I'm still fairly new to the offshore game, and am curious why more boats don't go the closed cooling route.

I run my Baja 272 mostly in a fresh water lake but occasionally take it out into the SF Bay as well, and the delta water is pretty brackish as well. It seems to me that a closed cooling system would be better for these conditions, and also eliminate the urgency to winterize for the few freezing nights that we have here in NorCal, no?

Thanks!

Well, it won't prevent you from having to drain in freezing temps. You would still have raw water in your heat exchanger, exhaust, and oil/ps coolers.

If the boat is not used primarily in salt water there is not really a need for you to spend the money #1 for a closed cooling system, and you don't have to figure out where your going to mount your heat exchanger.

Not that any of that is reason not to add it, in fact it will increase the longevity of your block and heads as there is less potential for corrosion. But if you mostly boat in fresh water and properly flush after salt water use I personally just can't see why you would spend the money on that when it could be spent on something to build some more horsepower!!

Ah. So my time and resources can definitly be spent in better areas at the moment, but not considering the cost or hassle the closed loop doesn't have any downsides to it, right?

I'm currently focused on sorting out other issues with the boat, but occasionally I'll see a closed loop system come up for sale fairly cheaply. I was just wondering why if it's a superior system why more boats don't come so equipped from the factory.

raw river water doesn't have the corrosion inhibitors in it that antifreeze has. i really can't understand how people can justify running raw water thru some of these motors they spend up to 10k each on. small blocks-yeah. dime a dozen.

I don't know about you but even though I spendvalit of money on engines I either blow them up of don't own them long enough to worry about a block rusting out.

I run a garden hose and rinse both engines after each use.

During the winter I hook up a bucket of antifreeze (environmental friendly of course ;p ) and run through both engines until green comes out the tailpipes. Seems to inhibit the rust some during the winter and keeps me from crawling all over the engines finding the little bitty brass plugs and such, then probably forgetting one and end up buying a new cooler in the spring........but I digress, I think making a close system where one didn't exist before would yield little return for the effort.

couple of the positives about closed cooling on top of is, it helps with preventing air pockets with in the cooling passages that can create hot spots and temp fluctuations. it also keeps the engine at a more steady temp thru all the running cycles and rpm ranges. Also less debrie of scale / rust and lake crap that can run thru or get trapped in the internal cooling passages of the internal engine, intake & heads itself.

Also longer life of the water circ pump and better corrosion resistance for sealing the intake manifold and heads.. At some point all Merc and Volvo OEM marine engines are going to be closed cool, they already are offered mostly and all are heading that way at some timeframe. Also less corrosion warranties to be handed out by the OEM engine manu's with closed cooling verses NON C.C.. If I recall all Indmar and PCM engines all are closed cooled already and has been for the past X amount years..

On the flipside, how may people run water in their sportscars all summer and drain the block in the off season?
if you have the space and the inclination, why not for peace of mind.

also can run alum heads, and intakes in salt. big weight savings.