Can a coolant hose be changed while the boat is at dock ?
 

Hi , so I've recently found the oil cooler hose that seems to go from the seawater pump, under the oil pan to an oil cooling chamber is on the verge of rupture. It is dry , cracked and basically paper thin. (Gen V 7.4l/bravo1) I would love to change it out with the boat on trailer. Except I'm pretty sure just driving the boat to a ramp would be risky with this hose like this. I'm concerned that by pulling off this old hose a siphon might be created pulling in water up from the outdrive underwater. Since it's in a ridiculously hard place to work , I'll need up to an hour to swap it. Is this a valid concern ? Or would water just empty out of the block? I don't want to sink the boat for this. Thanks

What is the motor serial number so we can verify where the cooler is and which hose your talking about

32-818741 is the hose. No serial on the motor

I'm finding hose (item 10) direct from pump output up to rear of block to Oil/PS cooler
https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/...31914/1621/170

Cannot remove that hose in the water without plugging the inlet. You could remove the in coming hose to the pump and use a piece of 1 1/4 pvc pipe and place it in the hose. Clamp tight and raise it up and tie out of the way. Might be able to just raise the hose but unsure how low your boat sits

Then that hose can be removed

Might be easier to get a 1 1/4 inch barbed fitting and plug cap the end.
Remove the pump hose coming in and insert plug

I guess since you're nervous this is a single engine boat? No second to idle to ramp with?
How far is the boat away from a ramp?
You couldn't get a buddy or whatnot to tow you to nearest ramp?

I read on here a while back that the plastic/ glass spice jars in your spice cabinet fit perfectly inside the water inlet hose off the inner transom to plug it up on a Bravo. I never was lucky enough to test that info however lol.

Well thanks for confirming 👍. It's a Mile tow to ramp. I can do it. Just a pain, but better than losing my boat. Ya single engine and the motor is low in the engine bay. Pretty much worst case situation for this repair. I did think to put the muffs on the Bravo and have the garden hose up on the swim plate to break the possible siphon. But not perfectly at ease with this.

you can block the water intake off on a standard Bravo 1 many ways, including a couple of plastic sandwich bags on each side and then put a pair of muffs or something over it...if working with it in the water. I would allow yourself more than an hour...these things tend to be a ***** to work with. Took me over 4 to do a similar hose on my 7.4 MPI engine, and I had to take the engine hatch/sunpad off to get access!

Flex tape over the intake holes on the bravo drive