Seamanship_Secrets_185_Tips_-_Techniques_for_Better_Navigation-_Cruise_Planning-_and_Boat_Handling_Under_Power_or_Sail_(Re)_e..

156 seamanship secrets

engine exhaust and sent overboard. Freshwater cooling makes your engine
more efficient while sparing the engine’s internal passages from the corrosive
effects of salt water.

Cooling System Checklist
Check the raw-water seacock (before start-up and aft er shutting down). Do
this before getting underway or starting the engine aft er anchoring. Move the
handle to the closed position and back to the in-line position. If it’s corroded,
tap the handle lightly with a hammer or mallet. Shut off the seacock after
shutting the engine down.
Check the hoses and clamps (before start-up). Shine a light along the hose
and near the ends. Feel for hardening and look for cracks and kinks. Hardness
and cracking indicate a hose near the end of its service life. Kinks restrict water
fl ow and lead to overheating. All hoses and lines need two stainless steel clamps
installed at each end. Clamps corrode over time. Left unattended, they’ll become
brittle and crack. Replace any questionable clamp right away.
Check the raw-water strainer (before start-up). To fi nd the raw-water
strainer, follow the line inboard from the raw-water seacock. Th e fi rst fi lter(s)
you come to will be the strainer. Shine a light through the strainer bowl. Clogged
strainers cause most overheating problems. If it’s dirty, remove the strainer
fi lter (aft er making sure the raw-water seacock is closed!), clean it, and then
reinsert it.

engine stop solenoid

(covered with bellows)

engine shaft

coupling

transmission

dipstick

exhaust elbow

coolant pressure

cap

injector air fiter

fuel lines to

injectors

secondary

fuel filter

fuel injection

pump

oil dipstick

oil fill

fuel lift

pump

oil filter

oil sump

drain plug