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ohthetrees · 17-04-2023, 22:49

It sounds like an energetic gurgling noise. I first heard the sound 2 years ago immediately after installing a new saildrive. I felt like it might be air or caviatation in the raw water system. I felt I noticed it got worse when fouling started to build up on the saildrive leg, and partially block the intake holes. Because of how quickly those hole fouled, I ended up putting in a traditional thru-hull and not using the drive leg intake. The sound when away... for a while.

Every once in a while I would hear the sound just slightly. Fast forward to now, and I just put in a new water pump. Now the sound is back and really loud. I'm wondering if the brand new pump is pulling water so fast it is cavitating as it moves through the raw water system?

I'm thinking it is something to do with the raw water system, but I'm not 100% sure of that. There is an outside chance the cooling water is a red herring. I fear it is cavitation and harming something.

Here is a video of the noise:
https://youtube.com/shorts/5egOVt1Nyi4

Anyone ever hear a noise like this, or have ideas about what it is? Thanks!

paulajayne · 18-04-2023, 03:03

If you valve off the raw water intake does the noise stop?

Only do it for a very short time.

ohthetrees · 18-04-2023, 08:25

The noise didn’t go away when I closed the thru hull briefly! My wife is convinced it is seaweed on the prop, as there is a lot around here. She might be right. When I throw it in reverse to clear the prop, it does seem to improve for about a minute or two, but it always comes back so quickly just a minute or two later it is almost beyond believe that it will be the seaweed. I dove on the prop yesterday and it was clear. We heave heard this noise many times louder or quieter with the new saildrive: never with the old.