Running Engine Ashore

emandvee44

emandvee44

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I need to run the engine in the boatyard to;-
a) bring it up to operating temperature so that I can change the oil,
and
b) concurrent with a) flush the sea water cooling side with fresh water (not going to use the boat for a while thanks to the C-----e)

I plan to disconnect the outlet hose under the Vetus filter, connect a fresh water hose to it and run the engine until hot, (circa 30 mins)

Engine is a VP D2-55

Any tips/ comments?

Thanks,

M.
 
That will work, however if you run the engine at too high revs for the amount of water going in there's a possibility it could overheat. For that reason I'd be more inclined to just unscrew the top of the filter and run the hose into there, that way you can "balance" the amount of water going in with the engine revs. This is what I do with my Isuzu 65hp...
 
If I understand your post correctly you are intending to connect the hose directly to the water pump? This is bad practice as the flow can overwhelm the pump and could lead to flooding the engine. The method proposed by V1701 will work, I use it myself, but not for 30 minutes, which would take considerable dedication. The preferred method is to put a bucket in the cockpit and feed that with the hose. Overflow will just run out of the drains. Then take a suction hose from the bucket to the input to the strainer, or directly to the water pump if this is more convenient. Tie all hoses to the bucket handle to ensure they remain in place.
 
Thanks. Yes I can put the hose end into the Vetus filter as access is good and I have a valve in the hose to control the flow so that it does not overflow.
I need the engine hot so that my electric extraction pump works more easily, so around 30 mins at idle should do it.
I like Vyv's method too so might try that!
Cheers,
M.
 
I do this every year. Bucket of water hung under the exhaust outlet. Piece of hose from bucket, other end jammed into engine cooling water inlet. Advantage for winterising is that a mix of water/antifreeze/oil can be circulated. Sometimes necessary to organise an old plastic bag to catch the exhaust water and direct it into the bucket.
The posh people in the club use a jerrycan with one top side cut out that fits over the exhaust outlet and a hose barb fitted into the bottom.
 
Are you on a yacht cradle? For safety/insurance reasons, your yard may not permit running the engine while on a cradle. Do check.
 
Bucket under exhaust outlet, disconnect hose at inlet, fit ahose from inlet and allow to drop into bucket. Keep bucket topped up with water. This way engine takes what it requires and discharges as normal. Has always worked for me. As previously stated connecting a hose to the inlet is a bad idea.
 
LiftyK said:
Are you on a yacht cradle? For safety/insurance reasons, your yard may not permit running the engine while on a cradle. Do check.
Click to expand...
What do you suppose would be the harm in running the engine, while the boat is in a cradle? Personally, I wouldn't do it if the boat was just shored, unless the shores were all well fixed with cross bracing.

I have a bucket fitted with a hose. The hose is jammed into the engine cooling water inlet skin fitting, and the bucket is tied off about level with the waterline. A water hose keeps the bucket full and slightly overflowing
 
Hi M.

Last winter a boat in the yard, no names, did as you suggest and shoved a hose into the water inlet to run their engine on the hard the day before they launched. It all ran successfully but after launching they got about 10min down river before the oil light came on. On checking the oil had turned to jelly and they limped back to be lifted out again. On draining the oil there was water in it but after three oil changes and running in between for a minute or two the engine ran ok and there didn’t appear to be any damage.

The only explanation we could come up with is as suggested by Vic, that water had forced its way past the water pump and filled the exhaust, then in through an open valve into the cylinder and then the sump.

As other have suggested, it is best to let the engine suck the water from a bucket rather than force it in.

BW

Andy
 
It's pointless.
The oil has already drained into the sump.
The motor won't warm up properly running with no load.
change the oil.
Flush the heat exchanger, drain and disconnect the exhaust.
crank the engine a bit to get new oil around.
 
Take the inlet pipe off the seacock and put it in a bucket. Get a hose attachment so you can control the flow and keep the bucket topped up. You will not get the engine up to running temperature without load.
I run mine for 10 minutes then leave for another 10 then suck it out. Works for me.
Please don't connect a hose from a tap straight onto the engine intake hose.
 
NormanS said:
What do you suppose would be the harm in running the engine, while the boat is in a cradle? Personally, I wouldn't do it if the boat was just shored, unless the shores were all well fixed with cross bracing.
Click to expand...
The yard at Koiladha in Greece will not allow engine running ashore. They have probably the stoutest cradles I have seen anywhere, so I asked for the reason. Apparently an owner ran his engine in a cradle and it 'ran away', presumably consuming its own oil. A fire started and the boat burned badly, fortunately not spreading to any others. Probably a very rare event but that is one justification.
 
vyv_cox said:
The yard at Koiladha in Greece will not allow engine running ashore. They have probably the stoutest cradles I have seen anywhere, so I asked for the reason. Apparently an owner ran his engine in a cradle and it 'ran away', presumably consuming its own oil. A fire started and the boat burned badly, fortunately not spreading to any others. Probably a very rare event but that is one justification.
Click to expand...

Presumably the same argument could be used to prevent engines being started in marinas. ?
 
Have you got a saildrive which draws water up through the leg and access to a plastic dustbin and a few blocks ?

Bin raised on blocks, put under boat so saildrive inside - fill - make sure level up to water intakes and run engine - this way you don't have to disturb anything on the engine and no water inside boat. Only prob with this if you've a non standard prop you might have to take it off to get the saildrive in the bin.

Personally I use a bucket in front of the engine - hose undone from the inlet strainer outlet into the bucket - water hose from outside water supply running continuously as the engine does empty the bucket quite quickly.
 
I did this in my garden by taking the top off the strainer and sticking a hose in it. I started the engine and adjusted the hose rate so that it overflowed steadily into the bilge. By this means I could run the engine as long as I wanted.
 
Amlov said:
Hi M.

Last winter a boat in the yard, no names, did as you suggest and shoved a hose into the water inlet to run their engine on the hard the day before they launched. It all ran successfully but after launching they got about 10min down river before the oil light came on. On checking the oil had turned to jelly and they limped back to be lifted out again. On draining the oil there was water in it but after three oil changes and running in between for a minute or two the engine ran ok and there didn’t appear to be any damage.

The only explanation we could come up with is as suggested by Vic, that water had forced its way past the water pump and filled the exhaust, then in through an open valve into the cylinder and then the sump.

As other have suggested, it is best to let the engine suck the water from a bucket rather than force it in.

BW

Andy
Click to expand...
CAUTION
If using a bucket best ensure that the bucket is in cabin rather than cockpit to avoid water siphoning through to exhaust when not running Jabsco type pump does not always stop water flow
 
scottie said:
CAUTION
If using a bucket best ensure that the bucket is in cabin rather than cockpit to avoid water siphoning through to exhaust when not running Jabsco type pump does not always stop water flow
Click to expand...
If you have a self draining cockpit it makes sense to put the bucket in the cockpit so that it can gently overflow without flooding the cabin sole and filling the bilges with water
BUT turn the water supply off or pull the supply hose from the bucket and allow it to empty before tuning off the engine. OR simply withdraw the suction hose from the bucket at the same time as stopping the engine.
 
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