Winterizing the Raw Water Side of an Yanmar 2YM15 on a Horizon Cat

[Boat-in]

Good Evening all,

If I purchase a HC with Yanmar 2YM15 in a southern state, does it need winterized (specifically water drained from raw water side of the cooling system) before transporting the boat to the cold north?

Or does the raw water all drain out when the boat is pulled from the water?

Thanks,
Dan

P.S. Sorry for the multiple posts. I really appreciate the help!

[alsantini]

The raw water side of the diesel is NOT self draining.  You have to remove the inlet and outlet hoses from the raw water pump.  Once drained no further winterizing is necessary.  BTW, last year I picked up my Horizon in NC where it was 50 degrees. I trailered her home to northern Illinois and promptly went into the hospital for a week.  Laying in the hospital bed I realized that my system was no doubt frozen since it was around 15 deg F.  My Son picked up the boat and brought it to his auto shop (school teacher - automotive).  He pulled the cover off of the raw pump and it was totally solid ice.  Once it thawed we put it back together with no apparent damage.  This year, I stayed out of the hospital and drained the raw water system a month ago.  Sail on,  Al

[Boat-in]

Thanks,,,I will try and get the raw water drained prior to moving her to Maryland

[deisher6]

There is also water in the wet exhaust system.  I have filled the raw water side of the cooling system with the pink stuff used in camper water systems.  I keep 2 heaters aboard, but if I am going to be gone more than a week I will flush the cooling system with the pink stuff.

regards charlie

[Boat-in]

There is also water in the wet exhaust system.  I have filled the raw water side of the cooling system with the pink stuff used in camper water systems.  I keep 2 heaters aboard, but if I am going to be gone more than a week I will flush the cooling system with the pink stuff.

regards charlie

Hi Charlie,

I had considered the "pink stuff" as we always have some for our little rv. However, I read several posts saying not to use it. They said it needed to be an antifreeze with metal conditioners in it. Not sure how accurate their point of view is. I am a big fan of non-toxic antifreeze.

[deisher6]

I figure that the pink stuff is better for the raw water system than the water from the Upper Neuse.  I do not have many qualms about flushing it out into the river when I use the boat afterward.  It is never aboard more than 2-3 weeks. 

It is a different set of issues for when you keep your boat in or out of the water.

Stay warm.

regards charlie
regards charlie

[alsantini]

Charlie:  I am new to diesel systems.  What do you mean by there is raw water in the exhaust system?  Doesn't it drain down the hose to the raw water pump?  Straighten me out before I do something stupid!!  Sail On,  Al

[crazycarl]

Im following this as I'm "in the same boat" this year.
Normally my winterizing is only running the pink juice through the water and head systems because I sail through the winter and the water in the engine never gets a chance to freeze. This year I'll be in the Keys sailing the 19 during our coldest month so the Orion need the diesel winterized. I'm looking at installing a "T" valve about 8" above the raw water intake seacock. An attached hose then can be placed in a bucket of the pink juice and ran through the engine. 

I watched a couple videos and talked to locals and they use this method.

[deisher6]

I am no expert on diesel engines....raw water enters through a through a seacock in the hull, goes through a raw water strainer (usually clear glass with a removable screen filter) to a heat exchanger, where it cools the fluid in the engine, then it is injected into a cast iron or stainless steel exhaust loop collected in a container usually on the bottom of the boat then vented out through the side of the boat above the waterline.  It has been a while but I think this is also how the raw water cooling worked in the Universal Diesel in our C-27s.  Definitely how it works with our Yanmar in our PSC-34.

Some diesels are raw water cooled.  Where the raw water is circulated directly through the engine block, not using a heat exchanger.

I have frozen and cracked the raw water strainer glass two times.  Once in a C-27:  I was using a 100 watt lamp for heat in the engine compartment and it burnt out at a critical time.  I started using two heat lamps at that time. Once on our PSC I was just lazy and did not heat the engine compartment.  The bill for the replacement parts on the strainer has motivated me to do better.

I used to always shut off the raw water seacock.  I have seen two boats sunk at their slips from frozen strainers and open sea cocks.

You definitely want get the antifreeze (pink stuff) in the raw water strainer.  Crazy's description works.  I think that the last time that I used it I poured it in the top of the strainer as the engine was running, or used the hose from the strainer to the pump to flush the system.  This left the strainer empty.

Like Crazy, I use the boat pretty much year around.  Currently I rely on two heaters to keep the boat interior above freezing.  I did break a Whale foot pump last winter in the head...the line was (almost) pumped dry, there was enough water in it to freeze and ruin the pump.  That bill has motivated me to not only keep the engine space cover off but to also keep the head door open. I try to remember to shut the raw water intake when I leave the boat.....

smooth sailin'
regards charlie