OOOPSran the Genny Dry

[zinbaad]

OOPs I guess I forgot to open up the thru hulls for cooling water this season. Popped some beans in the coffee maker, started up the Generator and before the coffee finished the Gen conked out. After checking the Gen I realized the seacock was closed and Gen shut down to avoid overheating..My guess is I will have to open up and change the impeller and maybe clean out the cooler. Westerbeke, any tips?

[DougSea]

Don't start the generator without opening the seacock.

That's a fine tip!

Funny, I did the exact same thing. Fortunately realized it just a few seconds in and shut it down. Mine (Onan) has a "low flow" shutdown and might have shutdown prior to real damage to the impeller. How long was it running prior to shutdown? It (the impeller) may still be in one piece. The other possible "good" news is that with no water flowing through it the pieces of a torn impeller wouldn't have had any way to travel to the heat exchanger and should be in or near the pump.

So, take the cover off the pump and cross your fingers.

[jcollins]

Funny, I did the exact same thing.

Must be the season for not-opening-seacocks. Glad I'm not alone.

[mike66]

Did the same 2 years ago on a Crusader.....bits were in the hose leading to the HE. The pump on my Westerbeke on a classic 40 is a contortionist delight to reach, hopefully easier on your boat. Make sure you can account for all the missing pieces (if any). Otherwise you should be fine, that's a robust engine and the over-temp shutoff is a godsend. Agree the pieces would't have gone too far without water.

[jleonard]

I think there are two kinds of boaters....those who have forgotten once (or twice) to open their seacocks.....and those who lie about it.

[RobS]

I think there are two kinds of boaters....those who have forgotten once (or twice) to open their seacocks.....and those who lie about it.

Exactly - just like running aground!

Actually I have never forgotten to open the engine seacock but I forgot to close it once, and was trying to fill the strainer with pink stuff but it was just making a big pink puddle in the parking lot.

[mike66]

I actually closed my engine seacock prior to starting for the first time last week. Brain cramp thinking I had closed it in the fall and was now opening it. Didn't see water coming out the exhaust @ 30secs, so thought oh-oh! Immediate shutdown, rethinking the position of the valve took 5 secs and all was good. Could have a bit of impeller somewhere, but today we ran at 170 for several hrs @ 1700 rpm. I'll inspect the impeller first chance, hope it's in one piece.