Hunter 356 viewing the engine water exhaust

[tdragani11]

I have a Hunter 356 the exhaust is not visible from the deck. I would like to verify that my engine cooling systems is working and that I am getting water flow.

Has anybody addressed this issue. Unlike pretty much all sailboat the exhaust pipe is not visible from the helm for a quick safety check after starting the engine.

Rough seas make this an impossible task or a lot of ambient noise makes it impossible to tell if the impeller is doing its job with out sticking your head under the stern.

Tony

 

[Skipper]

Telescopic mirror.

 

[seadaddler]

Temp Gauge

You could add a temp gauge and know the engine is running right temp
and raw water pump is doing it's job.
It would mean adding temp sender by tee in to heater hose as it comes out engine at the thermostate and have a gauge up at the helm.
I did this on my 2007 H-36 3YM30 and love it.
Nick

 

[tdragani11]

You could add a temp gauge and know the engine is running right temp
and raw water pump is doing it's job.
It would mean adding temp sender by tee in to heater hose as it comes out engine at the thermostate and have a gauge up at the helm.
I did this on my 2007 H-36 3YM30 and love it.
Nick

But problem with temp gauge solution is that 1) you start engine leave dock or mooring 2) run the boat for a while 3) and then find out when you are under way that your engine is over heating and now have to run to safety or drop a anchor. This is still a good idea and better then an idiot alert buzzer like I have now.

Being able to verifying waterflow would be better because before you left safe harbor you would know you have a problem.

All that said having a gauge is something I will do and i do appreciate the post. With temp gauge you see the temp creeping up early and have more time to get to safe harbor then with buzzer. Still I prefer not getting under way to begin with after a quick check of waterflow. Not sure how to do this on my boat and hope someone has a solution.

Tony

 

[alexco38]

But problem with temp gauge solution is that 1) you start engine leave dock or mooring 2) run the boat for a while 3) and then find out when you are under way that your engine is over heating and now have to run to safety or drop a anchor. This is still a good idea and better then an idiot alert buzzer like I have now.

Being able to verifying waterflow would be better because before you left safe harbor you would know you have a problem.

All that said having a gauge is something I will do and i do appreciate the post. With temp gauge you see the temp creeping up early and have more time to get to safe harbor then with buzzer. Still I prefer not getting under way to begin with after a quick check of waterflow. Not sure how to do this on my boat and hope someone has a solution.

Tony

You could T off the water before it enters the muffler and run a small hose to a small thruhull overboard that you can see. Much like an outboard pee pee.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I can't see the water directly either, but I can see & hear the splashing it makes.

 

[chuckwayne]

Tony,
I'm not sure what your problem is - on our 356 you can see the exhaust water by stepping onto the swim platform. In addition, the exhaust makes a distinctive burble you can clearly hear from the cockpit. If no water is flowing the exhaust sounds very different

 

[seabeau]

Verifying flow

But problem with temp gauge solution is that 1) you start engine leave dock or mooring 2) run the boat for a while 3) and then find out when you are under way that your engine is over heating and now have to run to safety or drop a anchor. This is still a good idea and better then an idiot alert buzzer like I have now.

Being able to verifying waterflow would be better because before you left safe harbor you would know you have a problem.

All that said having a gauge is something I will do and i do appreciate the post. With temp gauge you see the temp creeping up early and have more time to get to safe harbor then with buzzer. Still I prefer not getting under way to begin with after a quick check of waterflow. Not sure how to do this on my boat and hope someone has a solution.

Tony

There are gauges that measure water flow, install one. However you'll have to find one in the proper flow "range" to be accurate. Say 0 to 15 gallons per minute based on engine rpm's. The exhaust flow rate for the engine can be found in the manufactures specs based on the water pumps output. One of these gauges plus a exhaust temp. gauge can tell you over time how well your engine's heat exchanger and cooling system is functioning.

 

[Chris Patterson]

As soon as you crank it, I mean that second if you can get somebody else to turn the key.....place a couple of fingers on the cover of the water pump. If it's not pumping, it will get hot in five seconds. You will know instantly whether it's pumping or not..

 

[Skipper]

Telescopic mirror.

I wasn't being humorous. You can get these that extend past 3 feet. It's a $10, zero-mod, no error solution, usable from the cockpit and stored in a cubby. When it rusts to pieces just get another one :-D
--- or maybe there is a plastic or stainless version.

At night use a small flashlight in conjunction.

 

[tdragani11]

I wasn't being humorous. You can get these that extend past 3 feet. It's a $10, zero-mod, no error solution, usable from the cockpit and stored in a cubby. When it rusts to pieces just get another one :-D
--- or maybe there is a plastic or stainless version.

At night use a small flashlight in conjunction.

This sounds like the best option and simplist.

 

[tdragani11]

Tony,
I'm not sure what your problem is - on our 356 you can see the exhaust water by stepping onto the swim platform. In addition, the exhaust makes a distinctive burble you can clearly hear from the cockpit. If no water is flowing the exhaust sounds very different

Your boating situation must be significantly different then mine. Maybe this will help you understand the issue from my perspective.

Depending on sea conditions and the ambient noise (other boats in the vicinity as well as crashing waves or wind), a distinctive noise that is discernible can be heard when water is not flowing. Also exhaust water is visible if there are minimum seas.

Your option works well when it is sunny,relatively calm and with little traffic. Not my situation most of the time but occasionally I do find viewing from the platform sufficient.

 

[tdragani11]

Not a bad idea and simple to do!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I have a Hunter 356 the exhaust is not visible from the deck. I would like to verify that my engine cooling systems is working and that I am getting water flow.

Had the same problem and found this to be the best solution. I will be away for the next month but PM me if you need more info.

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1179176&highlight=flow switch

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=569977&highlight=flow switch

 

[Benny17441]

Yes there will be times when you cannot see it or hear it but under most conditions just step out into the swim platform and look for the water disturbance in the form of a stream flowing from the stern. As chuckwayne indicates also the sound of the exhaust will differ.

 

[tdragani11]

Had the same problem and found this to be the best solution. I will be away for the next month but PM me if you need more info.

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1179176&highlight=flow switch

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=569977&highlight=flow switch

Thanks this looks perfect!! I need to research this a little. Make sure I buy the right flow detector and gauge. But looks a like a real simple solution. Better then a any temp gauge you know right away there is an issue with this solution.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Like Chuck, I listen and look from the swim platform and the dock. You can usually see splashes hitting the water and there is a distinct sound. I go more off sound than anything else. In 1240 hours, I haven't had an impeller failure. I change mine every 200 hours. Takes about 15 to 20 minutes.