Mike, I was on the fence about that one. Typically you experience hydrolock
symptoms at least some times with water coming back through the exhaust. If
the boat was used as an overnighter that might increase the possibility. A
lot of factors have to happen just right to get water through the exhaust
and past the rings without the operator noticing it when they try to start
the engine.

Do you know if volvo makes riser extenders similar to the merc ones? Their
manifolds look a lot like mercs. If that's the problem then the fix is
fairly straight forward. Also makes the problem entirely Larson's, Volvo
has not control over engine placement relative to the waterline beyond
recomendations which I'm sure they make.

Ralph, here's what the riser extenders look like for merc. You can see they
are simply blocks with the correct passsages designed to go between the
manifolds and the risers. They raise the exhaust riser for situations where
the boat engine sits low in the hull. It keeps the riser far enough above
the waterline to keep water from entering the exhaust while the engine is
off. If I were at a dealer I'd be tempted to just put one agains a volvo
riser to see if the pattern is the same. I know next to nothing about volvo
so I don't know if they have their own riser extenders. Volvo has the
advantage of being better engineered, merc has been around forever. Due to
overwhelming numbers they have had to confront a lot of real world problems.

http://www.perfprotech.com/Home/Tech...0manifolds.htm


"CaptMP" wrote in message
...
Risers are too short for the engine/hull configuration. You'll never get
the
dealer to admit it, but check around with other owners of your hull/engine
combo in your area and see who else has the same tbl.
Best of luck
Mike

"Ralph Modica" wrote in message
...
To All :

Thanks for your quick responses.

I had another thought that you might want to consider.

It's a boat, it leaks. Normally this water collects in the bilge until it
gets high enough to activate the bilge pump and then the water level lowers
some amount.

Many boats have their bilge pump on a three position switch: On, Auto, and
OFF. If left in the off position the water level can accumulate in the
bilge. The amount that accumulates might not be a problem while operating
on a fairly level keel.

Then you reach the launch ramp. The steep incline while pulling out makes
all the water run to the back. The three of four inches that had been
distributed along most of the length is now concentrated in the engine
compartment. It is possible for the water level to get high enough to cover
the dipstick tube and thus water can enter the engine.

You get to the top of the ramp, the boat levels out and the water spreads
itself out again so you never get to see the water level in the engine
compartment at its highest level.

Just a thought.....

Rod

rmcinnis wrote:

"Ralph Modica" wrote in message
...

To All :

Thanks for your quick responses.


I had another thought that you might want to consider.

It's a boat, it leaks. Normally this water collects in the bilge until it
gets high enough to activate the bilge pump and then the water level lowers
some amount.

Many boats have their bilge pump on a three position switch: On, Auto, and
OFF. If left in the off position the water level can accumulate in the
bilge. The amount that accumulates might not be a problem while operating
on a fairly level keel.

Then you reach the launch ramp. The steep incline while pulling out makes
all the water run to the back. The three of four inches that had been
distributed along most of the length is now concentrated in the engine
compartment. It is possible for the water level to get high enough to cover
the dipstick tube and thus water can enter the engine.

You get to the top of the ramp, the boat levels out and the water spreads
itself out again so you never get to see the water level in the engine
compartment at its highest level.

Just a thought.....

Rod



NO WAY without noticing! That would be so much weight in water to cause
serious listing/swamping/trailering issues...

Rob

In article ,
Ralph Modica wrote:


Hello :

I have a 2003 Larson Cabrio 254 Cabin Crusier w/73 hours on the 5.7 Volvo Penta
I/O.

Have recently discovered water in the engine oil. The dealer's mechanic is
telling me this is "Normal" and may occur if the boat ingests water while coming
down off-plane too rapidly or even if water is splashed too high while putting
the boat in the water at a launch ramp.

Seems this is TOO easy an "explanation" for what I think is a defective engine
gasket.
IF this IS something common, I'm amazed more people have not complained to the
manufacturer's about designing their boats better to avoid water ingestion.

I've also heard water ingestion is a common problem on Volvo 8-cylinder I/O
engines. There is apparently a problem with valve timing being off - this allows
the intake stroke to pull vacuum while an exhaust valve is still open, thus
sucking water into the cylinders. Has anyone here heard of this or have further
details ?

Thanks in advance !

Ralph

It is NOT normal. Figure out why its happening and FIX IT before you end up
buying an engine!

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