Generator - Got Lucky!

[MikeP]

I got here yesterday to winterize the boat. about 20 minutes ago the power went out at the marina due to high water; I turned on the genny.

About 5 minutes later there was a loud knocking on the door - two of my fellow marina-ites hollered, "There's no water coming out your genny exhaust."

Dang right there wasn't! When I left the boat in Oct I had closed the seacocks... I shut it down. Good thing there were people here paying attention because I sure didn't! The genny hadn't had a chance to get warm so the engine temp wasn't an issue but I figured I had ruined the RW impeller. But I opened the seacocks and started the genny again and the water flow was fine.

The old saying that God looks after fools was obviously in effect today...

 

[Freeebird]

Listening to your 50's and 60's oldies too loudly and didn't notice all that noise from your waterless muffler?

 

[MikeP]

LOL, Good One!

Actually, the guilty party was Coldplay - "Viva la Vida."

 

[Freeebird]

That's it... hand in your man card!

 

[Angela]

When I do something like closing a seacock, out of fear that I will forget, I immediately put a large piece of blue masking tape over the start button, circuit breaker, whatever it is, to remind me that there is a reason why I should not turn it on until I undo whatever I did. Even Ed is learning my antics - anytime he finds no keys in the ignition, he always asks me before starting the engines.

 

[whaler23]

How high did the water get?

 

[MikeP]

Water was/is above the docks/fingers on some areas of the marina. Power's still out and probably will be until the water drops at least a foot - they shut off the power when the water gets above a certain level.

Re notation - I have a white 8x10 checklist that I hung on the lower helm wheel. It clearly shows that the seacocks were closed when I left the boat. It is impossible to miss seeing the checklist. But a checklist is only useful if you actually LOOK at it! Putting a tape/whatever on the actual start switch is a better way...

 

[MikeP]

I think the high water/power outage is some sort of object lesson. Tomorrow at 1PM I sign the closing papers to buy this covered slip!

 

[bobk]

But I opened the seacocks and started the genny again and the water flow was fine.

The old saying that God looks after fools was obviously in effect today...

Mike, toss that impeller! It's asking for a funeral.

Bob

 

[Pascal]

a few minutes dry? how old is the impeller? change it in the spring when you de winterize

i always check flow after starting a genset... well...almost always

 

[67hat34c]

Why waite, replace now while you are there. Crazy to waite till spring.

BTW I always look at gen exhaust when first starting up for this very reason. Sounds like old farm tractor when no water comming out.

 

[Pascal]

not so crazy, no need to have the impeller take a set over winter...

 

[yachtbrokerguy]

When you buy new impellers install your spares and put the new ones in your parts inventory. Too many times I see old impellers on board that have become questionable.

 

[rsmith]

Mike, I'm suprised you don't have a "Lock-out tag-out" program on your boat.

 

[Trojan]

That's the first thing I check when ever I start any water cooled system.

Bill