Leaking heater core and shower...

myshellee

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Joined
Jun 1, 2003
Messages
2
Hi, I know there is mostly guys on this sight, but this lady needs some advice. Heres the story......<br />Well, we have a 2001 Ski Centurion inboard, that we decided to take out for the first time this year this last weekend, and everything seemed to be going fine until we were unloading the boat into the water, as we have many times before, or I should say, "I" have many times before, you know the routine.....husband backs trailer into lake and wife "me" backs boat off trailer and drives back around to pick up hubby!....Well, this time, things went a little sideways on me. As I was backing the boat out so I could turn and drive away, another boat was docked close to me on the dock and the owner was nowhere to be found (you know, that person that always thinks they can just pull up and dock at the boat ramp and make everyone else work around him)anyway......as I was backing up, I got a little close and started to panick (its a woman thing), so I thought I was far enough out to go ahead and turn the boat to head out to open waters....to my surprise....I wasn't and as I was turning, the back of the boat came around and scraped the concrete bottom, and yes, it was an terrible sound to hear as we all(our guests on the boat and I) stared at one another. I really didn't think it was going to be that bad, so I continued to drive off and around to pick up the husband. So he got in, not knowing what had happened and we drove off to our regular picnic area. But......before we got that far the boat was acting strange and felt like it was pulling back some. We then stopped after, of course I told my husband what had happened and he lifted up the engine cover and noticed water filling up in there. We sat there for a moment and emptied the bilge and thought that it may just be some stray water that happened to get in somehow, but after heading off again, we noticed the same thing and it was filling up again.(boat still not running right) Needless to say I was feeling really small at that moment thinking that I had really screwed up our boat, not to mention everyones perfect day. We then headed back to the boat ramp to load up and take a look at the damage of the prop, which I will admit was pretty beat up and chipped, but our main concern was how water was getting in the boat. We knew we could replace the prop easily, but my dear hubby was making it sound like I almost sank the boat. So, again, I was stressing on the repair costs all day and hating myself for being so dumb and letting the prop hit.......Okay, so now we are back home the next day. I kept asking why would the prop being dinged up cause water to come in the boat, and all I heard was that I may have bent something or cracked something when I hit, which by the way wasnt too terribly hard, it didn't jolt the whole boat or anything, it just grazed the concrete, but then, Im not trying to make light of it, I made a mistake that I wont make again, I can asure you! ha! So, back to the next day. Oh yeah when we were out on the boat I noticed the shower leaking water also and the whole head of the shower was cracked. I had asked my husband if he had made sure he drained everything that he was supposed to before winter because it looked like it may have froze and cracked the shower head. Of course he said , YES and to give him some credit. Anyway, bare with me, I'm trying to finish.....ha! After calling a few repair shops to see when we can get it checked out and see how many of our arms and legs are going to have to be taken to pay for it, my husband informs me that he may have forgotten to drain the heater and shower when he winterized the boat this last time. My BIG question is, "Do any of you know if water would come in if the prop was damaged" or do you think this just may be two separate problems and two separate solutions? I know I would feel much better if I know I didnt cause all of it. =)<br />Also, if we go ahead and have the prop fixed, could we still take the boat out to the lake if we somehow have to wait for the heater to get fixed (maybe disconnect something with the heater and shower) We never even use them anyway. We can't get our boat in the shop until the 13th, since they are so busy and we have company coming this next weekend, who are really planning on boating when they are here. If anyone knows anything about this kind of situation , please let me know something. I could use some support guys! I would like to know that it wasn't all my fault and maybe , just maybe my husband can sit beside me in the "dunce" corner! haha Thanks! =) :rolleyes:
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: Leaking heater core and shower...

OK Myshellee! :) <br /><br />First off, your prop damage is not likely the cause of the water in the bilge... Make sure that no damage was done to the strut (the strut is underwater in front of the prop and it holds the propshaft)... Also check for any cracks in the fiberglass around the area where the strut mounts to the hull...<br /><br />I hope you have a prop puller.. If not, a prop shop will be able to pull it for you... Don't try to knock the prop off with a hammer!<br /><br />Now for the water... I too would bet that the water is comming from the shower or the heater... They both can be disconnected rather easily... <br /><br /> Basicly the heater works in a "loop" off the engine's cooling system just like a heater in a car does... One hose in, one hose out... Just disconnect the two hoses from the engine that creates the loop for the heater and run a straight piece of hose to close the loop... <br /><br /> For the hot water side of the shower, you probably have a single hose for the hotwater and a single hose for the coldwater...<br /><br />If you have a question about the routing of the engine's hoses, try the engine manufacturers web site... They usually have pictures of their engines which would show the correct routing of the hoses...
 

myshellee

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Joined
Jun 1, 2003
Messages
2
Re: Leaking heater core and shower...

Thanks Snapperbait! My husband just tore down the heater and noticed a big hole in the copper piping, so NOW we know where the water was coming from. And we NOW know that he "didn't drain everything when he winterized the boat! :eek: <br />I don't think I totally trust him to un attach the heater and shower without someone that really knows how to do it guiding him. :confused: He builds houses, NOT boats! If you know what I mean!!! haha...so anyway, I can relax knowing that we now know where the water was coming from. I will try to find out exactly how to unhook the heater online, but after searching everything today and not having too much luck, I am not sure I will be able to find a good resourse.<br />Also, I heard that they actually rebuild damaged props. Do you know anything about that. Thought we may want to use our old one as a spare. Oh, and by the way, no, we didn't have a prop removing tool and my husband and a friend did happen to bang it a little to get it off. Do I have to worry about that now? :rolleyes: <br /><br />Well, Thanks for the help! :)
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: Leaking heater core and shower...

A good prop shop can take a beat up old prop and make it good as new in a few days... <br /><br /> Hammering on it a little won't really hurt it too much, especially if you have it repaired...<br /><br />Good luck.. :) p.s. sometimes you can find inboard props on e-bay cheap! Might find a spare there..
 
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