OMC Sail Drive Cooling Question

[hutch58]

I need a sanity check on a temporary work around for blocked cooling water outflow.

Saildrive is a 1977 OMC Zephyr in a 26ft islander. Just acwuired the boat and got it running after 2 years of inactivity. At first, a very slight amount of water (read: almost imperceptible trickle) ran out the exhaust, then nothing. I have pulled the inlet and outlet hoses and both have excellent water flow, and the flow through the head is great, so no pump or internal issues.

I will try and sort out where the blockage is, but I'm hampered by seized bolts on the riser.

Anyway... to the sanity check part.

I need to move the boat from the eastern shore of the Chesapeake to the western shore before the end of the month ( About 10 Nm). If i can't locate and clear the blockage,any reason I can't simply put an extension on the outflow hose where it would normally enter the manifold and lead it (carefully and securely) overboard? Most of the trip should be under sail, but I need to motor through a couple of areas. Once at the new marina, I can get it in the hard and do a proper repair.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Sail Drive Cooling Question

any reason I can't simply put an extension on the outflow hose where it would normally enter the manifold and lead it (carefully and securely) overboard?

Ayuh,... The Problem with your Band-aid is,....
EVERYTHING Downstream of the manifold will be Dry, Burning up ALL of the rubber parts,+ setting you up for a Bad Fire aboard....

My Guess is, you need a new Riser....

 

[hutch58]

Re: OMC Sail Drive Cooling Question

That makes sense. I'll take another shot at pulling the riser.

To paraphrase H.L.Mencken, for every problem there is a solution that is neat, elegant, obvious and wrong. Thought that might be the case here.

Thanks.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: OMC Sail Drive Cooling Question

changing the water pump[ on that one is a major undertaking. someplace I think I still have the shop service manual on the OMC saildrive. its based on a 35HP OMC powerhead.
the rest was an abortion.

 

[hutch58]

Re: OMC Sail Drive Cooling Question

Just wanted to update the post and close the loop...

Turns out the riser was clogged (calcium?) Rodded and scraped deposits out, all working properly now.

Thanks, Bond-o, for the sage warning -

Kevin