The questions are just begining......

[DBBRanger]

My wife and I just purchased a 2008 R25 and will call it "Still Crazy" (partly because we're in landlocked Colorado). I have been lurking here for a few months and have already benefited from the help. But now, the list of questions will grow exponentially!

The question at hand has to do with the raw water supply. I need to replace the impeller in the engine. I assume that all the water drains out of the hoses and impeller when it is changed (on the trailer). And I assume it then will prime itself once I put a garden hose in the strainer and start up the engine. Am I right so far???

The real question is though, in general, must I routinely close the through hulls before I take the boat out of the water in order to not make it prime every time? I didn't, so all the through hulls are now open. Is the A/C different in that it does need to be primed if it has gone dry? I saw a posting that seemed to indicate that. What about the generator? So......what do people do: always close the through hulls before taking the boat out of the water or not?

Thanks for any insight you all can give me. I'm looking forward to the learning experience.

Doug

 

[abcandjrc]

Some new impellers come with a tube of lube, but for the most part they will re-prime as long as there is water available in short order and will be able to take it with no damage.

Generally speaking, the position of the through hull for the raw water is not critical as long as it is open when the boat is in the water and the engine is running. For the initial start after launch, if there is water there, fine, if not, fine, too. Except when replacing an impeller there is always some residual water between the vanes. See the discussion here about that.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3699

Be sure not to pressurize the raw water system. You can overwhelm the system and force water into any open exhaust valves. That will result in a destroyed engine! Take a look at this for a safe way to provide all the water you can use for operation with the boat on the trailer. Close the raw water intake, of course. I am making the assumption that there is a port available to do this on an R25. But the warning to not pressurize the system still holds, regardless.

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=28387

 

[bbrh842]

We kept our boat in dry storage until we sold it last year. I think you guys may have looked at it. Used it weekly for four years. Never closed the thru hulls. Never changed the impeller. No problems. Had to bleed the air out of the AC sea strainer, or it would not pump water. Other folks with the later model tugs with the plastic domed sea strainer, do not have this problem.

 

[Irish Mist]

My A/C gets air in the line every time I have the boat out , but I have found if I drive around in the boat for a bit with the air-conditioner off the air finds its way out. The proper way is to loosen the hose at the pump so it can prime it's self. Always check for water flow out the exhausts of the generator and engine on start up..
Congrats on your new tug.... as you know from the form, you are in with a great group with a ton of support. Enjoy 🙂

 

[Longbranch Louie]

Question. If the sea cock was left closed while the boat was on the trailer in a freeze, wouldnt the water left in the line and impeller area cause damage?

 

[sleepyboat]

No. Because if you winterized properly you would have poured anti-freeze in the sea strainer with the sea cock open and then closed it to trap the anti-freeze. Then you would have started your engine and poured more anti-freeze in the strainer to keep up with what is being sucked through the impeller then pushed through the engine and out the exhaust. When the pink comes out the tailpipe shut her down.

 

[bbrh842]

My opinion, there will be enough water left in various areas to cause damage in a freeze, regardless of whether the sea cock is closed or open. Although, closed would almost certainly cause more damage than open.

 

[tlkenyon]

If you do as previously posted (pink out the tail pipe), you will be OK. We got down to about -30 last winter and there were not problems this spring. Just make sure that the exhaust is really pink. Of course the 25 has lotsa other water to worry about, what with sinks, heads, etc, etc.