Jeff &
Margo Ramstad
and
ALIBI – 2000 Bavaria
37
Volvo
sail drive leg flush
- The ALIBI
leg flush photo shows the set-up I have just started using
in 2005, following a slight increase in my engine
temperature over the last year or so. This has not set the
alarms off, but I have an accessory temperature gauge
installed at the helm and it has been running about 10
degrees Fahrenheit warmer.
I used about 4-5 ft of 3/4-in hose with a double ended hose
nipple coupling to match & attached to the disconnected
sea water intake hose at the sea strainer from the drive
leg thru hull valve. The other end has a barbed nipple hose
fitting & conventional garden hose connection with a
separate screw-in brass shut off valve attached. To use,
connect your dock water hose and turn on your dock water,
use your shut off valve and the thru hull valve in
conjunction to pressure flush your leg in the water. Look
over the side of the cockpit over the side in this area and
you may be surprised at what is expelled and surfaces, I
was!
ALIBI is in the water 24/7/12 except for annual haul-out at
which time I used the same set up but added one more garden
hose with the brass shut off valve at the connection point
of now 2 hoses close to the leg under the hauled boat. Next
I reamed the inside of the leg with a thin 1/8 to 3/16
piece of plastic rod, so as not to damage internal leg
finish (kind of a “pipe cleaner” approach)
while turning the pressure water on & off from my
position under the boat. I was amazed at how many more
barnacles I was able to quickly remove this way and
completely purge from the drive leg!
