coverting from closed cooling to raw-gctid358131

[Guest]

I'm sure everyone will think i am an idiot, but i do like simplicity. My heat exchangers are not looking in great shape and i'm thinking just to convert to raw water cooling rather than replacing.

I'm all fresh water and seriously doubt someone will buy the boat when we sell it that will take it all the way to the ocean.

So, am i in fact stupid and even if i am what is involved?

[2850Bounty]

Joe, when private parties build a marine engine that is destine to be equipped with a Closed Cooling system, we can use a high grade automotive head gasket and the automotive version circulating pump. We can also do this when replacing cylinder heads and/or circ pumps.

Both save cost when this is done and both work just as well.

The beauty of E/G is that we can control the PH balance.

If you are certain that your head gaskets and circ pump are the Marine versions, then it's up to you.

Just realize that river/lake water can also cause corrosion issues. It may be nothing like what ocean water will cause, but it will eventually cause problems.

[SomeSailor]

If they're not in great shape, why not just change the antifreeze over to a green (propylene glycol) brand like Everest and let them finish their days? Worst case you'd have a raw system someday.

[2850Bounty]

redneck joe wrote:
My heat exchangers are not looking in great shape

How about explaining what "not looking in great shape" means?

I've seen 30 year H/E's that are still working well.

They can be serviced by a good radiator shop who specializes in this.

[Guest]

Please note his forum name, it ain't a misnomer, just sayin.

[Guest]

boatommy wrote:
Please note his forum name, it ain't a misnomer, just sayin.

stalker...

Looking like there is leakage from the seams, not the hoses.

The boat sat for about 10 years. I've put 100 hours on it since we bought it 3 years ago and i'm up to 250.

[2850Bounty]

redneck joe wrote:
Looking like there is leakage from the seams, not the hoses.

The boat sat for about 10 years. I've put 100 hours on it since we bought it 3 years ago and i'm up to 250.

There's a cost involved in removing and converting to RWC. Your T-stat housings would change, hose configuration would change, etc.

I'd spend this same money (it may not be the same amount) on the service work by draining the coolant, removing the H/E's and taking them to a Radiator Shop who does Marine type heat exchanger repair/service.

They can clean them out, make any necessary repairs, pressure test them, etc, and even paint them for you.

Re-install with new pencil anodes and pressure caps, install the correct mixture coolant, run one short warm-up cycle, top off coolant, and go boating!

.

[Guest]

boatommy wrote:
Please note his forum name, it ain't a misnomer, just sayin.

Isn't this about the 3rd time you have posted this??

[Guest]

Yeah, he's a friend of mine so I give him sh#t when I can

[Guest]

Good on ya!

he did pick kinda a bad name

[Guest]

thom is my personal stalker. You should get one.

and the name is appropriate. Ask him. He's met me. So has his wife. IN fact, i met his wife before i met him. hmm...

[Guest]

I think I have the same boat. I had a little blockage in one of my heat exchangers a few years back. I removed it, (pretty easy) and took it to my local radiator shop. They "unsolidered" it, cleaned both sides of the tubes, inside and out, put it back together, and even painted it. Cost around $100. Never had a problem since. I'm thinking I'll do the other one soon, even though there seems to be no problem yet.

[Guest]

redneck joe wrote:
thom is my personal stalker. You should get one.

and the name is appropriate. Ask him. He's met me. So has his wife. IN fact, i met his wife before i met him. hmm...

I am available as a stalker for hire. . .

His wife was with him when he met my wife,

Hmmmmmmmmmm?

[BLCarl]

There are many things we can get away with that will save a few $ in the short term. Resale value usually suffers in the long term.

My red neck cowboy friend keeps his going any way he can to avoid fixing it right. You wouldn't have to look very close to not want to buy his boat, I'm hesitant to ride in it. He only gets towed home once in a while, If I were there he would ask me for the tow or some duct tape.

I'm sure your engine would last a while without freshwater cooling and if it hasn't been maintained the damage might already be done so what ever it takes. How long are you going to keep it ? What do you expect when you sell? Good well equiped boats are much easier to sell. Is this part of a downhill slide for a few more seasons or an exception? It might not be too expensive to have the heat exchangers repaired. I personally like to keep mine as normal as I can without breaking the bank. I don't want to leave something for me or the next owner to fix later if I have a choice.