Kristian Ferrell
Boat engines use the water from below the vessel to keep cool. This water is sucked up and run through the engine to cool it down while it's running. There are two main types of cooling systems: raw water systems and enclosed systems. Raw water systems use the water the boat is floating in, whether it is salt or fresh, to cool the engine. Enclosed systems use a combination of fresh water and coolant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of water used | Raw water (sea water) or fresh water |
| How it works | Water is drawn up through the seacock by the water pump and flows through the engine to keep it cool |
| Parts | Seacocks, sea strainers, hoses, clamps, belts, water pump impellers |
| Seacocks | A through-hull device that allows water to enter the hull from the outside |
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What You'll Learn
Raw water systems
The process starts by drawing water into the engine through a seacock fitting and pumping it through the engine's water jacket and ports by way of a mechanical water pump. The seacock is a through-hull device that allows water to enter the hull from the outside. It has a handle that allows you to shut off the water flow if there is a problem, such as a loose hose clamp or cracked hose. As a backup safety measure, you should have a soft, tapered, wooden plug (called a bung) of the size of the seacock tied to the seacock.
In a raw water system, the water is pumped through the engine block and back out to sea, with no secondary freshwater system used at all. This might sound more straightforward, but the problem of corrosion can become a big issue. Sea water cooling is also known as raw water cooling, and it is also called a direct cooling system if no fresh water is involved.
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Enclosed cooling systems
Most newer marine engines use an enclosed cooling system. This means that there is a small tank on top of the engine that uses a combination of fresh water and coolant. The water is drawn up through the seacock by the water pump. The water flows through the engine and directly out the exhaust. This cooler water absorbs heat from the engine to help keep it cool.
The seacock is a through-hull device that allows water to enter the hull from the outside. This device has a handle that allows you to shut off the water flow if you have a problem such as a loose hose clamp or cracked hose. You should test the seacock shut-offs monthly to make sure they are operable. As a backup safety measure, you should have a soft, tapered, wooden plug (called a bung) of the size of the seacock tied to the seacock.
In contrast, a more basic system of engine cooling is direct cooling, where raw water is pumped through the engine block and back out to sea, with no secondary freshwater system used at all. This might sound more straightforward but the problem of corrosion can become a big issue. Sea water cooling is also raw water cooling. As a bonus, it is also called a direct cooling system if no fresh water is involved. Fresh water cooling is also known as indirect cooling if raw water is involved.
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Direct cooling
The more basic system of engine cooling is direct cooling, where raw water is pumped through the engine block and back out to sea. Raw water refers to the water that the boat is floating in, and it makes no difference whether it is salt or fresh. The water is drawn up through the seacock by the water pump and flows through the engine and directly out the exhaust. This cooler water absorbs heat from the engine to help keep it cool.
To prevent problems, the seacock shut-offs should be tested monthly. This is a through-hull device that allows water to enter the hull from the outside. It has a handle that allows you to shut off the water flow if there is a problem such as a loose hose clamp or cracked hose. As a backup safety measure, you should have a soft, tapered, wooden plug (called a bung) of the size of the seacock tied to the seacock.
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Fresh water cooling
Most newer marine engines use an enclosed cooling system, which involves a small tank on top of the engine that uses a combination of fresh water and coolant. This is known as a fresh water cooling system, or an indirect cooling system if raw water is involved.
In a fresh water cooling system, water is drawn up through the seacock by the water pump. The seacock is a through-hull device that allows water to enter the hull from the outside. It has a handle that allows you to shut off the water flow if there is a problem, such as a loose hose clamp or cracked hose. As a backup safety measure, you should have a soft, tapered, wooden plug (called a bung) of the size of the seacock tied to the seacock.
The water then flows through the engine and directly out of the exhaust. This cooler water absorbs heat from the engine to help keep it cool.
A more basic system of engine cooling is direct cooling, where raw water is pumped through the engine block and back out to sea, with no secondary freshwater system used at all. This is also known as a raw water cooling system or sea water cooling. While this might sound more straightforward, the problem of corrosion can become a big issue.
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The seacock
Most newer marine engines use an enclosed cooling system, which means there is a small tank on top of the engine that uses a combination of fresh water and coolant.
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Frequently asked questions
A raw water system is a more basic system of engine cooling where raw water is pumped through the engine block and back out to sea, with no secondary freshwater system used at all. Raw water refers to the water that the boat is floating in. It makes no difference whether it is salt or fresh, both are used to cool the engine.
Most newer marine engines use an enclosed cooling system. This means that there is a small tank on top of the engine that uses a combination of fresh water and coolant.
The seacock is a through-hull device that allows water to enter the hull from the outside. This device has a handle that allows you to shut off the water flow if you have a problem such as a loose hose clamp or cracked hose.
The water is drawn up through the seacock by the water pump. The water flows through the engine and directly out the exhaust. This cooler water absorbs heat from the engine to help keep it cool.
