steering cooler froze

[hali63]

Greetings all, I have a 260hp mercruiser , 1980 in a Silverline Nantucket 24ft , It is in water all winter for winter fishing.I should add I live in British Columbia lake doesnt freeze but is below freezing most of winter. It has antifreeze heat exchanger .I drain manifolds of water & heat exchanger also.I have used this procedure for 4 or 5 years now no problem.This year winter was maybe colder ,it would seem my steering cooler froze & pushed end off it, solder broke. This cooler has no drain.I removed it for repair , but noticed water from the lake keeps flowing in at open hose connection.I clamped a plug in for now, It would seem the leg is a lot lower than this hose,this would probably flood engine comp. My main worry would be freezing again next winter , sinking boat. My Question is it normal for this to be lower than lake level with water to keep flowing if left open, or if pump hose line to cooler leaked .
Thanks all for help
Hali63

 

[Don S]

Re: steering cooler froze

What type of drive? If it's a one drive, the hose going through the transom shield should be above the water line. Which means it has to create a syphon to suck water in through the raw water pump in the drive. For that to happen, the impeller and/or pump must be pretty worn out and bent over for that to happen.

 

[hali63]

Re: steering cooler froze

Hi Don,
I believe it is Alpha 1, not too sure , was told it had alpha 1 gears put in it, anyway it seems the hose level is below water level, just looking behind boat water level is just about to the top of the unit maybe 1 inch out of water. How high should the top of leg be out of water.
Not too sure if this is normal, could pump line at transom be run higher or remounting cooler with a drain put in .I dont think it is syphoning, maybe.
Thanks
Hali63

 

[Don S]

Re: steering cooler froze

If the hose is above the water line, then it IS siphoning in. That pump impeller in the outdrive should be replaced every other year, or they will have vanes that will not straighten out and they will allow a siphon to start.

 

[hali63]

Re: steering cooler froze

Don , I am thinking the top at transom where hose comes in is below the water, is this normal , is my rear of boat too low possible.
Hali63

 

[Bondo]

Re: steering cooler froze

I am thinking the top at transom where hose comes in is below the water, is this normal , is my rear of boat too low possible.

Ayuh,... It depends on the Hull,... Mine is that Deep in the water...

It'll be a Challenge to reroute it,+ still manage to marry up to the T-Stat housing...

 

[Don S]

Re: steering cooler froze

You may be able to come off the transom shield up to a vented loop (aka antisiphon valve) then back down to the cooler. As long as the valve doesn't plug up you should be good. But it would be a good idea to pull the hose during the winter and verifiy it doesn't fill the cooler back up when you drain it.


Various Vented Loops

 

[hali63]

Re: steering cooler froze

Ok , thanks guys, got me thiniking , first can someone confirm that for a deep hull such as my Nantucket that the water inlet through hull is normal below water , that would give me water at cooler level below head at cooler fitting.
Then how bout hose to go higher in a loop than water level back down to cooler , while repairing cooler I would braze a fitting to instal a drain , allowing to drain to bilge . Water left in top of loop would stay to water level , that might still freeze .
Any more suggestions would be welcome.
thanks
Hali63