I just purchased a 1986 Chaparral 215 with mercruiser Alpha 1 drive. On the test ride prior to purchase the engine temp was fine. Engine ran great. We dropped the boat off at the ramp where I was going to drive it to my house. I have a place with a boat lift on the canals. It was low tide. Its the Gulf side so tide gets very low. Just under 2 feet. I left the ramp and should have turned left but went straight. straight in to 1.5 feet of water. I slammed it in reverse and dredged out of it. I got stuck once again in front of my dock. its really low at low tide. I shut it down and waited 4 hours for high tide. The temp. was fine on my trip home.
Now The engine overheats. I tried flushing it but no help. I pulled the hoses from the top of the motor and flushed them and water comes out by the out drive like it should. I checked the thermostat in boiling water and it opens and closes ok.
Is it possible the lower pump sucked up sand and mud and is clogged up? How do I back flush this? Im new to boats but know Auto engines very well but this cooling system is new to me?
Now The engine overheats. I tried flushing it but no help. I pulled the hoses from the top of the motor and flushed them and water comes out by the out drive like it should. I checked the thermostat in boiling water and it opens and closes ok.
Is it possible the lower pump sucked up sand and mud and is clogged up? How do I back flush this? Im new to boats but know Auto engines very well but this cooling system is new to me?
