No seacock on engine coolant intake 230 Maristar?

[jbanczak]

Doing some ballast work on my boat - and I couldn't help but notice that the one thru-hull that already exists has no seacock on it at all - no valve. It just goes straight to tubing into the engine coolant.

Does that seem a bit strange? It flows like crazy when I pop the tubing off - surprised there is nothing there. I think it would be incredibly easy to install one.

I'm asking for two reason - first - the engine coolant intake hose was abraided almost through in two areas from wear-n-tear. Found it before it had gotten out of control. Second - I'm running the ballast pumps off the line now - be nice to have a way to shut it off for a number of reasons.

JB

[mayo93prostar]

no valve is normal on prostars. one argument is the risk if you leave the valve closed and run your engine dry, it will overheat. since many people trailer their MCs, this is typically not a problem. you can install one, but consider the risk noted.

[bigmac]

I believe the newer MCs since about 2006 have a seacock on the intake line. Retrofitting one might be easy enough -- all you'd need is a 1 1/4 inch double-barbed ball valve and put it inline.

Another option is building this arrangement. It has the advantage of allowing easy connection of a garden hose water source for running in the driveway, or for antifreezing.

http://mccollister.info/valvecock.jpg http://mccollister.info/valvecock2.jpg

Note that some Maristars have their hull intake located under one of the trailer bunks. As such, it's not accessible while the boat is on the trailer

[denverd1]

Wire reinforced hose runs from the thru-hull to the tranny cooler. Not much chance of a leak. The risk of leaving it closed and ruining the engine would be a concern.

The ballast line seacock prevents disaster if the workmanship or materials used in a DIY ballast system should fail. Two entirely different risks IMO.

[mayo93prostar]

bigmac, is that an A/B selector valve? i.e. does it switch the water intake from the thru-hull to the garden hose input, and close off the thru-hull?

[bigmac]

bigmac, is that an A/B selector valve? i.e. does it switch the water intake from the thru-hull to the garden hose input, and close off the thru-hull?
Yes, choices are water goes to the engine either from the intake strainer, or from the garden hose fitting.

I can't take credit. That arrangement was engineered by Tom023.

[jbanczak]

Well - considering the workmanship on the ballast system was done by yours truly... then there is a definite risk of poor quality! I do like the A/B valve setup as well for the convenience of being able to run the system out of the water.

I understand the risk of engine overheating - used to own a sailboat and we had a big sign in the galley - always open thru-hull - to avoid that. I think in our case it would only be used in a time of emergency.

On the wire-tubing, what happened on ours was that it was rubbing on the engine mount and abraided. The wire is only every inch or so - and it went 80% of the way through. Granted - after 300hrs - and even if it did rupture we probably would have been okay, but that stuff is not bomb-proof.

Thanks for the comments -