Impellers and wet T-shirts - advice for female crew

[pragmatist]

I viewed it as fortunate that the boatyard was very quiet today. And as a poor omen for my season that things should start in this vein.

We have been working hard to get our beauty ready for launch on Thursday - abrading the copper coat, putting back the serviced sea-cocks etc etc. And then Sir said we must test the engine. So there he is up in the cockpit with the controls (as chaps tend to do) and there I was with the hosepipe to feed the engine inlet. Well the first problem was I laid the hose out and then turned on the tap. Now plainly Baltic Wharf has excellent water pressure because the hosepipe turned into a live snake - thrashing to and fro jetting water. I had a difficult job to prevent myself getting wet.

Relieved and largely dry, I inserted said hose into the engine inlet and attempted to keep it there so the poor little engine would have it's necessary quantity of water. But of course since the engine wasn't started the water had nowhere to go but back so I stood there having a nice cold shower. Finally he started the engine - and suddenly most of the cold shower ceased and was taken into the engine. Sadly the engine, which has not been used for far too long, stopped. The wet shower began again. Then finally he got it going, did a bit of forwards and backwards, as it were, water shot out of the outlet and all was well. At that point he switched off the engine - the cold shower began YET AGAIN and I yelled "Can I turn this off ?" No answer. So I yelled even louder. The small number of heads in the yard at the time all turned and stared.

Eventually, as I stood there drenched, he popped his head out of the cockpit cover and fell about laughing. I was NOT amused (for those who know me this was very nearly an "On the paper, Mr Bailey" moment). When he'd finished the first outburst he did acknowledge that I could turn off the tap.

Advice to female crew - make sure YOU'RE the one with the engine controls and HE's the one with the hosepipe.

 

[sarabande]

I suspect you may be demanding repayment on that for a few years to come !

It's an old trick but if you don't have a tap on a hose then doubling over the last 50 cm or, and holding it tightly, so will cut off the flow.

 

[SimbaDog]

Can't help thinking your post would be better with pictures /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Luckily, I was there,

 

[SimbaDog]

That's better /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[snowleopard]

A striking resemblance. I didn't realise you knew her /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Bit wary about showing it as there may be a terrorist threat implied which our local bobby may wish to speak to me about. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[boatbuilder]

On a serious note, you should never stick a hose up the water intake of an engine.
If the engine does not start all you are doing is filling up the exhaust, wich will eventually back up and fill the engine.
I have seen many engines written off because of this.
Put the hose in a bucket and the pickup in the same bucket, then the engine will pick up its own water.

Story was funny though.

 

[Ardelloeixe]

Pragmatist wrote:
[ QUOTE ]
Eventually, as I stood there drenched, he popped his head out of the cockpit cover and fell about laughing. I was NOT amused (for those who know me this was very nearly an "On the paper, Mr Bailey" moment). When he'd finished the first outburst he did acknowledge that I could turn off the tap.


[/ QUOTE ]

Any photos?, please /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[pessimist]

Coo, she will be pleased. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[pessimist]

Take your point, but shouldn't the impeller stop water passing into the exhaust and send it back whence it came. SWMO certainly seemed to feel this to be the case yesterday. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[nimbusgb]

[ QUOTE ]
Take your point, but shouldn't the impeller stop water passing into the exhaust and send it back whence it came. SWMO certainly seemed to feel this to be the case yesterday. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

In 99 out of 100 cases yes it will. The problem really arises when you connect a hose to the inlet with fittings. The result then is that instead of the excess pressure being vented onto a waiting t shirt the mains pressure can force water past the impeller and into the exhaust from where it backs up into the cylinders.

 

[snowleopard]

Absolutely right. My raw water pumps will allow some water to flow through them even when the pump is not turning. It does fill the exhaust and the water does make it back into the cylinders. The result in my case was bent con rods.

 

[SmileyGiley]

Yup... filled my engine once too. forgot about the trickle into the intake whilst I bled the fuel.. all of a sudden water trickles out of the air intake (I had engaged the decompression lever).

BLINKIN' 'ECK

Was sitting feeling truely miserable when an angel of heaven disguised a Mr Ted McGregor (bless 'im) wandered past. Seeing my glum face he forebore his usual greeting* as I told my tail of woe. Rather than the sympathy I craved I was treated to a humblingly simple piece of clear thought**.

Injectors out... turn over a few times***... injectors in... run engine... change oil...job done


*Giles..hello... back from sea... when are you going again. (our little joke I hope).
** Obviously, logic more welcome than sympathy in this case!
** remember to remove the injector seats, or they near take your eye out as you turn the engine over! Lucky I had the winter cover on or they would have taken out some poor passing duck

PS... It happens with our workboats and Rescue boats... on ship...with EXPERTS...with monotonous regularity. Normally just blow out (ha, six injectors to remove to my two) & oil change, but yes... several occasions of trashed conrods etc as well.