Saoirse Downs
Unlike cars, boats do not have radiators to cool their engines. Instead, most small boats use a cooling system called raw water cooling, which continuously draws water from the lake, pumps it through the engine, and expels the hot water back out. There are also air-cooled engines, which may have additional fins on the cylinder heads and cylinders to increase the surface area of the metal and allow for greater heat dissipation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cooling system | Air-cooled or water-cooled |
| How it works | Heat is released into the air around the engine or water is pumped through the engine to absorb heat |
| Advantages of water-cooled systems | Water has a high specific heat capacity, making it an excellent substance for removing heat |
| Disadvantages of water-cooled systems | Risk of antifreeze leaking into the body of water; corrosion from saltwater |
| Advantages of air-cooled systems | No risk of antifreeze leaking; simpler |
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What You'll Learn
Air-cooled engines
Unlike cars, boats do not have radiators to cool their engines. Instead, boat engines are either air-cooled or water-cooled.
In contrast, water-cooled engines use a liquid (antifreeze or water) to absorb heat from the engine and then dissipate it through a heat exchanger. This type of cooling system is more commonly used in modern boats, especially inboard engines, as it is more efficient and can prevent overheating.
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Water-cooled engines
Unlike cars, boats do not have a radiator to cool the engine. Instead, boat engines are either air-cooled or water-cooled. Water-cooled engines are the most common type of engine in narrowboats. Water has a high specific heat capacity, meaning it is an excellent substance for removing heat from a hot engine.
Water cooling systems are of two distinct types. Engines in cars have an enclosed, pressurised cooling system that relies on the passage of air across the fins of a radiator to cool the liquid in the system. In a narrowboat, the radiator is replaced by a skin tank, which is usually welded to the swim of the hull. This tank relies on the external canal or river water to cool the engine coolant, which is circulated through it.
Most small boats use a cooling system called raw water cooling. Raw water systems take advantage of the unlimited supply of cold liquid (a lake or river) by continuously drawing water from the lake, pumping it through the engine, and expelling the hot water back out. A rubber impeller pulls water from the lake or river and expels it out through the exhaust. Raw water cooling is used on all outboard motors and many inboard/sterndrive systems.
Modern cooling systems with heat exchangers work with advanced coolants, but still need old-fashioned maintenance to stay efficient. Engine manufacturers began supplying more and more “freshwater-cooled” or “closed-system” engines using antifreeze/coolant internal to the engine, but cooling it with raw water from outside the boat via a heat exchanger.
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Antifreeze and coolants
To combat this, engine manufacturers have started supplying more "freshwater-cooled" or "closed-system" engines that use antifreeze/coolant internal to the engine. These modern cooling systems with heat exchangers work with advanced coolants to keep the engine cool. The coolant is cycled through the engine block with a pump, absorbing heat from the motor. It then passes through a heat exchanger, allowing it to dissipate.
One advantage of using antifreeze and coolants in a closed-loop system is that there is no risk of antifreeze leaking into the body of water the boat is on. Additionally, these systems can use freshwater, which is less corrosive than saltwater. By using a combination of antifreeze and coolants, boat engines can stay cool and efficient, even in challenging environments.
It is important to note that while variations of this cooling system are used across all internal combustion engines, there are some differences in the way boat motors are cooled. For example, in a narrow boat, the radiator is replaced by a skin tank, which is welded to the swim of the hull. This tank relies on the external canal or river water to cool the engine coolant circulated through it.
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Heat exchangers
Today, engine manufacturers have largely transitioned to "freshwater-cooled" or "closed-system" engines. These systems utilise antifreeze/coolant internal to the engine, which is then cooled by raw water from outside the boat via a heat exchanger. This design prevents antifreeze from leaking into the surrounding body of water, ensuring environmental friendliness.
The coolant, or antifreeze, circulates through the engine block with the help of a pump. As it passes through, it absorbs heat from the motor. The heated coolant then moves through the heat exchanger, where it dissipates the absorbed heat. This process ensures that the engine maintains an optimal temperature, preventing overheating and potential damage.
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Raw water cooling
Most small boats use a cooling system called raw water cooling. This system takes advantage of the unlimited supply of cold liquid (a lake or river) that boats operate in. Raw water cooling systems continuously draw water from the lake, pump it through the engine, and expel the hot water back out.
A rubber impeller pulls water from the lake or river, and expels it out through the exhaust. Raw water cooling is used on all outboard motors and many inboard/sterndrive systems. This type of cooling system is advantageous due to its simplicity. Without coolant on board, there is no risk of antifreeze leaking into the body of water a boat is on.
In the past, many marine engine cooling systems were of the “raw-water” variety, meaning they relied on pumping whatever water the boat was floating in through the engine and pumping it out the exhaust system. This could include salt water, polluted water, or algae-infested water. Over time, engine manufacturers began supplying more and more “freshwater-cooled” or “closed-system” engines using antifreeze/coolant internal to the engine, but cooling it with raw water from outside the boat via a heat exchanger.
In a narrow boat, the radiator is replaced by what is known as a skin tank. This tank is usually welded to the swim of the hull and relies on the external canal or river water to cool the engine coolant, which is circulated through it.
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Frequently asked questions
Boat engines are usually cooled by a liquid (antifreeze or water) being cycled through the engine block with a pump. This is known as a 'raw water' cooling system.
A rubber impeller pulls water from the lake or river, and expels it out through the exhaust. This is used on all outboard motors and many inboard/sterndrive systems.
Raw water cooling systems are simple and there is no risk of antifreeze leaking into the body of water the boat is on.
Narrowboat engines are either air cooled or water cooled. They do not have a radiator to cool the engine.
Heat is released into the air around the engine. There may be additional fins on the cylinder heads and cylinders to increase the surface area of the metal and allow for greater heat dissipation. There may also be a fan and metal shroud system which draws ambient air around the engine.
