Trailer or moor?

[dpb101]

The main issue to me is that with most sub 25ft boats being raw water cooled you cant flush the engine so easily if moored to a pontoon and not at all if on a swing mooring. This is a major engine component lifespan issue.
Launching can be made real easy if a bit of thought and effort is put towards getting set up right, even if you are solo.

[Gazjen]

The main issue to me is that with most sub 25ft boats being raw water cooled you cant flush the engine so easily if moored to a pontoon and not at all if on a swing mooring. This is a major engine component lifespan issue.
Launching can be made real easy if a bit of thought and effort is put towards getting set up right, even if you are solo.

Am I right in thinking though that in closed cooled systems the risers are still raw water cooled?

[JORIDAPILOT]

The main issue to me is that with most sub 25ft boats being raw water cooled you cant flush the engine so easily if moored to a pontoon and not at all if on a swing mooring. This is a major engine component lifespan issue.
Launching can be made real easy if a bit of thought and effort is put towards getting set up right, even if you are solo.

Am I right in thinking though that in closed cooled systems the risers are still raw water cooled?

Yes even on the biggest boats raw water is run through some form of heat exchanger, if your surrounded by a natural coolant; why not use it?

[dpb101]

Am I right in thinking though that in closed cooled systems the risers are still raw water cooled?

True, but at least it is just the risers so you can opt to change them every three years say and keep out of trouble.
The trouble with most petrol engine configurations, the risers hold water when switched off so if they do leak the water still finds its way to the valves and potentially wrecks the engine. Whereas the arrangement in most diesel engines seems to be such that if the elbow does leak, it doesn't leak back into the engine and often drains when switched off anyway.

[dpb101]

if your surrounded by a natural coolant; why not use it?

Cos it is full of salt!!!!!!!
And if a heat exchanger fails, you dont get water into the engine!

[Warpa]

Flushing is not actually an issue when moored. Fit the hose and muffs, lower the leg back into the water and flush as usual. My marine engineer who i have a great deal of respect for says that there really is nothing to worry about by not flushing through after each use, that said im not in the desperately salty stuff and do run right up to the end of the river before mooring up. Internal corrosion only becomes rapid if exposed to air, which its not.

[JORIDAPILOT]

if your surrounded by a natural coolant; why not use it?

Cos it is full of salt!!!!!!!
And if a heat exchanger fails, you dont get water into the engine!

The engine is full of coolant, water and antifreeze, if a heat exchanger fails you will get a warning before the engine fails, the raw water takes away the heat from the coolant via the heat exchanger, hence the name. All marine engines ultimately use raw water for cooling from the Queen Mary down, just that some have sealed circuits around the engine itself.

[Gazjen]

I don't think he meant it like that Jorida he simply meant with a closed cooled system you don't get the nasty salt water going round the engine which I agree with as I had to rebuild my last boats engine due to water ingress.

You can buy a closed cooled kit for most engines though I've seen them on US ebay from time to time

[Capn Jack]

that said im not in the desperately salty stuff and do run right up to the end of the river before mooring up. Internal corrosion only becomes rapid if exposed to air, which its not.[/quote

Riiiight......talk to me in a few years time, then let's make comparisons!!

Internal corrosion only becomes rapid if exposed to air,

True, but there are other considerations. If it dries out and is then in contact with moist atmosphere, electrolytic corrosion will take place.

If the area's are kept wet in a marine environment then this will slow the process.

[petevolvo]

Just put the new boat (see earlier post) onto the new pontoons at Bridlington harbour having trailered and launched off the beach for years. Time will tell but first impressions are 'amazing' - to just walk down, pull the covers off and go. So much easier. A bit of extra cleaning is hopefully all I have to worry about - if so it'll do me.

[JORIDAPILOT]

Just put the new boat (see earlier post) onto the new pontoons at Bridlington harbour having trailered and launched off the beach for years. Time will tell but first impressions are 'amazing' - to just walk down, pull the covers off and go. So much easier. A bit of extra cleaning is hopefully all I have to worry about - if so it'll do me.

Hope you have a good season, it is starting well, but then so did last year