. I first bring the engine to temp running off hose, Then remove hose and attach short hose connected to large funnel restart until all of the CLR has been picked up and shut off. Let sit for 10-15 minutes then flush out with hose. Afterwards run anti freeze throughout and get it all set for winter. I've been doing it since 2000 when I lived full time in FL. and inside of manifolds and risers and clean as can be. The solution exits my boat through the transom exhaust and it is nasty.