saildrive on mud mooring

[9486]

I have a moody 30 with saildrive on a 20/30 water cooled engine.I have been offered a mooring that dries out at certain satates of the tide.
(a)would back flushingclear any mud from saildrive leg ?
(b)would the impellor pump any mud out,and would it damage anything over time ?
(c)would a newthru-hullwater intake with inboard strainer solve the mud problem ?
(d)would the membrane seal be damaged?
(e) is it feasble to put this sort of boat on soft mud?
(f)at the moment there is no raw water filter fitted inboard on the line !

Any thoughts or help on this, thanks

 

[actionoptics]

saildrive in mud

We've had an LM 30 with sail drive on a mud berth in Ashlett Creek for the last 6 seasons and had no problems. I have a raw water strainer which is really to keep out the weed and bits of plastic. It has a clear top so I can see the water level. If I open the sea cock and the water does not rise to the normal level I stick a pipe down the raw water inlet pipe to blow out a wedge of mud. The rubber "seal" around the leg to the outside of the hull helps a smooth flow of water and has not been damaged by the mud. The diaphragm that keeps the water out of the boat is also undamaged. We had a faulty batch of impellors a few years back but since then they are lasting at least one season. We do often stir up a bit of mud when leaving our berth as soon as the depth of water allows and maybe a bit more if we are impatient but the impellor copes well and the exhaust water does not look any different. I am wary of running the engine for long in those muddy conditions but usually get to clear water within a few minutes. I certainly recommend fitting a raw water strainer.

 

[Cantata]

I have owned a saildrive boat in a mud berth for the last 8 years.
No particular problems at all. You really ought to have a raw water strainer anyway although it won't filter out the mud.
You may find (as I and others have done) that your raw-water pump cover tends to wear faster than normal but I think that's a function of sailing in muddy water rather than being specifically to do with sitting in a mud berth.
I have a Moody S31. I've never heard of a 'Moody 30 with a saildrive' ??

 

[Tranona]

No more problems that a conventional water intake. Agree should have a strainer fitted, preferrably immediately above the saildrive intake and above the waterline. You can then take the strainer mesh out and blow down the pipe with, say a dinghy pump to clear any obstructions. A separate inlet is possible, with a Y valve into the existing inlet pipe - sometine used if the boat is in a location with possibility of mussels etc growing in the intake passages.

 

[Tomahawk]

The water inlet on the leg is just above the prop so it is sheltered from mud being forced into it.. Also prop wash cleared it as soom as you put her in gear..

 

[scottie]

The water inlet on the leg is just above the prop so it is sheltered from mud being forced into it.. Also prop wash cleared it as soom as you put her in gear..

Not so simple there is a vertical inlet just under the nose of the drive through which the majority of water is taken. This is likely to clog in in mud but can be cleared by blowing down through the water pipe. It is also a major source of problems with shell fish and barnacles obstructing it.

 

[scottie]

I have a moody 30 with saildrive on a 20/30 water cooled engine.I have been offered a mooring that dries out at certain satates of the tide.
(a)would back flushingclear any mud from saildrive leg ?
(b)would the impellor pump any mud out,and would it damage anything over time ?
(c)would a newthru-hullwater intake with inboard strainer solve the mud problem ?
(d)would the membrane seal be damaged?
(e) is it feasble to put this sort of boat on soft mud?
(f)at the moment there is no raw water filter fitted inboard on the line !

Any thoughts or help on this, thanks

A yes
B will have problems from grit in the mud
C no but could be easier to clear and would not be as deeply pushed into the mud
D no
E don't know
F always best to have one fitted.

 

[9486]

A yes
B will have problems from grit in the mud
C no but could be easier to clear and would not be as deeply pushed into the mud
D no
E don't know
F always best to have one fitted.

Thanks 4 your reply,without some info and help on this matter i would,nt be sailing this year.
thanks again Scottie.I,m not great on computers-----so I hope you get my reply

 

[9486]

Thanks for your help,and quick reply.By spending a bit of cash know i can save the marina fees.
Thanks again

 

[9486]

I have owned a saildrive boat in a mud berth for the last 8 years.
No particular problems at all. You really ought to have a raw water strainer anyway although it won't filter out the mud.
You may find (as I and others have done) that your raw-water pump cover tends to wear faster than normal but I think that's a function of sailing in muddy water rather than being specifically to do with sitting in a mud berth.
I have a Moody S31. I've never heard of a 'Moody 30 with a saildrive' ??

Hope you get this reply i,m avirgin on this site.Thanks for the possitive news.
My moody is a1977 ,30foot original engine was a volvo 11 something or other.I sail around the Harwich east coast area.
Thanks for the help

 

[9486]

No more problems that a conventional water intake. Agree should have a strainer fitted, preferrably immediately above the saildrive intake and above the waterline. You can then take the strainer mesh out and blow down the pipe with, say a dinghy pump to clear any obstructions. A separate inlet is possible, with a Y valve into the existing inlet pipe - sometine used if the boat is in a location with possibility of mussels etc growing in the intake passages.

Thanks for your reply,i,m glad to hear my ideas on how to deal with the problem was on the right track.
many thanks

 

[9486]

The water inlet on the leg is just above the prop so it is sheltered from mud being forced into it.. Also prop wash cleared it as soom as you put her in gear..

thanks for your reply, i,m new to the site ,and not great on computors .