Exhaust Gremlins!

[Scott T-Bird]

Earlier this season I posted about my engine woes. It seems I had two issues ... whitish gray smoke in the exhaust and diminished water flow from the exhaust. I thought they might be related since it was unusual to have both problems appear suddenly at the same time.

Anyway, I concluded that the smoke issue is related to rings going bad and I decided to limp through the season. My options were/are repair for about 1+ BOAT dollar, rebuild for about 3+ BOATS or re-power for north of 6 BOATS. So I decided to repower because I really want a new, dependable diesel with more power and other goodies and the boat, while not being worth the price of a new engine to anybody else, is worth it to me, regardless. Feeling comfortable with spending the money is one of the good things about steady employment (while not being good for overall sailing time :cry.

But the exhaust was still another matter. Putting my mind to rest about the engine options kind of let me lose concern over this issue, but I did have a persistent problem with water in the bilge while running the engine. I did find a drain bolt that was loose at first, until it fell off and I found water spraying in the engine compartment. That seemed simple and I thought problem solved (the yard must have forgotten about tightening it when re-commisisoning), but the problem persisted. I felt no urgency to trace it down since I was planning on a whole new exhaust system anyway (to enlarge from 1-3/4" hose to 2" hose), but I soon found water leaking into the bilge when sailing!!

I finally found water spraying from the VETUS water lift tank when the engine was running. I found a cut in the plastic, as if somebody had driven a flathead screw driver into the tank. I think water was actually pressurized in the tank (it is at a low point in the exhaust) when sailing speed was high enough and water could leak from the tank even when not under power. The cut was in the oddest location, and I pulled the tank out to put together a Rube Goldberg style patch. I used this sealant/adhesive that I found at Home Depot and Gorilla Tape (my favorite repair product!). It actually seems to have worked but I neglected to notice another gash in the plastic which you can see in the photograph just above the letter "E". I simply can't figure out how these things are occcuring!

I installed the tank yesterday afternoon and to my chagrin I saw the water spraying from a new location. This happens to be underneath a mounting strap so I have to pull this whole thing apart once again to make my patch.

I just need to get through another month or two and all this stuff is going to be stripped out and replaced with shiny new products! I can't wait til next season!

 

[RAD]

With all these holes first thought was did someone forget to winterize the muffler?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

The only thing wrong with that thought is that we never had winter last year. I don't remember a freeze during the entire winter. I also know that the engine and cooling system was winterized. But the split on the top does look like a split from the inside out, now that you mention it. The other one that I patched looked more like a screw driver-sized puncture from the outside in.

 

[RichH]

Actually your area (NJ) had a severe winter with respect to freeze-thaw. Ice generates its greatest pressure when going from 'cold' though 32°F ... and last winter had many many freeze thaw cycles.
It was a great skiing winter, lots of 'corn' snow due to the constant freeze-thaw and not many people showing up because perhaps due to the skunky economy and very little to no snowfall in the cities (an advertisement or reminder).

 

[jibes138]

Scott,
I have the same Vetus unit and there is a drain cap you can unscrew and drain it at end of season. Hard to get at on mine so I usually pump the pink stuff through it.

While a leak is bad you also need to worry about CO leaking into the boat especially from the slit abot the "E" that is likely above the water line. You probably have enough air flow while the engine is running but I would be cautious about closing up the cabin and running the engine at all. CO is scary stuff, you lose all ability to think properly and thus can't make a decision to save yourself. If you are using a new Vetus with the new engine and since you keep pulling it out for repairs why not replace it now? I just put a new one in my boat after 27 years so the cost per year is pretty low.

 

[jibes138]

Why do you need a 2" exhaust system on a small engine? My M25 Universal uses a 1 5/8 hose size I think. Seems like overkill and the cost of those hoses is astronomical and increases further with size.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I think freeze damage is the only logical conclusion. Jibes, I did think about exhaust in the engine compartment, but the engine gets very light use and we only run it with companionway and hatches open. Nobody is ever in the cabin when the engine is running.

The replacement engine will be Yanmar 2YM15, less vibration than the current 1 cylinder, the boat won't be under-powered, freshwater cooled, heat exchanger for hot water. I'm looking forward to it. When we eventually move the boat to an area where engine reliability will be far more important, I will feel far more comfortable knowing the entire history of the engine and much happier that it is new. The exhaust is 2" with the replacement engine. I'm not going to reduce it down. That's why I don't just replace the Vetus tank right now, and the patches are just supposed to get me through the season.

I originally thought about doing the engine replacement during the dog days of August, but they slipped by too fast and now I plan on making it a winter project. I hope to reduce costs by doing as much of the grunt work as possible.