how do INBOARD boat engines cooling systems work?

[i drive a honda]

dad wants to pick a 1988 bayliner.

has a SBC in it.

he said that inboard engines cool the block using the SALT WATER running it through the block, and head, then back out.

after use you have to hook a hose up to the block and rinse it?

is this even remotley correct?

he wants me to teach him how to rebuild the motor, using my tools/hoist (even tho i REALLY only have metric stuff, but ill buy more off the truck idc)

i said if that is the case, he should just trash the block or boat. and start new, i said look into newer boats or just buy a GM performance 350 and drop it in since that cast iron block is probably trash

[marsbike]

more or less for cooling and cleaning, but not so much for the block...there's a huge difference between the marine stuff and automotive stuff...

[i drive a honda]

Originally Posted by marsbike

more or less for cooling and cleaning, but not so much for the block...there's a huge difference between the marine stuff and automotive stuff...

haha damn, so pretty much nothing is similar then huh?

ill tell him to pass up on the boat, since i probably wont be able to teach him anything.

pretty much safe to say thats not an internal combustion engine

[marsbike]

Originally Posted by i drive a honda

haha damn, so pretty much nothing is similar then huh?

ill tell him to pass up on the boat, since i probably wont be able to teach him anything.

pretty much safe to say thats not an internal combustion engine

I've been of the strong opinion that the best way to enjoy a boat is to let one of your friends have one. I had a sailboat back in the day, and I spent every dollar I had on it, and every single free moment working on it. I got to take it out MAYBE once a week. As far as the internal combustion, ya, same deal as a car, but the salt water is way more caustic and damaging to the internal stuff than the coolant in your regular car. It would be a fun project no doubt, but, if I were to do it again, I'd pass on the sailboat (paid almost 400 bux for it, spent nearly 6 grand over the course of two years)

[Cabby89]

Marine stuff is not that different then automotive. Its usually just much stronger parts. 4bolt mains and some other stuff. Also I think engine rotation is opposite then a vehicle.


If you can rebuild a regular v8, you should have no problem building up a marine one. Just remember stress on a marine motor is a lot more than a car will put on it.

[samba_green_sol]

i use to install motors at tige boats, they either had sbc's or bbc's it has 2 seperate hoses for cooling, one to bring water in, one to let water out and if its a boat made for salt water it will have a salt water flush kit where you just hook a water hose up to it and it does the rest if it doesnt have a salt water flush kit definately look into getting one

[Rtzx9r]

Rebuilt a bogus Sea Doo 800cc motor, which does use sea water to cool the block, jugs, head, exhaust, etc. This motor sat for a year outside without running and this is what I inherited...

This is what neglect does to items used in saltwater...






Going together - new crank, jugs, pistons, rings, and sandblasted all cases etc and repainted them...



THey are a LOT of work, money, and bullsiht

[It Wasn't Me]

They don't call them "a hole to pour money in to" for no reason.

Nice job on the rebuild, btw.

[stackz]

yeah, I wouldnt have put that much money into that rebuild lol. but kudos!! how you got those pistons out without damaging the sleeves...dunno lol.


as for OP...if you go with a junkyard 350 just take the cam from the marine engine.

for some reason...most marine enines...350 included. are reverse operation and use a a dedicated cam (which in a 350's case is the only thing not universal). dont ask me why it just is...maybe the degrees is slightly opposite an auto engine??

only way to deal with this is to convert the prop to the reverse type drive...which in my opinion is the cheaper outcome.

[Catscan]

Interesting thread, though I really don't understand what any of you guys have said so far. I just picked up a boat hull yesterday and have been trying to figure out what I need to put this sucker together and so far nothing has made any sense. Anyone got links to a boat tech forum or something? I've found a few but none of them answer any of my questions.



21 foot, with trailer for 800 bucks.

[Catscan]

double post

[DsevenEm2]

Im a marine tech.. water is picked up by a circulatory pump at the bottom center of the engine.. it has a water pickup on the bottom of the boat and what not. its pumped through the entire block and exits through a riser and out the exhaust.

OR

there are closed cooling systems which is coolant in a tank, circulated through the block. It never exits the engine.

and yes you have to flush your engine everytime after boating. even in freshwater.


feel free to PM ANY questions, I can help you out no problem.

oh yea only some inboard/stern drive engines rotate counter clockwise, just like some honda engines rotate ccw.

most are like you're standard car engines.. all GM blocks. OMC, Mercruiser, everything uses a GM block nowadays except older OMCs and Volvos which use FORD blocks.

[eg9beast]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

Im a marine tech.. water is picked up by a circulatory pump at the bottom center of the engine.. it has a water pickup on the bottom of the boat and what not. its pumped through the entire block and exits through a riser and out the exhaust.

OR

there are closed cooling systems which is coolant in a tank, circulated through the block. It never exits the engine.

and yes you have to flush your engine everytime after boating. even in freshwater.


feel free to PM ANY questions, I can help you out no problem.

oh yea only some inboard/stern drive engines rotate counter clockwise, just like some honda engines rotate ccw.

most are like you're standard car engines.. all GM blocks. OMC, Mercruiser, everything uses a GM block nowadays except older OMCs and Volvos which use FORD blocks.

x2
Learned my lesson many boats ago, do not buy bayliner
Is he looking for fishing boat? ski ?

Im picking up a donzi sportfisher with volvo penta turbo diesel 6 cyl.

[DsevenEm2]

Originally Posted by eg9beast

x2
Learned my lesson many boats ago, do not buy bayliner
Is he looking for fishing boat? ski ?

Im picking up a donzi sportfisher with volvo penta turbo diesel 6 cyl.

lol they tend to line a few bays if you know what I mean..

nah bayliners are ok they're just not meant to be beat on or over used. They're a very casual simple boat for a beginner boater.

ooh donzi. volvo turbo diesels are probably the best turbo diesels.. 12 liter 6 cylinders anybody?? mmm

[eg9beast]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

lol they tend to line a few bays if you know what I mean..

nah bayliners are ok they're just not meant to be beat on or over used. They're a very casual simple boat for a beginner boater.

ooh donzi. volvo turbo diesels are probably the best turbo diesels.. 12 liter 6 cylinders anybody?? mmm

I was told once volvo penta turbo diesel is almost as good as yanmar deisel aka million miles motor.
Anyway i am buying the boat from FL and have it truck back here. 5500 for shipping alone but i could not find another donzi sportfisher here in the westcoast for less then 60K

[DsevenEm2]

Originally Posted by eg9beast

I was told once volvo penta turbo diesel is almost as good as yanmar deisel aka million miles motor.
Anyway i am buying the boat from FL and have it truck back here. 5500 for shipping alone but i could not find another donzi sportfisher here in the westcoast for less then 60K

how many hours on the engine? should be fine.. volvo makes a very very decent engine.. they'll last forever. maintenance is minimum and simple.. but could get expensive depending on how good you're with it/ where you take it. alot of techs out there, even sterndrive specialists are afraid of diesel..

[eg9beast]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

lol they tend to line a few bays if you know what I mean..

nah bayliners are ok they're just not meant to be beat on or over used. They're a very casual simple boat for a beginner boater.

ooh donzi. volvo turbo diesels are probably the best turbo diesels.. 12 liter 6 cylinders anybody?? mmm

Dont get me wrong, i've owned a few bayliner before lol. all trophy models.
They are ok boat for beginner like you said but the one that i've owned always have problems here and there.

Bait tank too small and pump usually go out with/in a few time of use. Screws seem to be loose everytime i take it out. Spider crack everywhere even its only 8 years old. ect.. i could go on and on.

[eg9beast]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

how many hours on the engine? should be fine.. volvo makes a very very decent engine.. they'll last forever. maintenance is minimum and simple.. but could get expensive depending on how good you're with it/ where you take it. alot of techs out there, even sterndrive specialists are afraid of diesel..

the 1 hours of testing after rebuilt. This would be my first diesel boat. I have a buddy here who works with diesel and with diesel only so i should be ok = )

[stackz]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

Im a marine tech.. water is picked up by a circulatory pump at the bottom center of the engine.. it has a water pickup on the bottom of the boat and what not. its pumped through the entire block and exits through a riser and out the exhaust.

hey Dseven, you guys keep any of the old parts when you tear apart and engine?? I'd like to get my hands on some volvo penta marine cams. The ones from the DOHC 4banger 2.3 engine.

[YeuEmMaiMai]

hey, wait a minute,

weren't you the fool trying to tell me hemi engines suck and you don't even have the basic knowledge to understnad how an engine cooling system works in a marine application?

[DsevenEm2]

Originally Posted by stackz

hey Dseven, you guys keep any of the old parts when you tear apart and engine?? I'd like to get my hands on some volvo penta marine cams. The ones from the DOHC 4banger 2.3 engine.

that 2.3s hardly around anymore, such a beater. what do you need the cam for? usually if its not in the block, its not anywhere else lol

[mgags7]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

and yes you have to flush your engine everytime after boating. even in freshwater.

In freshwater?

What's the purpose of that?

[wreckedrex]

Originally Posted by DsevenEm2

that 2.3s hardly around anymore, such a beater. what do you need the cam for? usually if its not in the block, its not anywhere else lol

Apparently the marine cams/heads are hotrod parts for the old 4cyl cars. I don't know much about it but a couple of buddies are volvo nuts and I've heard it mentioned.

Boats are a major PITA, but fun. I've got an old 18' jet with a 454/2x 4bbl setup I really want to restore but gas is a killer. The damn thing can go through 20 gallons in the time it took me to type this and it's a 1-1.5hr haul to get it in the water.

[dohcnotec1]

Originally Posted by mgags7

In freshwater?

What's the purpose of that?

the water in a lot of freshwater lakes is contaminated and dirty. You should always flush your motor with fresh water after use.

<<buying a new boat soon

[DsevenEm2]

Originally Posted by mgags7

In freshwater?

What's the purpose of that?

Originally Posted by dohcnotec1

the water in a lot of freshwater lakes is contaminated and dirty. You should always flush your motor with fresh water after use.

<<buying a new boat soon

theres always stuff in lakes and rivers that isn't good for metal, rubber and all that good stuff.. just makes corrosion happen that much quicker. water out of hose flushes everything out..

obviously in salt water its a must and corrosion happens x183265 faster.. but in fresh water it can happen just as fast if you didn't flush your engine out after each time.