fresh water cooling

Ross,
You may want to just consider a flush kit for the few times out in the salt. The fresh water cooling kits are expensive and although I've never installed one have heard they can be a real PITA.

i do have flush kit already.

Related question: Is there anything involved in changing a fresh water cooled system back to a raw water cooled? Is it just a case of taking off the heat exchanger and plumbing directly to the RWP? I thought I heard somebody say once that it was an involved process going from FWC to RWC.

Pete,

Thanks for the info.   Remember the wood boat project I mentioned on the other thread? I found a candidate for a motor. An old 318, but its in a larger cruiser (i.e. salt water). I can get it for pretty cheap, but I was wondering what it would involve taking all the FWC junk off.

don't worry to waste your money on a closed system as long as you flush it properly it will last. since you said you already have a flush kit spend the money buying lubricant for the trailer and to spray on the engine or anything else that will rust altough they are still gonna rust.

It is a bit rough Pete, and definitely reduction transmission (1.91:1) but I have a lead on a 1:1 that I assume would bolt on since a BW is on it. I'm not in a big rush to get this one, rather wait for a better ford or chevy, but I think about this one because its cheap and close. I am in not hurry.

you really don't want to take it out into Tampa bay, very swallow and can be quite rough at times. Besides why go in the bay when you can head east and in less than an hour be over at the chain of lakes where John ski's or up to the norhtern burs where Eddie runs his in fresh water. You have some many fresh water options that are better choices than running it in that nasty ass bay. You basicly are going to have to stay in the marked channels within the bay or you will knock the rudder and prop off the boat running it outside of the dredged channels. The bay is not like what you would think where you can just run any where, might if you catch the tide right but mis the tide coming in and when it goes back out and you are screwed for hours because you'l be high and dry and boats need to stay wet. I've been out in the bay before so do what you want I wouldn't be doing what you are proposing.

rosconole wrote: I actually grew up in winter haven & orlando. So I know about most of the areas lakeland and east of there. It was just entertaining the idea, because I know how people get winey about riding for an hour just to get in the water. I haven't looked at a chart yet. I know someone did suggest Lake Tarpon awhile back....

just watch out for the gators and you have to be out of the water pretty early in the evening as they lock the gates at the launch ramp so sking until day light is gone is not a good idea.

different cases, with some machining on certain cases its possible....but not worth it. one noteworthy note though, the 1.91 planetary fails often which fetches a $500.00 bounty. alot of boats spin a 1.91 and a 2.10 in twin engines, because they spin the 1.91 spins opposite input and the 2.10 spins the same as input eliminating the need for a righty and a lefty powerplant. if you get stuck with either, they are pretty easy to get rid of