engine flooding from exhaust

E

empee

New Member
Joined
27 Dec 2006
Messages
5
Visit site
Hi
Engineers reckon the seawater in 2 cylinders of my seized engine must have come back through the exhaust during haul out and transit through the yard. Insurance co. won't accept this explanation, and refuse to pay. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Does any one know of any documented instances of this happening or documented recommendations to drain exhaust boxes prior to haul out to prevent this. (my exhaust box had no drain facility)
Thanks in advance.
 
Sounds a bit dodgy to me, every lift iv'e seen keeps the boat level at all times, can fully understand the stance of the insurers.

How can the engineers tell it happened at the yard?
Was the hull presure washed & it entered then?

Most likely be an exhaust or heat exchanger failure, what engine are you refering too?
 
Sold a boat a while back which had a Cobra outdrive fitted.

Boat was run across the bay for a lift out and survey, no problems.

Boat sale went ahead and boat was then placed on a trailer and shipped out.

Had a call a week later asking if I knew anything about water in the cylinders. My answer was of course not, it was running fine for me and when it was taken away.

Turned out that one of the non-return flaps in the exhaust risers had failed and I can only assume that when the boat was relaunched water pressure back through the exhaust system did the rest. Also I suppose that if they didn't fire up the engine for some time instead of straight after launch things might have been different..

Some more information on your engine/exhaust make/type/layout would be of interest.
 
There have been a few posts recently where insurers are refusing to pay up..... In your case, if what the engineers are saying is the most likely reason, i wonder who the insurers would need to hear this from for them to accept it - might be worth asking them.

If this isnt the most likely explanation, are they suggesting an alternative reason which you could investigate... I suspect not?
 
It was a 50hp Thorneycroft in a Moody 425 centre cockpit. Engine was running fine right up to haul out, came to winterise 6 months later and engine was siezed - independant engineer appointed to find cause found seawater in 2 cylinders that had been there for some time and reckoned it could only have come from the exhaust. To support this he pointed out that the length and diameter of the exhaust hose running from the engine to the stern under the aft cabin was too large a volume for the size of the water box and that it must have got into the engine during haul out and transit through the yard. I watched the haul out and the boat was kept level although it did need a couple of 3 point turns and a trip up a slight incline to reach the storage area. After haul out the boat was locked until attempting to winterise 6 months later.
The exhaust installation was a standard Moody set up with a Moody in-house stainless water box. Engineer did point out that a standard precaution to prevent this is to drain the water box but this one did not include a drain.
As far as I can make out the system met required standards although I've since read that water boxes should always have a capacity at least as large as the contents of the exhaust hose, this one fell well short of that. Could a fore and aft 'sloshing' of the hose contents have caused the water to overflow into the engine? My problem is that no one has come up with any other possible solution and insurers have put the onus on me to prove what happened. The engineer confirmed the siphon break was functioning ok (although it wouldn't make any difference once the boat was out of the water) and the cylinder head gasket was fine. (And if the problem was there the water would have been fresh not seawater anyway)
In the absence of an alternate possibility (Someone breaking in, removing an injector and pouring seawater in?!) the engineers theory is all we have to go on. (Engine had to be replaced at a total cost of around £10,000!)
Comments much appreciated!
 
Can I sugest that you post this on the Moody Owners' Website MOA Website Here.....

There will be more info on your boats set up and may be someone there could confirm if this has happened in the past?

It is of interest to me as I have a Moody 346 with the same water trap and exhaust set-up.

Regards
Donald
 
Has engineer supplied report to Ins. Co as well as you ?

Suggest that if not - he does so asap - officially.

Yes it is possible for this to happen.
 
Yes it is possible! The exact same thing happened to me a few years ago (Colvic with Yanma 2GM). I managed to repair the engine and then fitted a large waterlock.
 
Hi. your post reminds me of the instance not so long ago of a new Moody 54 (whilst on demo sail ) suffering a seawater backflood to the engine, resulting in a complete replacement job. Cooling system was by Halyard incorporating separation of water and exhaust after cooling. The cause of the backflooding was the inadequacy of the design of the separation box and the elevation of the air break valve. If your system is similar this might help. I can give you more detail if you want it.
 
Yes the report was given to insurers - they eventually sent their own surveyor but have refused sight of his report (normal practice I believe) I believe he agreed with original report so far as there being seawater in the engine but speculated 'had the yard done something?'
I do appreciate that the water shouldn't have got into the engine this way - it doesn't do it when under sail in a seaway - but the water WAS in the engine and no one has offered a plausible alternative explanation as to how it could get there!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I believe he agreed with original report so far as there being seawater in the engine but speculated 'had the yard done something?'

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not on the boat so cant read my policy but, I would have thought we were covered against accidents, (if the yard had done something, it wouldnt be deliberate... or not on the face of it), so you should be paid. If the insurer thought the yard had been negligent, they should then sue the yard.

That's my take, but I will stand corrected.
 
Seems fair enough ... Insurer pays then claims from ...

Why should the onus be on the poor owner all the time ? Insurance is to cover damage / losses .....

I think I would be having strong words with insurers about coverage and Insurance Ombudsman (even though thats "in-house")
 
Re: Seems fair enough ... Insurer pays then claims from ...

Hi Richard, sbc
I don't have my policy in front of me either (it's with solicitors!) but as I recall it does mention something about proving something happened - at the moment my only proof is that the water was there, not how it got there.
This saga has been a long and painful one - Unfortunately insurance cover was changed 2 weeks after haul out for a laid up policy with another provider - who naturally decline liability as the boat has never been anywhere near seawater during their period of cover. It has been to the insurance ombudsman who lost the whole file not once but twice! Each time I had to provide full replacement documents and each time someone new was appointed to handle it. After nearly 2 years they finally decided against me because they did not consider this to be a case of 'flooding' They proved to be a total waste of time.
I'm now about to commence legal proceedings against original insurer so looking to get as much background info as possible.
Any reference to documents advising the draining of exhaust systems to prevent engine flooding during haul out would obviously help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top