THINK YOU’VE FOUND SAFE HARBOR?

Sometimes one can unwittingly push water into the engine even when the sailboat’s in port. A good amount of water remains in the water-lift box when the engine isn’t running. Remember that when cranking the engine repeatedly while, for example, trying to purge air from the fuel system.

Engine operator’s booklets carry warnings to turn off the seacock on the cooling seawater intake until the engine fires and exhales combustion gases toward the water lift.