newbie error - update, high oil pressure

[2000silvers2k]

So i have had this boat 2 days and havent even taken it out on my own and I already messed up!

Brought it home tuesday, and put the plug in to make sure I didnt forget to put it in on my maiden voyage, well aparently the canvas covers arent worth **** repelling the monsoon of rain we got on wednesday. I got home from work today to check some stuff in the boat and looked in the bildge, there was a good foot of water in there, right up to the base of the motor.

Now im concerned I may have done some damage? the boat drained for what seamed like forever, I didnt time it but somewhere between 5-10 minutes of constant draining.

I checked the oil and it looked ok. anything else i should check? or am i over reacting?

 

[kellmike626]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

If the engine wasn't even submerged even a few inches I think you would be okay. But if thigns are still pretty wet in there i'd maybe leave it open for a day before attempting anything. Make sure the starter and the other electrical things werent damaged before attempting to start it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Probably no damage but the only thing that may be an issue is the starter. It sits pretty low and being an electric motor, it doesn't like to be wet. Since you noticed the water quickly and drained it, you may not have an issue. Don't feel bad about this event. I worked with a fellow that the night before leaving his lake place, loaded his boat up, put the cover on and backed the rig next to the cabin. Heavy rain that night ran off the roof and onto the cover seeping through and into the boat. When they left the cabin tooling down the road they nearly blew a stop sign and couldn't figure out why they had such poor braking. He then remembered where the boat had been, the rain, and when he inspected the boat it was very full of water.

Boat safely

 

[2000silvers2k]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

If the engine wasn't even submerged even a few inches I think you would be okay. But if thigns are still pretty wet in there i'd maybe leave it open for a day before attempting anything. Make sure the starter and the other electrical things werent damaged before attempting to start it.

Yah it was right up to the bottom of the engine not even touching the pullies, but it seamed like a chit-load of water. Ill probalby leave it out to bake tommarow, supposed to get some nice weather, then hopefully nothing is wrong cause i plan on using it saturday.

Lesson learned thats for sure! already ordered a more weather resistant cover.

 

[kellmike626]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Yah it was right up to the bottom of the engine not even touching the pullies, but it seamed like a chit-load of water. Ill probalby leave it out to bake tommarow, supposed to get some nice weather, then hopefully nothing is wrong cause i plan on using it saturday.

Lesson learned thats for sure! already ordered a more weather resistant cover.

If it's a custom fit fabric cover for your boat specifically, you can try 303 fabric guard to see if that helps. I had that same problem with my custom cover where water would go through the fabric in heavy rain storms.

 

[JimKW]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Sounds like you need to get your bilge put automatic switch working too. It should have pumped that water out.

 

[2000silvers2k]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Sounds like you need to get your bilge put automatic switch working too. It should have pumped that water out.

Well, that was probably my other newbie mistake, the previous owner garaged the boat, and he recommended disconnecting the battery when the boat is parked because certain things slowly drain the battery, taking his advice, I disconnected it, not really thinking about the bilge, now i know better!

 

[hawkf250]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

If you want to be double sure that you didnt get any water in the engine, whenever you start it up next, let it run for a couple of mins then check your oil if it looks a little milky, kinda like chocolate milk you have water in it, but I seriously doubt that this would be the case.

 

[howlnmad]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

A float switch for the bilge pump would be a good investment.

If the water didn't make it to the starter... splash er and run the chit out ouuta her.

When you're done, pull the plug and get her bow pointed as high as you can and let her thoroughly drain and dry out.

 

[spikeitaudi]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Like everybody said I think you are fine. Happy boating tomorrow.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Well, that was probably my other newbie mistake, the previous owner garaged the boat, and he recommended disconnecting the battery when the boat is parked because certain things slowly drain the battery, taking his advice, I disconnected it, not really thinking about the bilge, now i know better!

That was bad advice anyway, if you have something draining your battery find it and fix it. If you have a good connection at your battery you do not want to be disconnecting it odds are the next time you hook it up your connection will not be as good. I get a good tight connection then don't mess with it unless I have some good reason to.

 

[trejac]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

So i have had this boat 2 days and havent even taken it out on my own and I already messed up!

Brought it home tuesday, and put the plug in to make sure I didnt forget to put it in on my maiden voyage, well aparently the canvas covers arent worth **** repelling the monsoon of rain we got on wednesday. I got home from work today to check some stuff in the boat and looked in the bildge, there was a good foot of water in there, right up to the base of the motor.

Did ther same thing when I first got my boat. Everything turned out ok.
A a note of insurance I found one trick on this forum that gave me a warm fuzzy. I drained the oil put fresh oil in, added a cup of engine flush, ran it for a few mintues on the muffs, drained the oil again. put fresh oil in and I had my warm fuzzy and clean oil!!!

 

[NYBo]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Guys, short of a flood up to the intake, water will not get into the crankcase so he won't have to worry about that. The starter should be the only concern.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Hook your float switch to the battery directly.
Run the battery power cord through a red perko switch.
Switch off the electrics when not in use; your float switch is the only thing on it and it won't drain the battery unless there is a malfunction--a remote possibility with no harm done.
But manually unhooking the battery each trip could end up with poor connections.

I think no matter how careful you are, boats "leak" electricity--especially when moored and moreso in salt water. So a disconnect is not a bad idea, in principle. I have also seen electrical fires/wiring fries, so being disconnected can avoid that disaster, too.

 

[2000silvers2k]

Re: newbie error

Re: newbie error

Well, i took it out on a small pond today, took a few cranks to get it started, but it eventually started, sounded a little rough at first but smoothed out, i got it out on the lake did a few passes, then noticed that the Oil Pressure guage would go into the High red zone when accelerating, at idle it was fine, but every time i would accerate right the high red zone. So i called it quits to try to limit any damage i may have caused, the rest of the guages were fine, temp was still low, still warming up. was only out there 5-10 minutes.

Now i assume an oil change/filter is in order, is there anything else I should do? is there anything else I could have damaged?


Thanks
-Chris

 

[NYBo]

Re: newbie error - update, high oil pressure

Did you check the oil? Unless it's way too high (from water , which is very unlikely), I think the problem is the sending unit. The oil pressure sending unit is usually located low on the block, near the oil filter. It likely got wet and the connection may be corroded. Check that first.

 

[Philster]

Re: newbie error - update, high oil pressure

Hmmm... seriously, I'd want to look at that oil. If it's more than two hours old, I'd pray it was a rich, black color.

I've seen water in the oil cause high oil pressure readings. I'd want to see a pic of the dipstick. I would not want to see brown, chocolate milk on it.

 

[2000silvers2k]

Re: newbie error - update, high oil pressure

Hmmm... seriously, I'd want to look at that oil. If it's more than two hours old, I'd pray it was a rich, black color.

I've seen water in the oil cause high oil pressure readings. I'd want to see a pic of the dipstick. I would not want to see brown, chocolate milk on it.

Well it certainly isnt rich black, and im pretty sure the oil is not 2 hours old, so im guessing im screwd?

see pics

 

[soaringhiggy]

Re: newbie error - update, high oil pressure

No I don't think so, that oil does not appear to have water in it, when it does it will look like what others refer to as a milkshake, not a bad description.

That oil is still transparent honey brown, a good sign.

 

[ma glastron]

Re: newbie error - update, high oil pressure

The oil color looks normal from the pic. most likely a gauge problem .