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Diesel Overheating Dinghy Pump Hack
February 22, 2025 · 10 min · 19K views · Bedwell Harbor
What this video covers
Bert Vermeer, sailing his 1978 Islander Bahama 30 *Natasha* equipped with a Beta 20 diesel and sail drive, experienced an engine overheat caused by a blocked raw water intake.3:40 After confirming the raw water strainer was empty and the intake hose was clear, he used a dinghy foot pump to force air through the intake line from inside the boat.4:34 By taping the pump hose to the engine’s raw water intake hose and applying pressure, he cleared the obstruction in the sail drive leg.4:39 To prevent future emergencies, he now carries a nylon adapter and hose clamps to facilitate this repair.5:27 He also installed a secondary through-hull intake with a T-valve for redundancy and an Aqua Alarm water flow sensor to provide early warning of cooling system failures.5:55 The Aqua Alarm monitors flow and triggers an audible or visual alert if raw water circulation drops below 1.5 gallons per minute.7:54
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