Caution Do Not Launch Boat with Sprinter Interstate

[mail4sblair]

Launched our boat at boat at Lake Powell in September. Went to use the Sprinter and tried to run the generator. It would not crank over so I put it on the lift in my shop and started to troubleshoot what could be wrong. Wound up dropping the generator down and found that the engine appeared to be froze up. Ultimately was able to turn the engine over with a socket on the end of the crank and it began burping water out of the carburetor, then I looked at the air cleaner and found that it was moldy. I was trying to figure out how the heck the generator could have gotten flooded with water and then I remembered our trip to Lake Powell. Bottom line, do not use your Sprinter to launch a boat. Boy do I feel dumb.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by mail4sblair

Launched our boat at boat at Lake Powell in September. Went to use the Sprinter and tried to run the generator. It would not crank over so I put it on the lift in my shop and started to troubleshoot what could be wrong. Wound up dropping the generator down and found that the engine appeared to be froze up. Ultimately was able to turn the engine over with a socket on the end of the crank and it began burping water out of the carburetor, then I looked at the air cleaner and found that it was moldy. I was trying to figure out how the heck the generator could have gotten flooded with water and then I remembered our trip to Lake Powell. Bottom line, do not use your Sprinter to launch a boat. Boy do I feel dumb.

MAIL4SBLAIR - Sorry to hear. And thanks for the tip. Glad you got it to turn over. Hopefully, I assume no long term damage? BTW - if I listed every dumb thing I did since owning my AI, I would be run out of this forum Seriously though, I think everyone has had their 'not so proud moments' . Good thing for me is I can no longer afford a boat after buying the AI. We have 1st world problems, for sure.

BTW - along these lines, ONAN also does not recommend using the gen when driving in rain (and I assume even if parked, if heavy rain and water is under the gen). They are bottom breathers and will suck water in. Did not know that until I read their manual.

[TRIPPPIN]

I put a huge mud flap in front of mine. I drove it 12 months of the year including Canadian winters and could always use the genny rain snow etc. No problem.

[mail4sblair]

I was able to turn it over by hand, but I'm sure the engine is ruined and rusted, given that it's had water in it for 5 months. The starter would not turn over with direct power to it, and i'm sure the circuitboard is bad. I'm pricing a new replacement now.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by mail4sblair

I was able to turn it over by hand, but I'm sure the engine is ruined and rusted, given that it's had water in it for 5 months. The starter would not turn over with direct power to it, and i'm sure the circuitboard is bad. I'm pricing a new replacement now.

MAIL4SBLAIR - I am on the road now, so I have limited time to search. But if you do some searching in this forum, you will find many owners of brand new rigs thinking of eliminating their gens altogether. In fact, I am one who is currently thinking of the Volta system if only they can give me a provider in/near my region. Unfortunately, those conversions take forever and definitely too long for your needs. Sorry to hear all is lost

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by mail4sblair

I was able to turn it over by hand, but I'm sure the engine is ruined and rusted, given that it's had water in it for 5 months. The starter would not turn over with direct power to it, and i'm sure the circuitboard is bad. I'm pricing a new replacement now.

Remove..take it apart...maybe new rings and bearings....

[KWN306]

You must of had the a$$ end of your coach in the water to get water in the generator or there is no protection from rain or snow to keep the generator dry.

We looked at a small Class C and when I found out the generator was under the coach I kept on walking, much to hard to service.

[NY24]

At least you didn't launch the AI along with the boat.......

[guskmg]

I had an air-cooled airplane engine to get flooded. All that was done to get it airworthy was to flush the crankcase with fresh oil, cleanup the electronics start and run the engine for a few minutes, change oil and repeat for 30 minutes, and change oil again. Years latter the engine was still good. I would not try to turn over the engine by hand, you might bend a rod or two. Pull the plugs, oil the cylinders, then rotate the crank to be safe.
guskmg

[mail4sblair]

Engine had water in on top of the piston, in the exhaust and down in the case. Rather than rebuild it and not knowing about the electronics, I've decided to replace it with a new unit. Proof that S**t Happens. If I had discovered it right away I probably could have saved it, but there was quite a bit of corrosion from water sitting in it for 5 months. Just means there won't be as much left for the kids when we're gone.....lol.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by mail4sblair

Just means there won't be as much left for the kids when we're gone.....lol.

Ha ha. I've told my kids it's a good thing we never know our time of death. Otherwise, their mom and I would spend everything and leave just enough in our accounts on our final day to bury us.
.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by mail4sblair

. . .
. . . but there was quite a bit of corrosion from water sitting in it for 5 months.
. . .

Good move to get a new unit!

Thanks for the update.

Peter

[OTRA15]

OT

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

Ha ha. I've told my kids it's a good thing we never know our time of death. Otherwise, their mom and I would spend everything and leave just enough in our accounts on our final day to bury us.
.

Some older folks do the following, after first warning their kids:
-- pre-pay funeral etc. expenses [or set up a small fund]
-- cash out most assets incl. house etc.
-- buy annuities from ultra-safe insurance etc. company

. . . and live off the annuities until the magic moment.

. . . . . .

[Alex AVI]

MAIL4SBLAIR - contact user CHRISCOW. Looks like he has an unused one he wants to part with.

[428303]

Omg...thanks for the information....i can see how that could happen without thinking about the generator! Thanks again!

[SDCairstream]

I have a 2021 interstate 24. Launched my boat for the first time with it, and then realized on drive home my ride was rough. VB air suspension is not working. After some investigation, my generator also would not start. Apparently my gen and VB air brain (which is mounted between rear axle and generator ) both got submerged on boat launching. I fixed the generator (dried out the air filter and it fired right up) but air suspension system is dead.

I’m upset, and in this case,
Not really blaming myself. I just launched a regular boat on a regular launch ramp, airstream doesn’t seem to mention anywhere not to do this. This is normal stuff, and if a coach is not equipped to do “normal” stuff, AS should warn us. My opinion,
Anyone else had a problem. ??

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by SDCairstream

I just launched a regular boat on a regular launch ramp, airstream doesn’t seem to mention anywhere not to do this. This is normal stuff, and if a coach is not equipped to do “normal” stuff, AS should warn us. My opinion, Anyone else had a problem. ??

At first blush, that you submerged the rear end of your rig in water seems to be the problem, and it would stand to reason that would be logically unwise, in my opinion.

Sorry for the difficulties this will bring, but a lesson learned.

Maggie

[Boxster1971]

Welcome to Air Forums!! Interesting that you were able resurrect a 5-year-old thread.

Originally Posted by SDCairstream

I have a 2021 interstate 24. Launched my boat for the first time with it, and then realized on drive home my ride was rough. VB air suspension is not working. After some investigation, my generator also would not start. Apparently my gen and VB air brain (which is mounted between rear axle and generator ) both got submerged on boat launching. I fixed the generator (dried out the air filter and it fired right up) but air suspension system is dead.

I’m upset, and in this case,
Not really blaming myself. I just launched a regular boat on a regular launch ramp, airstream doesn’t seem to mention anywhere not to do this. This is normal stuff, and if a coach is not equipped to do “normal” stuff, AS should warn us. My opinion,
Anyone else had a problem. ??

[InterBlog]

Ten years on Sprinter and B Van and I am still learning of new Interstate predicaments.

I feel compelled to add to this discussion that the subfloor is plywood, at least in mine which is the first generation Interstate.

There have been horror stories presented in Airforums by people who got their Interstate subfloors saturated with water by other unintentional means such as an undetected leak. In some cases, the plywood basically rotted out until there was nothing left but a crumbly residue - on a component that provides essential structural support for the vehicle’s build-out.

As I understand it, the same is generally true of Airstream trailers, where saturation can eventually trigger a need for “shell off” restorations. I found out about that when trying to buy a first-generation Basecamp, the design of which is characterized by a potential water penetration issue that if not fixed, has been reported to destroy entire subfloors. In some cases I found, I estimated that the Basecamps for sale were so structurally compromised by this condition that they were essentially financial write-offs.

The Interstate is not a passenger car or truck - it’s a complexly built-out specialty vehicle. Unfortunately, submerging the rear end in water may not be much different functionally than getting caught in rising floodwaters. For anyone who has accidentally done this, I recommend investigating your subfloor and stopping any degradation that may progress further if it’s not nipped in the bud.

[ITSNO60]

Just get one of these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za63ltkMGGE&t=6s