Raw water discharge

Tim22

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Jun 16, 2014
255
Hunter 310 Ottawa
It is almost a year now since I bought my Hunter 310 and so far it ha been a great boat for us. While I'm new to Hunters, I have had many boats over the years so comparisons are inevitable. One of the things that has bothered me about the Hunter is the under water discharge of the engine cooling water which makes it difficult to determine if the cooling circuit is working properly. On other boats a quick glance over the side tells you that all is good, or maybe not!! This started me wondering if there was any reason the discharge could not be moved to above the water line. Any thoughts on the pros or cons?

Thanks
Tim
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,941
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Sea Water Discharge

Hi Tim, both of our sea water discharge through hulls (main and generator) are above the water line by about three inches. That way it is easy to tell cooling sea water is flowing properly. Perhaps Marlow-Hunter can explain why your model is below.
 
Jan 4, 2006
7,297
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
One of the things that has bothered me about the Hunter is the under water discharge of the engine cooling water which makes it difficult to determine if the cooling circuit is working properly.?
The underwater discharge is for silent running when sneaking up on submarines :Liar:.
And yes, it's impossible to tell if there's sea water flowing or not, regardless of what the pundits around here claim. Wet bubbles vs. dry bubbles coming up through the surrounding sea water ........... now there's a real contrast for you :yeah:.


This started me wondering if there was any reason the discharge could not be moved to above the water line. Any thoughts on the pros or cons?
I would strongly advise against moving the discharge above the water line. Nor sure what they used for the hose connection within the hull but it's pretty solid looking and for what it does, it better be. You're looking at glassing in the same insert for your above water exhaust connection which should be great fun in such a confined space :bang:. Sounds like a lot of work.

A far easier and better way of monitoring your raw water discharge is an Aqualarm raw water flow switch as first mentioned in reply #9 of this previous posting:

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1179176&highlight=flow switchhttp://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=168217&highlight=flow+switch&page=2
 
Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
Ha! Funny story here. When I purchased my 44DS in 2007 new I noticed the engine exhaust was below the water line. I did not like that for reasons articulated above. When I questioned the dealer he told me that was the way they were being built. So I went on a tour of as many boatyards as I could think of (it was was Winter) and I found no consistency in placement of the exhaust. Some above the WL, some below. So I discussed this with the dealer and he agreed to move the exhaust up about six inches. No big deal. Everybody happy. I think what Hunter was (is) trying to do is eliminate CO in the air. If you look at their powerboats all the exhausts are underwater for the newer models.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Temp Gauge

Why not add a temp gauge and can find info on doing so here
in search.
All it is is adding a tee in the hosing close to where it comes out of the engine with a sending unit and adding a gauge at the helm.
Plenty of info here in the search.
My exhaust is just barely above water line but added a temp gauge at the helm
and this way it gives a better hint if anything going wrong like the sea water impeller or clog or anything.
Nick
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
I've heard of folks adding a small diameter line off the outlet side of the raw water pump and dumping that overboard at some visible location. Serves to verify that raw water is in fact flowing. FWIW
 
Oct 29, 2005
2,362
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
I've heard of folks adding a small diameter line off the outlet side of the raw water pump and dumping that overboard at some visible location. Serves to verify that raw water is in fact flowing. FWIW
Good idea :D
 
Jan 4, 2006
7,297
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ................

I've heard of folks adding a small diameter line off the outlet side of the raw water pump and dumping that overboard at some visible location. Serves to verify that raw water is in fact flowing. FWIW
........................ gotta take a second look at that one.

Yes, a small T'd line just downstream of the raw water pump will show pressure but that doesn't mean the heat ex. isn't plugged or the infamous mixing elbow isn't plugged with corrosion products. No cooling water getting through there.

If you T a small line off the 2" dia. exhaust hose line after the heat exchanger and mixing elbow, you're not going to have much pressure and nothing meaningful is going to come out of the tell-tale hose.

Oh well, back to the drawing board .......... or take the easy route and install a flow switch.