Powering through ice

[alcodiesel]

Ok, it's a cooling issue- you'll see. We don't usually get ice here so I get to sail year round and wanted to go out and enjoy the high 60s temps and 12 kt breeze today.

There is mushy ice wind piled up at the entrance to my marina. I got to the end of the fairway and made repeated attempts to break through. I was 10 feet from clear water and I could have made it except for one problem: I noticed the engine temp was rising and barely any water was coming out the exhaust. So I had to give up my ice breaking adventure and back into clear water to get the ice out of the intake and get water flowing again.

It took a few minutes. The temp didn't go over 200, I took it real easy and let it idle. She was air cooled for a bit. Finally a trickle came out of the exhaust then the regular spray in less than a minute.

We tucked tail, tied up again and I knocked a couple of items off the to do list before I knocked off for a nap. I checked her over and the A4 is fine. Tough little engine.

[sastanley]

I remember breaking ice when I was a kid to go sailing. But it was a hundred yards or so. We were backing out of our creek, and my job was to break it up with the boathook hanging over the transom (it was obviously thin.)

I'll state the obvious, I wonder if maybe you sucked a piece of ice into the intake for a bit restricting water flow..

[alcodiesel]

That is what I assumed. It was slushy. I would have pushed through if the eng. was getting water and not overheating.
It's been over a week since the last sail and I'm getting itchy. It was nearly 70 yesterday and I just might give it a try again this morning. 27 foot Ericson ice breaker! hahaa Should I paint her black with an orange stripe to match our Coastie friends?

[ndutton]

Do you have the original Ericson standpipe exhaust system?

[alcodiesel]

I am glad you asked, Neil. It stands and it's a pipe. I do not know anything else. I doubt it is 41 years old. Would you please tell me? Attached is a pic looking down at it.

[ndutton]

Where does the water enter the exhaust system? Here is a drawing of the original Ericson 27 exhaust, looks like yours at first glance. The reason I asked is a loss of cooling water can affect components beyond the engine. For example, if you had a plastic Vetus waterlift it would have split its seam or become a melted blob after this episode. From your picture it's clear you don't have one of those.

Still a concern is the condition of the exhaust hose from the standpipe to the transom. Overheating can cause internal damage not visible from the outside. I'm not looking for trouble that does not exist but at a minimum please keep a keen eye on your exhaust discharge and water volume. The typical damage is internal collapse of the hose causing a severe restriction reducing performance and elevating operating temps.

[alcodiesel]

That's it! Where do you get this stuff Neil. I thought I had every drawing in existence on this boat. I didn't have that.
Thank you very much for the suggestions on the exhaust hose.

[ndutton]

A few years ago I was invited to join the Ericson Yachts forum due to the considerable amount of work I did on a friend's Ericson 26-2. The drawing came from there.

[joe_db]

Where does the water enter that thing and what is the wire/hose leaning on it???

[tenders]

That could well be original equipment. My standpipe is similar and it looks pretty new. The standpipe system is very robust and worry-free, compared to waterlift mufflers, if you have the vertical room to accommodate it.

I suspect that black wire is the cord to the temporary utility light. But if it's anything else, GET IT OFF OF THE STANDPIPE!!! If the water flow to the standpipe stops, that is a big problem, and the standpipe is going to get very hot. That is also a big problem.

If the things touching the standpipe melt, ie electrical wiring or fuel lines, that is going to make those big problems exponentiate into an anarchic passel of even bigger problems.

[alcodiesel]

I am so not alone with this old girl. OEM, wow. It's in great shape=at least on the outside.

I ran it today for 45 mins. out and back in the marina. 15kt wind, big waves from the north- lots of fetch. Nice sail, Making tea was a bit like in a tumble dryer.

The black wire is the utility light. Thank you.

The reason I took the pic was to visualize a heat exchange there. I still have raw water cooling.

Any comments on the purpose of the pic?