engine cooling and filter

[Thai boats]

Hey I am a newcomer and need help with one question. <br /><br />I live in Thailand and recently bought an engine to use on a boat that I have built. It is a water-cooled inboard, a very small truck engine with a regular truck engine water pump. <br /><br />I need to devise a practical inlet to suck water from the river for cooling the engine. The rivers here have lots of vegetation that may clog the (truck) engines water pump with a poorly devised inlet. My boat has a very shallow draft; it is a high planning swamp boat so this may complicate matters too. <br /><br />I can’t buy an inlet or filter here so I must build it from scratch using ordinary parts. I want to avoid drilling holes in the hull if possible and mount it outside somewhere on the hull. <br /><br />Can someone help me with an idea? Sadly I have never seen this type of an inlet and know nothing concerning the matter so please keep the answer simple. <br /><br />Thanks, <br />Thai Sean

 

[snapperbait]

Re: engine cooling and filter

Hi Sean..<br /><br />The regular truck water pump won't do you much good because it's a centrifugal pump and it won't pull enough suction to draw any water from the river, no matter how it's connected... <br /><br />For your engine you'll need a "raw water pump" like the one in the picture below.. It's a belt driven, self priming, water pump with a flexible rubber impeller to supply water to the engine..<br />

<br /><br />This link can explain the raw water pump in more detail.. http://www.jmp.co.kr/eng/pump/p-inst.htm <br /><br />As for a water inlet, you'll want it to be as close to the engine as possible, within reason..<br /><br />I would recomend that the inner diameter of the water inlet pipe and hose be no less than 1 inch, preferably 1 and 1/4 inches.... That should supply your engine with plenty of water..<br /><br />

This is the typical water intake strainer (scoop strainer) used on boats here in the US... This is similar to what you would want to build..<br /><br />Good luck.