condensation? submersion?

[ron51]

Condensation ? Submersion ?

I let a friend park his 4.35mt Rush Jet Boat on my farm form July to December.
He parked it on an incline with the Bow lower than the drains at the stern allowing the boat to fill up with rain water until it reached the level of the drains (approximately one third full) there were no winter storage precautions taken-such as fogging the engine- etc , not even the battery was disconnected.
This jet boat has a 90 Hp. Mercury two stroke 3 cylinder horizontal in board engine.
The engine cover and the front hatch were closed during this time, so the only ventilation was through 3 drains 2 at the rear one between the **** pit and the bilge, ( this is where the water got in ) He took the boat to get serviced and the mechanic found water in all three carbys? water in the bottom cylinder with rings seized and rusted and water in the starter motor.
The mechanic told him that the engine must have been submerged, so now he is accusing people of taking his boat and sinking it.

I have two questions:
1 Would the conditions I have described cause the damage to the engine?
2 If the engine was submerged to the level to fill the starter motor, then wouldn?t
All the cylinders have water damage ( the starter motor is above the carbys? )
( Hopefully there is somebody out there who has first hand experience with this type of boat and either of these conditions ).

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: condensation? submersion?

I bet he tipped the boat up in the front to remove the water via the drain holes,, if he did he had all the hull water flow to the engine compartment and collect there while the boat drained, that is probably how he got water in the starter, I bet it also went in the carbs when it filled up the engine compartment. he could also see the indentations of the trailer wheels in the ground and see that the boat had not been moved since he left it there..

 

[ron51]

Re: condensation? submersion?

Thanks for your input Jeff, however we actually put the boat back in the same position and filled it with water after the engine was removed.
When the boat was tipped up we found the baffles restricted the water flow through the boat and there fore did not submerge the engine.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: condensation? submersion?

well I give up,, however being in an enclosed compartment with a ton of water in the hull would cause condensation everywhere. If a part is exposed to the air and the air has water vapor in it water will condense on the parts every day.
Also the engine compartment has a blower and that is ducted to the outside of the boat so it has more venting than just the drain holes in the hull.
And there are vents for fresh air to replace the air that the blower pushes out. With the bow tilted down rain water can enter the engine compartment through those vents.

 

[ron51]

Re: condensation? submersion?

Thanks Jeff, I didn't mention the top vents because the boat had a cover over it. although being of the cloth type ( not water proof) the amount of ventilation through these would have been negligible.