redesigning engine compartment for non-marinised engines?

[Squidly-Diddly]

What sort of design changes or added extinguishing equipment would be needed to be able to use standard auto engines from a junkyard in a boat.

I'd like to eliminate ALL changes and even use standard automobile radiator cooling if possible....just because auto engines can be had for free with a little investment of labor.

Where is a good overview of the differences between auto and marinised engines and the reasons for the the differences?

Is fire the main concern, and the reason for the water cooled exhaust?

I've had a car fire that started from oil leaking from the head gasket onto hot exhaust manifold. It started (or got big) AFTER I shut off the motor and walked away.

[narwhal]

Water cooling of the exhaust is not necessary; look at the dry exhaust systems used on many commercial fishing boats. I wouldn't think seawater cooling is necessary either, as many boats cool their engines with the coolant separated from seawater by means of a heat exchanger, which is all a radiator is, a heat exchanger using airflow to cool the engine coolant. So I guess the big requirement would be sparkproof electricals, and you may be able to buy those parts separately to put on your junkyard salvage engine.

[Squidly-Diddly]

and I think that is the major problem with using car engines.

Jet-skis have water cooled exhaust.

[hoytedow]

What do you mean water-cooled exhaust? I thought the water was just to muffle it. Otherwise send it to the air, muffled. You'll need a marine alternator, though, for the spark issue.

[marshmat]

I'm not aware of any mandatory requirement for water-cooled exhaust. Dry exhausts are quite common. The water muffles the sound and keeps things cool, which is often simpler than having to heat-shield and insulate a 1000-degree pipe and muffler; since most boat engines are pumping raw water anyway, wet exhaust is often a logical solution.

Spark-shielded marine alternator, starter, etc. would definitely be a good idea, along with a proper marine flame arrestor in place of the automotive air filter.

[tom kane]

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