575/588 - Not sucking in water

Not sucking in water

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Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 575/588
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Topic: Not sucking in water

Posted By: Awatea
Subject: Not sucking in water
Date Posted: 17 April 2022 at 15:32

Good afternoon

I had my Volvo 150HP serviced last week. Yesterday we decided to go out for a sail. After motoring out of the marina I noticed no water coming from the outlet. I stopped the motor and did a through check. Inlet valves all open. Nothing caught in the water intake. The impeller was replaced last week. We used the tender to get back into the marina.Has this happened to anyone else? Confused

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John

RANGATIRA 575. #82

Replies:

Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 17 April 2022 at 20:29

I would ask the mechanic who serviced the impeller if he checked for sea water flow and output.

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Leon / ARCADIA
2018 Hanse 588
Sag Harbor, NY

Posted By: Martin&Rene
Date Posted: 17 April 2022 at 21:15

It used too happen every other time I launched the boat. On my yacht with a Yanmar engine the pipe from the seawater filter goes underneath the engine and then back up to the sea water pump (Johnson), So when you just fill the system, the pump is in air and my pump does not prime on air.

Simple solution, the lubricant supplied with the pump is too thin, so I was recommended to coat the impeller with Vaseline, to see if that seals the impeller and so it works.

The actual procedure I normally use is

Replace impeller and change belts

Fill up water in seawater filter and massage pipe to remove air as much as possible.

Remove pipe at front of heat exchanger that comes form the pump and top up with water.

With boat in water and seacock open fill up seawater filter

Close seacock, fill up seawater filter to top and replace filter top. Not too tight.

Open seacock.

Start Engine and rev the engine and check for a continuous supply of water for a couple of minutes

The other advice is make sure you use genuine parts. I was once supplied with a compatible impeller and the pump stopped working when we were sat in a lock in a canal. Not ideal.

Since this is one item that people claim can fail when you are at sea, it is preferable if you know how to do the replacement and I always carry spare impellers.

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Martin&Rene Hanse 341 Dipper Wheel steering, 3 cabin layout, normally based in Scotland

Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 18 April 2022 at 08:22

I assume you have checked the strainer to make sure its not blocked? Seacock can be fine. Impeller could have been replaced fine, but 2 lbs of eel grass clogging the strainer will still block flow.

:-)

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Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI

Posted By: Awatea
Date Posted: 19 April 2022 at 19:00

Hi Guys

Thanks for your advice. Yes we have spares on board and only use Volvo parts.

Problem was the mechanic opened the bilge valve slowing air into the system!!

All good. Now sailing towards Porto Roma.

Thanks

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John

RANGATIRA 575. #82