keel cooling? opinions please

[aztec]

looking at engine cooling options, raw water, heat exchanger, liquid nitrogen etc. mates got fishing boats, uses keel cooling 'cos;

1 it's cheap
2 it does away with the need for a raw water pump
3 it does away with the need for a heat exchanger
4 negates the problems of silt and blockages
5 allows the use of existing (car) type coolant system spares
6 does away with water strainers and filters

my boat will only ever be used at displacement speeds, 'cos i ain't in a hurry.

would appreciate the views of the panel on this, cheers, steve, (the tight one)


interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[kgi]

Need to make sure you have loads of forced air ventilation, intake andexhaust, because the engine room will get very hot, especially if you run a standard exhaust manifold. If you can live with the slightly sharper exhaust noise, and can do something about the heat i think its a good, reliable system...PS make sure your keel coolers are tied in with your anodes, because you will make them out of scaffold pipe like iwould!!!!!.....cheers keith

 

[mtb]

NOPE not on your boat , the grief fitting it and the cost of doing it !!
I think you'd need at least 40 ft of pipe with an internal bore of 1"" minimum
fitted on the out side of the hull , where with out protection sooner or later the pipes will get damaged.

The tug has keel cooling both sides which are set up in a raised section for protection then there are heavy guards over them .
I think my engine runs a bit hot .
One way of controlling the temp is to fit a thermostatically controlled electric fan with a large radiator.
If I don't sell it I might do this on the tug because after 5 hrs hard running it gets quite hot , fitting a fan cooling system is another option but more work because I would not be able to vent it over board re water line so a stack would be needed and stuff that !!.

Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug

 

[rich]

nowt wrong with keel cooling, the exaust, is the big problem.

rich ) Why pay, when you can do it yourself?

 

[aztec]

ok, point taken.. bloody daft post anyway, but thought i'd ask. cheers mick.

interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html