Marinizing challenge question

[crowsridge]

Hello all!

Ive been lurking around learning lots here. Thanks for that.

First, the obligatory. I know it would be easier to find a marine engine and rebuild it. It would also be easier to buy a used complete boat. And it doesnt make sense usually to reinvent the wheel.

That said, I love to dream up things. To tinker and do things that others blow off. I have been playng with this boat plan for almost 9 months and have come down to this plan.

I am rebuilding a boat from the hull up. Its a 23' Uni Salty Pup stripped of all wood and everything but the hull, shaft and rudder. I want to put a diesel powerplant in place of the Chevy 350 it came with. It will be very similar to the Shamrock PH.

I dont want to put a ton of money in it at first, because I dont know if the whole thing will float when done. But, I am pretty sure I can conquer the boat part and need to find the right solution for power.

I found several diesel engines cheap and have a transmission for it. The engines run from a VW 140hp Jetta to a Ford 6.9. 180hp. After studying everythng I can find here I am down to a couple questions.

I couldnt get past the heat exchangers/exhaust manifolds. I was thinking of the Merc style on gas. My question is. The main cooling part is the antifreeze/coolant that runs through the block. Cooled by running raw water over a heat exchanger right? Why cant the heat exchanger hang on the wall at the right height and operate? The exhaust would have the waste raw water dumped in on the way to the stern?

There, thats enough to get started!

Thanks, Chris

[Carteret]

The heat exchanger can be remote mounted. This is sometimes done to keep vibrations from damaging the tube bundles.

[crowsridge]

So Im not ay off in the weeds with the cooling? There seems to be a specific way for the exhaust to be plumbed that I will need to master next.

Thanks for the start!!!

Would you please post pics of your pup?

[crowsridge]

Here it is as it sits now The whole one shows how it was before the guy I got it from started.

[crowsridge]

CDK, I just looked at your surface thread. I am intrigued by that setup. I could use twin smaller engines, rather than one big 6.9. That is very cool. Backup and smaller to troll with too? Yes!

I need to read the rest of your thread. The one drawback I see, is I wanted no dog house/compartment at the stern for unobstructed fishng/crabbing.

That may be a very good option for me.

Chris

[CDK]

I also wanted no doghouse at the stern, but the engine bay wasn't long enough to accommodate the power-train. At the time I contemplated removing the fwd bulkhead and fuel tank, then decided otherwise.

[crowsridge]

I read the entire 15 page thread on CDK's boat with great interest. But the story ended with no further info.

I really like the idea of twin 120hp's as opposed to the single 200 . I just need to figure the new direction. Out the back or out the bottom? Ideas are greatly appreciated.

Chris

[CDK]

There's more here:
Tunnel drive performance issue

Last winter I just started the engines once a month. Lots of bad weather and other things on my mind, but very soon now I'll untie the ropes and make a test run.