I need help guys. Last week my dad and I took my boat out for the first time. (only having it about a week) After 15 minutes on the river, the temp gauge pegged out and as i looked back at the motor, it was smoking like two Vietnamese hookers in a bath house. As I let off the throttle, the engine immediately shut off. As i was going to the back to check the damage, both of the exhaust hoses (Factory 1975 Charger boat w/ 454 Harman Marine engine) were still on, but had multiple rips in the side. Now im taking on water from those holes in the hoses. I go to turn on the bilge pump and guess what? Doesn't work! So here we are, pretty much fucked to sum it all up. Were about 300 yards from the shore and if any of you guys are familiar with the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon, its a massive river. So now my dad and i are paddling (Yeah, with paddles) to try and get as close to the rocky shore as quick as we could. Thankfully, we make it to shore. No injuries. Sadly, the boat had sunk to the bottom and the only thing sticking out was the tip of the bow. Eventually after 2 hours of talking to Coast guard, fire department and the whole 9 yards, the salvage boat rescue (who were incredibly awesome guys) attached airbags to the boat and brought it back to the surface, and drained the water with a super duty pump, got it back to the docks and on to the trailer. $2000 dollars the cost of the diving guy to attach all the stuff and get the boat back. Literally a week of pumping and flushing and gutting of the engine, yesterday it started back up with all the same submerged parts. Nothing new. Anyways, sorry to make such a long story, but i just wanted to know if anyone knew what the cause of all of the smoke. The only thing i can think of is no enough water passage through the whole motor. Just something would help gus

I checked the pumps before i even set off. worked and everything. It just didnt work at the right time. but you're right. 

The guy i got the boat from has a valve to where he says he "Turned to fluctuate the water flow" to the right temperature. Now that i dawn on it, thats probably what it was. but maybe all of them have one? I should have took it for a test run and had the fucker make it sink as it did with me. but, all said and done, I now have something to do with my dad for the winter.

What color was the smoke? White?  Grey?  Sure it wasn't steam and not smoke.  An engine that hot spraying water on the engine, exhaust manifolds and in the engin compartment and with the bottom end sitting in a puddle is going to steam like....  How did you put it?

Anyway, I have one of those water gate valves on my Berkley jet pickup too.  Always thought it was to regulate the engine temp otherwise why put it on at all? If I run it all the way open the temp is really low, like around 90-110.  I try to run around 150.   I run 2 bilge pumps.  One on the float switch system direct to fuse and one to switched power. Seems like every time I put the boat in the water, I have to jump in because I forgot to put the plug in...      Nice to have that extra pumping volume when you need it.

The valve is their in case you blow a hose. That way you can shut off the water before you sink 

Good reason to run a thermostat and leave that valve wide open...just sayin!

UMMm. no.  just sayin.

The thermostat kit does absolutely NOTHING to reduce flow or pressure.....ALL that extra water has to leave through the logs...... Common misconception.

So if the valve he is closing to control engine temp is left wide open, will it not leave enough water in the exhaust logs to keep from burning up the exhaust tubing?

You askin, or tellin'? 

 

My comment was aimed at the fact that a thermostat kit does not necessarily eliminate the need for throttling the gate valve.

The amount of water going through the risers can be ridiculous.... You should throttle the valve until the risers get to about 190*F (use a non contact thermometer like a Raytek) while running at idle...

You more than likely will not burn a hose at that temperature.

I am betting the valve in this case was either closed too far or had a loose packing, there is also a potential of a restriction, the hole in the jet pump is only about 3/8" in diameter, it don't take much to plug it up completely.

Some Berkeley style jet pumps can move an awful lot of water unrestricted. They can also generate in excess of 150# of water pressure depending on the pump set up...

GT