Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

Duncan_Hill · 2017-03-19 08:46:09

Blue Opal has a ~2cm round opening in her keel, towards the stern, and near the flare of the hull. The previous owner wasn't sure what it was for, but has never plugged it. I'm guessing that it's the cooling intake for the 3GM30F, but would love to know for sure. There's a vertical strainer just around the galley/saloon split, and in my head, that lines up about right for the hole in the keel. However, 2 cm seems pretty small for a water intake for cooling a diesel engine - I remember the one on a 38 foot Wauquiez being about 5 cm across, though she was raw cooled, not fresh cooled.

Answers on a washer, or encoded in signals, much appreciated.

Jonathan_Hopper · 2017-03-19 20:47:31

I guess so. The V34 manual says:

'Cooling water intake is through a seacock and strainer positioned as low as possible in the keel sump.'

The 3GM30F manual, if I am reading it right, says that the minimum bore for the water intake is only 13mm, consistent with the size you see.

Have you traced back where the cooling water pipes go back to, or do they disappear 'down a rabbit hole'? Is it the original installation, or have there been changes?

Duncan_Hill · 2017-03-19 21:06:33

As far as I can tell, it's an original installation; there's definitely a hose from the engine to the strainer, but I wasn't quite sure on the alignment to the keel.

Cheers

Jonathan_Hopper · 2017-03-19 21:59:30

When you are next ashore, take the top of the strainer off and poor some water in, but only if nobody is standing underneath! Should confirm all.

Looks a lovely boat from the youtube video. Like the upholstery. Would have been interesting if they showed in all the lockers/compartments whilst they were at it.

Duncan_Hill · 2017-03-19 22:29:30

Her interior isn't *quite* showroom, but it's damn close. There's some wear on the companionway paneling for instance, but nothing excessive. Forward upper saloon lockers are the (usual?) way to access the chain plates, ditto the small lockers in the bow cabin. Head replaces the quarter berth, makes the bow very roomy. Saloon berth lockers are deep enough, no fuel or water in them (unlike a HR I looked at), diesel is in the starboard cockpit locker (with room to spare for cleaning bucket etc), water is a steel tank in the bow.

Ta for the idea; I'll be back in Conwy to see her lifted in I hope, so should be able to confirm then (and why didn't I think of that on Friday?).

Last edited by Duncan_Hill (2017-03-19 22:30:26)

Jon_Spencer · 2017-03-22 09:40:12

Duncan,
Don't forget to let us all know the final answer, but I suspect Jonathan's advice will prove to be correct.
Jon.

Duncan_Hill · 2017-07-16 21:10:27

This was confirmed to be the intake for the engine raw water. Definitely not something to 'bung up'!

#1 2017-03-19 08:46:09

Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

#2 2017-03-19 20:47:31

Re: Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

#3 2017-03-19 21:06:33

Re: Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

#4 2017-03-19 21:59:30

Re: Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

#5 2017-03-19 22:29:30

Re: Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

#6 2017-03-22 09:40:12

Re: Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

#7 2017-07-16 21:10:27

Re: Hole in the keel on a Victoria 34

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