Fastening keel cooler to wood hull

Plan to install 20' of 3/4" K type copper pipe to keel at port side. Its been awhile since i bought it but believe K type is the thickest of the 3 types you can typically buy.

It ll be just the 2 pipes with a U fitting at one end and in/out at other.

I had planned to use copper straps with silicone bronze screws set in epoxy but this method will put many holes with potenial leaks.

What precautions to take or other methods to consider?

Peace

 

There should be no potential leaks unless the screws go through the keel and into the inside of the boat. You can set threaded rod in epoxy and hold the brackets with nuts.

 

That seems kind of fragile (3/4" K type copper pipe) being only 1/16" thick. Why not use a bigger, thicker, tougher galvanized pipe? You would probably have to resize it for your engine but it might need fewer fastenings to hold it to the hull. What size engine will you use?

 

Thx gonzo that would b better than screws if it needs replacing.
Sabb 30j2. The guys at New Brunswick who sell the U fitting (forgot thier name) said thats what local fishboats use (they ship only in Canada).

 

Sabb parts manual sells a 20' unit of 5/8", decided with next size up when i compared to other boat engine dealers who recommended slightly bigger cooling capacity, maybe because those r northern seas with colder waters from where most of those engines were sold

Steel was first option but it has only 1/4 of the cooling efficiency for the same area of pipe.

 

Could there be problems using silicone bronze with epoxy since there r big differences between the two materials on the ph scale?

 

No, that is not a problem. The epoxy will be basically inert after it cures.