For the past several weeks we have kept the boat at our Yacht Club on the North Channel of the St. Clair River whilst closing the club for the winter. This is a working club where the members perform 99% of the club maintenance, club operation and function. Anyway, "Bella" has been docked at the club and Donna and I have come and gone throughout this period to work and such. During this time the engines have not been started.
Yesterday we completed the close down of the club and prepared to head home. So, we power up and cast off to head to our permanent well at Mac and Rays Marina. Once clear of the No Wake, I throttle up the 6V92's but the Starboard side engine would not advance past 1100 rpms. My first thought was a clogged fuel filter and since our Marina was only 5 miles away we decided to just idle home. Afterall, it was mid 60's and sunny. Donna and I are enjoying the view and the relatively flat lake when we smell a peculiar odor, one that smells like melting plastic. She takes the helm and I begin the search for this strange odor. There is no smoke anywhere, but it is pronouncely stronger at the stern. The gauges indicate no problem.
Not believing in coincidences, I figure this smell has to be linked to the starboard engine anomaly. My next decision is one that is learned at Man School, Course 101. If something is stuck or stubborn apply power until it is freed. So, I throttle up the starboard enging, kind of gassing it. Hugh clouds of black smoke come from the exhaust, when suddenly in a burst/blast/belch a large clot of material flew out into the water and the engine rev'd to 2000. A couple more rev's produced additional crap. It was hard to tell exactly what the material was, but there was some weeds and thatch clinging to the exhaust after the expulsion of the initial mass.
A minute or so later we are on plane and I am checking the gauges, all is well. We are crusing thru our range from 18 to 27 and back to our normal 20. Donna takes the helm and I check all bilges and compartments to assure we have no unseen damage, when I spot on the outboard side of the starboard engine a large water leak coming from the exhaust gasket. The water is coming in fairly quickly, but the bilges seemed to be keeping it from rising, so we continue on to the marina where we tie up. After securing "Bella" to the dock and making fast, we begin our unloading procedure. For approximately 30 minutes the bilge pumps continue to pump out water. Upon inspection of the gasket I notice water is draining and I assume this is the captured water in the "system" being drained by gravity into the bilge.
I spoke to a couple of friends about this incident and we conclude that there must have been some critter, say Muskrat, that had begun to build a nest in the exhaust tube. It clogged the engine preventing the exhaust from operating at capacity. The pressure must have built to the point the clog finally gave way. My friends also suggested that the gaskets be replaced as they are rubber and Muskrats have been known to eat them. Today, I intend to cram my fat butt into the outboard side of that engine and do a thourough inspection.