Saildrive flushing

[Seashoreman]

Tom Cunliffe on background telly talking with Etap restorers named Nimas, programme called Boat Yard on Quest 154, much repeated. I caught a glimpse of an idea I was going to try with first winterising of Volvo 2001 with saildrive, a large bucket of water (plus added antifreeze) under said saildrive. A lot easier than disconnecting pipes on engine, etc.
Was told by experts at the bar that engine pump wouldnt have the power to suck up water. I am limited by space under prop to get a water container under, but quite like the idea?
Anybody tried this? Also, any ideas on air temp that would freeze salt water in engine?
Got to get this done soon!

 

[VicS]

Tom Cunliffe on background telly talking with Etap restorers named Nimas, programme called Boat Yard on Quest 154, much repeated. I caught a glimpse of an idea I was going to try with first winterising of Volvo 2001 with saildrive, a large bucket of water (plus added antifreeze) under said saildrive. A lot easier than disconnecting pipes on engine, etc.
Was told by experts at the bar that engine pump wouldnt have the power to suck up water. I am limited by space under prop to get a water container under, but quite like the idea?
Anybody tried this? Also, any ideas on air temp that would freeze salt water in engine?
Got to get this done soon!

It depends upon the salinity but normal sea water starts to freeze at about -2C and that is the temperature at which the risk of causing damage begins.
However unlike fresh water it does freeze solid at a fixed temperature. The ice that forms is pure ice, the salt being left in the liquid.
As more and more ice is formed the concentration of salt in the remaining liquid rises and the temperature at which ice forms becomes progressively lower
until the last little drop freezes at about -21C IIRC.

 

[Dipper]

Tom Cunliffe on background telly talking with Etap restorers named Nimas, programme called Boat Yard on Quest 154, much repeated. I caught a glimpse of an idea I was going to try with first winterising of Volvo 2001 with saildrive, a large bucket of water (plus added antifreeze) under said saildrive. A lot easier than disconnecting pipes on engine, etc.
Was told by experts at the bar that engine pump wouldnt have the power to suck up water. I am limited by space under prop to get a water container under, but quite like the idea?
Anybody tried this? Also, any ideas on air temp that would freeze salt water in engine?
Got to get this done soon!

The bilge under my engine is relatively sealed so I put the end of a hose in there and add a few inches of water. I then disconnect the water intake hose from the seacock on the saildrive and lay it in the bilge. I then run the engine (Volvo 2001). If I adjust the water flow correctly, the water level stays the same as the engine sucks it out.

I just need to secure the hose so that it doesn't get caught in the moving parts of the engine. I have also done similar with the hoses in a bucket but it is a bit more fiddly to secure the hoses and balance the flow.

 

[Cantata]

I have never bothered to try to do the job that way. All inside the boat, I pull the inlet hose off, jam a smaller dia piece of hose in the end of it (otherwise it's not long enough), and stick the end in a bucket a fresh water. I have another bucket of 50:50 antifreeze standing by to pour into the first bucket when that's nearly empty. Once that's pumped through, stop the engine, job done. Took me about 10 minutes the other day.