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We launched today, got about 6 miles from the yard and the starboard engine goes into overheat alarm. UGH!

Immediately shutdown, looked at the engine - no apparent coolant leaks, etc. Used the laser infrared thermometer and it, and the dash, was reading 220. Turned around and called the yard that we were coming back on one engine.

Got back to the yacht yard, owner/mechanic met us and first question he asked was: "Did you put it in reverse?" I said "Huh?" He said if it was a plastic bag sucked around the intake the combination of shutting the engine down and then reversing with the other, it will force the bag off of the intake.

It was an hour since I shut it down, so he started it up, revved it for awhile, then we took it out for a quick test drive. Temp came up to 160 and never went above that.

Dropped him off at the dock and we went on our merry way to our homeport to start another season. He said there was a lot of sh!t in the river this spring, especially plastic bags. On our way we starting looking especially hard and saw so much trash it was pretty pathetic. 

So lesson is: If you get a high temp alarm - shut down the engine, and put the other one in reverse to see if that will solve your problem. Could save you a trip to the mechanic.

Grahamu said:

@J3ff you see them more on lakes where the water levels are controlled, no tides.
@randy56, don't know, we are under a complete lockdown due to Covid being out of control here. Lockdown is supposed to end May 20. That's a long weekend  so hopefully then do a day cruise and get to know the lake again.

I would say your government is the one that’s out of control. One of my good friends just pulled into their new house in Texas on Sunday, moving here from Calgary. They couldn’t be happier to finally be away from taxes and everything else going on up there. 

Looks like good fun. We are a long ways off tubing up here in the north. Pretty much July/Aug for that stuff.

Serious stereo equip there.

Hill marine probably can't help you if you don't know what rpm you're hitting.  

I also have a single motor under powered boat.  The hill marine 4 blade big cow prop plus a hydrofoil made a huge difference in plane time.   I also have other items to make the bow heavier like 150 plus ft of chain in the anchor locker rather than rope.  Shifting weight forward is always a huge help.  

I didnt go down very far pitch wise from what my boat came with (3 blade stainless solas) vs what hill marine sold me, i think I went from a 19 to a 17 but i cannot remember exact specifics. I tried another solas 3 blade aluminum 16p and she would max out the rpm without getting on plane, the wrong prop was purchased that time as my tachometer was not calibrated properly.  That led to the prop guy sending me the wrong one based on the improper information I gave him.  

I lost almost 1 mph going to the hill marine 5 blade over my 3 blade prop but plane time and low speed manners improved 10x so it was an easy sacrifice. My only issue with them was ship time.  Took them nearly a week before they shipped the part they said was on the shelf once i paid and then another week to arrive.  Covid plus summer busy season.  

Search the threads here on Hill Marine.  Their customers speak highly of them.