Skiff Craft

[nutmeg2go]

I have a lead on a Skiff Craft 24 footer with inboard engine. The boats, built in Ohio I believe, are mostly used on fresh water. The engin uses raw water for cooling.

What are the implications for using her in salt water?

Help.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

The life of impellers in the water pump is limited, and the exhaust manifolds rot over time...The salt eventually eats away the metal by corroding it. If it's an older engine this can be a little expensive, since the parts are not as easily available. There will be more informed comments than mine posted I'm sure.. There are also electrical system grounding implications that don't really exist in fresh water.

[ 12-01-2003, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: Peter Malcolm Jardine ]

[Donn]

She'll float a little higher, and if she's kept in the water, she'll get more marine growth on her bottom.

[Jack Heinlen]

Very nicely made in Ohio, a carrier of Lyman quality and design tradition.

http://www.skiffcraft.com/home.html

I imagine there are sacrificial zincs in place in the cooling water stream that ought to be checked. They are probably like new, it having only seen fresh water.

If you send the hull number to the company they would be able to tell you much more than we are able. It's, by all accounts, a fine company, using Amish and Mennonite craftmen. I don't know who owns it now.

[Gary E]

Put a freshwater cooling heat exchanger on before salt water hits it and extend it's life forever.. almost anyway.

What engine is in the boat now?

G

[cbob]

2go, Can second Gary E very soundly. The only way to go. BTDT on a Gray 4-112, 45 years an still going. Luck, cbob

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Skiff Craft is owned by Gabriel Jabour of Mound, Minnesota.

[nutmeg2go]

She's powered by a Ford 188 HP V-8.

[nutmeg2go]

By the way, how much could I expect a fresh water heat exchanger to cost? How difficult would one be to install?

Thanks

[Gary E]

Sendure is in my opinion the best freshwater cooling system for your boat, since with 188 HP you are capable of moving much faster than hull speed.

http://www.sendure.com/

If you had a slower boat a keel cooler could be used, but that places additional drag on the boat since it's mounted either on or next to the keel on the bottom.

Instalation is very easy, worst case is you need to weld up some brackets. If you do, make them from cardboard first then have a weld shop make the real ones from steel. You will have a much longer engine life and it will run much better when engine temp is proper.

Edit... here is another site..
http://i-netmarine.com/he/heatexch.htm

http://www.go2marine.com/g2m/action/ViewSkuList/c ategoryId/14018/ (http://www.go2marine.com/g2m/action/ViewSkuList/categoryId/14018/)

http://www.manifoldwarehouse.com/retail.html

http://www.monitorpro.com/shell_and_tube_heat_exchanger .htm (http://www.monitorpro.com/shell_and_tube_heat_exchanger.htm)

From the above site.....
Q: My engine is several years old. Does it make sense to convert to FWC?
A: Definitely.

Ideally a conversion to FWC should be made when the engine is new. That way you can prevent any damage to your engine. But by installing FWC on an older engine, you will prevent further damage and you will enjoy all the other benefits from FWC.

I keep remembering little details...
Be sure to include the transmission and an engine oil cooler, you will find that cool oil will extend the life of everything.

Good luck
G

[ 12-02-2003, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: Gary E ]