I am the new owner of a 1983 Catalina 30 and have had a couple of problems that came up during the summer sailing season. I have gotten some input about one of them, an overheating problem with the Universal M-25, and now hope to get some suggestions about a hydrolock problem which the previous owner told me about and which occurred this summer. I was told that as soon as I turn the engine off while sailing, I MUST close the seacock for the raw water intake to the engine. I never had to do that with my previous boats and didn't understand why, but made it a part of my procedures when sailing. However... one afternoon, which happened to be the first time I took my first mate sailing on the boat, I forgot to close the seacock... and HYDROLOCK occurred. We noticed water on the cabin sole and traced it to the air filter on the engine which was overflowing with water. Panic. I called a close friend who is a diesel mechanic, and with his coaching, cleared the water from the engine in a little over an hour, and it started and is running fine. However it is a nuisance to remove the cushions, engine cover, reach down into the engine compartment, and open or close the seacock every time I turn the engine on or off. Is there a simple remedy to this problem? Is this something that occurs on all models? I sure could use some advice on how to eliminate the problem and enjoy some peace of mind when sailing. I am constantly worrying about whether the seacock is open or closed. Open is easier because I can see the water flow at the exhaust, but closed is another matter. Am I stuck with the on-off procedure or can someone suggest a solution that has worked? Thanks, Tom
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I AM FLABBERGASTED
I am no expert, but I have been around boats all my life and to tell me how water got to your air filter from an enclosed raw water cooling system without something being terribly broken would be very educational.. We have an M25 in an /84 Cat30 and it appears to me once the engine is shut down it is unlikely raw water is going to pass the impeller blades unless something is wrong. Check your water impeller as perhaps something has sheared off and hanging up partially blocking the system at times and causing the overheating. As I said..I am no expert but have never had to shut off our seacock..ever. Best of luck..Perk
I am no expert, but I have been around boats all my life and to tell me how water got to your air filter from an enclosed raw water cooling system without something being terribly broken would be very educational.. We have an M25 in an /84 Cat30 and it appears to me once the engine is shut down it is unlikely raw water is going to pass the impeller blades unless something is wrong. Check your water impeller as perhaps something has sheared off and hanging up partially blocking the system at times and causing the overheating. As I said..I am no expert but have never had to shut off our seacock..ever. Best of luck..Perk
huh?
I agree with perk I have never heard of this - I have an 83 cat 30 - I open the seacock when I get to the boat and shut it when i leave -otherwise it's open all the time - why don't you try emailing Torrenson amrine I bet they would be interested in your dilema.I sure would like to hear what causes your flooding.
I agree with perk I have never heard of this - I have an 83 cat 30 - I open the seacock when I get to the boat and shut it when i leave -otherwise it's open all the time - why don't you try emailing Torrenson amrine I bet they would be interested in your dilema.I sure would like to hear what causes your flooding.
Found a thread, water in the engine
Don't be flabbergasted, but water in the engine because of siphoning is indeed a problem. I spent some time looking in the archives yesterday and learned that there are quite a few sailors who have had hydrolock problems with the Cat 30 among others. The solutions range from upgrading the whole exhaust system to simply shutting off the seacock at the raw water intake just as I am doing now. The other problem which I intend to check out is to make certain the the vented loop inside the galley sink cabinet is not blocked or somehow obstructed. If you want to research it, to to the archives and type in "water in the engine". Tom
Don't be flabbergasted, but water in the engine because of siphoning is indeed a problem. I spent some time looking in the archives yesterday and learned that there are quite a few sailors who have had hydrolock problems with the Cat 30 among others. The solutions range from upgrading the whole exhaust system to simply shutting off the seacock at the raw water intake just as I am doing now. The other problem which I intend to check out is to make certain the the vented loop inside the galley sink cabinet is not blocked or somehow obstructed. If you want to research it, to to the archives and type in "water in the engine". Tom
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