Running the Diesel on the hard

[MomentSurf]

Has anyone ever ran the diesel (Universal 11hp) on the hard? If so...how?  Did you rig a hose connection on the intake tube, or do they make something that will fit the hull?  Thanks!

[BobK]

I have not done it with my CP-27 but I have with my antique wooden boat.  I cut the center out of a toilet plunger and attached the hose where the handle previously went.  I then prop that up against the water intake on the bottom of the boat.  Remember the bearing on your propeller shaft is lubricated and cooled by the water it is in.  Do not put the motor in gear. 

[marc]

I disconnect the engine's water intake hose from its seacock. I then put the end of this hose into a 5 gallon bucket filled with water. When you start the engine, the 5 gallon bucket will begin to empty. Maintain the water level in the bucket with a constant stream from a garden hose.
Marc

[Restharrow]

When we bought the CP 25 there was something that looked like a toilet plunger but had a garden hose fitting.  I believe it's a West Marine product specifically designed to go over he water intake.  It get proper up (like on a overturned 5 gallon pail and hooked up to a garden hose it supplies water "as if in the water".

Steve S.
Lake Champlain, VT

[CaptRon28]

I put a "T" on the Horizon's intake hose near the thru-hull, then run a garden hose to either a bucket or large bottle. You've got to shut off that seacock too. I run antifreeze and salt-away into the diesel by dumping it into the bucket. Been doing this for many years on many boats. Note that it's usually not a good idea to run pressurized water (from a garden hose) directly into the motor this way. You could back the water into the cylinders. Let the water pump take it as needed.

[deisher6]

Ditto on Marc's way with the joint compound bucket and garden hose.  Keep an eye on it to make sure the hose doesn't slip out and check the exhaust to ensure water is circulating out.
regards charlie

[Allure2sail]

Just a note.....
If the strainer and raw water pump had been drained for the winter I usually pour some water down the intake hose once it is disconnected from the thru hull. Doesn't need a lot, just enough to fill up the raw water strainer and wet the impeller in the pump itself (maybe a quart or two). Never use a hose with pressure to fill the strainer and prime the pump. it could end up in the engine cylinders by way of the mixing valve and exhaust manifold. Then I stick the end of the intake hose that has been disconnected from the thru hull into the bucket of water. Just remember to keep an eye on the water level in the bucket so the hose always has water to pump. Personally I take my impeller out every winter and in the spring when I put it back in the pump I coat it  with a generous coating of dish washing liquid (lubricates it until the water starts flowing through it). My two cents worth but I think everyone else in this thread was right on target with the information about starting and running the engine on the hard. Best of luck.
Bruce
S/V Allure
Swansea, MA

[Restharrow]

Capt Ron,
You mentioned it's not good to run pressurized water into the sea water intake.  The rig I have - plunger with hose attachment - leaks ALOT around the plunger on the exterior of the hull.  Do you think this arrangement is still too much pressure on the intake?
Thanks

Steve S.

[CaptRon28]

Not sure about your case, but I'd be very carefull about allowing the water to go backwards into the cylinders from the mixing elbow and exhaust manifold. Too much pressure or volume could get this to happen. If it can't get to the tailpipe, it could go the other way.  I prefer letting the diesels water pump do it. I took a 5 gallon pool chemical pail, drilled a  hole in the bottom where I installed a garden hose fitting and valve, then run this to my "T". You could feed the plunger instead. You can also buy a kit with a 5 gallon bottle that was made for this purpose. West Marine sells this.  I've got that too, but prefer the open pail so I can pour chemicals in - like antifreeze, salt-away, etc.

[deisher6]

Hey I forgot to mention, don't park your pick up truck behind your boat when you start it up, especially with your windows rolled down.  Just sayin.   (=;

regards charlie

[MomentSurf]

Thanks all...7 years on the hard and she started with ease.  Changed the fuel filters, oil, oil filters, bled the lines, checked the water pump, cleaned the tank and fired her up.  Great to hear that diesel hum. 

NEW QUESTION!!
When I put her in gear, its pretty noisy.  Is this normal when its on the hard?  When I try to move the prop/shaft side to side (from outside), it does have a VERY small amount of play...is that normal or should the shaft/prop be completely play free?

Remember the bearing on your propeller shaft is lubricated and cooled by the water it is in.  Do not put the motor in gear. 

Wish remembered this!!!  I only had it in gear for about 5-10 seconds. Hope I didn't do any damage...

[CaptRon28]

"Remember the bearing on your propeller shaft is lubricated and cooled by the water it is in.  Do not put the motor in gear."

You probably answered your own question. The bushing holding the shaft is dry. 5 or 10 seconds may not have caused that much damage, but don't do it again without lubricating it somehow.

[bobG]

We trailer our 27, so we flush out the heat exchanger whenever we pull the boat out of the (salt) water. If we leave the boat in the water for more than a few days, but are not sailing it, I flush out the system before leaving the boat.

The setup is simple. A ball valve is installed between the sea strainer and the seacock. The ball valve has a hose quick connect (male) on it. A garden hose with a quick connect (female) is attached to the ball valve male fitting. The seacock is shut off and the ball valve turned on. At the faucet end of the garden hose, I use a drip irrigation type regulator (hose threads) to  drop the pressure to about 15-18 lbs. This protects the sea strainer. I start the motor (in neutral) and let idle for 10 or so minutes. Make sure the exhaust has water in it. Then, reset the valves so you don't forget later.

[MomentSurf]

A few questions on the diesel (M12)...
What RPM should she idle at? (mine idles at about 1300RPM, didn't sound high, but the number seems high)
What is a good cruising RPM?  (I'm assuming a stock prop)
What is the regular engine temp? (Once warmed up, and idling...my temp is about 160)
Is the shifter control "backwards" on all boats, or just mine (push it forward for reverse and backward for forward motion...weird)?