Bl***y weed and overheating

[DIW]

Unfortunately got some weed in the out drive water intake (Mercruiser MPi Bravo) which caused engine overheating alarm to go off,luckily picked up a mooring buoy and then rescued by Seastart and a Diver who managed to remove the blockage (excellent service provided by Seastart, worth every penny of the subscription) but - does anybody know of a way to prevent this as I am really nervous of it happening again ,it seems inevitable as the weed in Portsmouth Harbour seems worse than ever this year.
Ian

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[DepSol]

Wetsuit and a scrubbing brush mate, works well for me.


<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[Solitaire]

Its a fact of boating - no cure, it just happens. Like picking up a plastic bag, you have no control.

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[ccscott49]

Fit extra water intakes, with seacocks and strainers and "Y" pieces to water pumps, then if the leg blocks, turn on seacock and all's well, unblock leg later at your leisure. If strainer blocks, you can clear it in the water. Expensive solution, but................

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[Will_M]

A friend had a very similar issue when they moved up to their current boat, had always been outboards before, this was their first inboard/outdrive combo...

Anyway, he installed a system, very pro looking job when finished, that allowed the water intake through the leg to be back flushed. It worked something like this...

'T' into inboard intake pipe with a 3-way valve, so water not passed back into engine, that allowed you to flush back through from inside the boat. This 'back flush pipe' was connected to a decent submersible 12v pump that was placed over the side of the boat to suck-up water and pass it through the leg.

I told him that a face mask and wetsuit would be far cheaper, but he was ssssooooo proud of his system I just had to congratulate him, smile and walk away!

Since the 'kit' has been fitted I dont recall him saying its ever been needed!!!


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