Close water cooling ?

[Darren]

Ive just brought a 22v riders with the 6.2 black scorpian Mercruiser fitted.The only option for me is the south coast in the UK and the engine isnt fitted with closed water cooling now some people say its not REALLY that important and others say its a must !! Now what should i do ? After all these systems arent cheap.Also i got intouch with the local Mercruiser dealer and they said there isnt a system available for that engine ! Is this right ? I dont know this dealer so im not sure if he knows his stuff or hes just a crazy person who answered the phone.Has anyone got this engine with this system ? Also how important is it ? I mean if there isnt this system for this engine would i be out of my mind to dunk it in the sea.Washing it out everytime isnt an option as its going to be kept in a marina for 6 months of the year.Any help would be appreciated.Thank you

[Tip]

I would never put my 22v in salt water, but then again I have access to a fresh water lake. If you do put it salt water it's extremely important to flush the engine with fresh water after each use in salt water. Washing the rest of the boat is also important. When you say you are keeping it at a marina for six months do you mean in the salt water for six months?? I hope that's not what you meant but if so, you'll probably want to look into some anti -fouling paint for the bottom.

Good luck!

[Tige M.D.]

darren, i looked at merc's parts catalog and i did'nt see any closed
cooling systems for any black scorpion engines since it was first sold in 97'.

as for running it and leaving it in saltwater without flushing it, it will without a doubt destroy that boat with in 3 years. i had a friend that lived on a saltwater lagoon here in southern california. after about 3 years and 400hrs. the thermostat housing actually fell off the engine into the waterpump belts. not to mention what the upholstry looked like.
the intake manifold is aluminum, aluminum does not get along well with saltwater. it tends to turn into a white powder. talk to your local dealer about about adding some zinc anodes to the engine. there are a number off places on the intake manifold, exhaust manifold and block. the zinc anode is a sacrificial alloy that will corrode away before the rest of the engine. you will need to check them periodically, after they shrink to 50% of their original size they need replaced. put as many as
you can. they are inexpensive and will prolong the inevitable. the other
option is pay someone to fabricate a closed cooling system for you. i
can't imagine it would be that hard to do. there are enough of these
engines out there you would think some body has already built one?
i don't know if the cleaner "simple green" is sold in the u.k. but we used to use this in the u.s. coast guard for washing the salt off our ship. it works great with some water and a sponge. i'd wash the boat top to bottom with this stuff as often as i could.

well good luck, i hope this helped

[scootc]

Hi Darren,
Don't you have a lake somewhere nearby? I'm in the UK several times a year, and am always scoping out lakes for a place to ride on the weekends. It seems you can't throw a rock without hitting fresh water somewhere. Even a 1-2 hour drive will be worth it...trust me.

Keep in mind, I trailer my boat 2-3 hours each way to get to the water in my area. I've been doing it for years, and it's definetely worth the trouble once you finally slide off the trailer and hit the key .
Congrads on your purchase.
Scott

[Darren]

thanks for the responce lads i rerally appriecate you taking the time.
Right there were some questions asked.
1.Unfortanetly theres only 1 lake in the area its pretty small and it privately owned.They only allow 1 boat on it and thats theirs.You can hire it at $30 for 20 minutes !! the people who own it look down their noses at anyone who comes out and thats not my idea of fun when all i want to do is give them a piece of my mind.
2.yes the idea was to keep the boat in the water for 6 months.As i live over looking the second biggest natural harbour in the world.So as you can imagine i often sit there dreaming of riding it.So the thought of driving for 2-3 hours each time i want to use it AND then having to pay once i get there is obviously a downer. I want to ride with my friends pretty much everynight and the marina means we can just walk down the street and step on.I will take it out and clean it as often as i can.I cant trailer it as i live in a flat and there just no where to put it.Ive also found an antifoul company who will knock up a mix to what ever shade i want in exchange for a tow.As you can imagine lime green antifoul is hard to come by.
3. Thanks M.D for looking that up about the closed water cooling system.Did your friend have that system fitted when it all fell to pieces ? If he did AND it still fell apart !!! BLOODY HELL i wish you hadnt told me that ! I dont surpose you might know of any companys who might make this system do you as its all abit of a ghost town for that kind of stuff round here.I'll keep an eye out for this 'simple green' stuff if its as good as you say it is.Ive found some anodes so once again thanks for the good advise.

Well cheers lads again i'll make good use of youre help and if youre ever in the south of the U.K theres a ride waiting for you.

[Tige M.D.]

we were unable to install a closed system on his boat do to lack of room under the eng. box. in 900hrs. the intake manifold fell apart twice. he evetually replaced it with a steel one. i have'nt seen him in 2 years, so i don't know how it worked out.
there are a number of after market companies here in the u.s. that build things like this. best bet is to go to a wakeboard forum like wakeworld.com and ask the world your questions about the closed cooling. i will search the web if i get a chance today.
the anodes that you found, do they thread into the engine and/or exhaust manifolds?

[scootc]

Sounds like a nice set up Darren - I wish I had the same view! Maybe when the weather in the U.K. gets warm (which day would that be?) I'll drop you a line when I'm in the area. Cheers!

[Darren]

Hello again lads and how are the pair of you today ? I must say im well impressed with the responce ive got from the pair of you as this whole discussion thing is a first for me and yet it fells like we've all been out on the piss loads (drinking) of times ! So its nice to see people taking the time to help each other out.M.D i never asked which sort of anodes they were !!! See i dont have a clue do i ? Which ones should i get then i didnt know there were different sorts ? Also i'll put out a shout on the Wake site and see if i get any help.So thanks again.Oh yea i got an email from the UK dealer saying about a visit to the new Tige factory or something is it worth the trip ? I mean is it going to be party party party with the added bonus of the lovely american girls WHICH im sure you'll introduce me too ?!!! or just a walk round a factory (Great but what about later?) which also would be nice !.So Scootc and M.D the pair of you are both invited out if your ever here.You have a ticket to ride just say when your here.The boat goes in the water on the 1st of April (Scootc that the earliest we can break the ice ha bloody ha)....( infact if you ever come here im not going to lend you a wetsuit just to teach you a lesson)...(the waters so cold it'll make you inverted)....(and thats not a trick).But really cheers just drop me a line at
darren@filler356.fsworld.co.uk
as i believe one good turn deserves another.Oh yea and the english girls.....well that can be a surprise.Thanks again and anymore info IS REALLY appriecated.Take care

[Tige M.D.]

the anodes you need are made of zink.
mercruiser has some that you can use. all you need to do is figure out where you are going to place them. i'd say 1 each exhaust manifold, 1 on each side of the block and 1 in the intake manifold. pull the plugs out and check the thread size and pitch.
here are some anodes and p/n's,
804463t
804465t
804466t
804467t
804468t
804469t

good news, i just found a closed cooling system for you. all i need is your engine serial number so i can get the exact part number.

[Tige M.D.]

darren, i was just told by an employee of mine that volvo penta has a salt neutral system that injects a neutralizing agent into the cooling system with a push of the button. i guess you would use it just before you shut down for the day. this sounds like it would be alot cheaper than the closed cooling system. i would still use the zinc anodes though.

[Tige M.D.]

i just got the engine serial number from your dealer. mercruiser does not make a closed cooling system for the 6.2 ski. sorry about that. there are other options out there for you, like the anodes and the
neutralizer mentioned above. i guess another way you could have gone is with the marine power 6.0 liter. it is fresh water cooled.

[Matt Garcia]

Two 24Vs were sold to a guy in Beirut Lebanon this past Dallas boat show (in which I helped sell ) . He will be using them in the Mediterranean Sea and he got the Marine Power 6 liter.

[Tige M.D.]

that is such a sweeeeet motor. i've got alot of seat time with them and it is well worth the money.

[Buzz27]

Anodes for Sea use

Hi,
Came across this thread, and was wondering were abouts you would place the anodes in the exhaust manifold. Is this in the drain hole by replacing the tap?
If it is, does anyone know what thread the plug is and would this be sufficient?
I want to place a streamline one on the shaft, and was wondering what diameter this is?
I have measured a Mastercraft X2 and this is 1 1/8".
Would you recommend fitting any others? on the rudder/fins or will the shaft anode be sufficient underneath?
I am taking delivery of my new 20V soon and will be running her in the sea as lakes are not an option in the UK.
I have had a closed cooling system fitted but would still like to fit anodes to protect the external system. I am unable to measure these components obviously, but would like to order the parts before she arrives.

[hydrofoilmike]

Hi Buzz27
I ordered a new 20v with the 340 hp and want to add the closed cooling system. Did you find a kit to do the same motor? Hows your boat holding up in the salt water? I did create a new thread last night about this so maybe can reply on that.
Mike