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Date: 16 February 2015. Stainless Manifold Ordered (tractor motor adapted for boat)
The problem: how to turn the standard tractor motor into an engine that can propel my boat. Mine, a Kubota 18hp came from Yanmar Tractor Parts and is a gem. Progress on various fronts has been made. The latest, how to build a cooling system, has taken time with loads of input from a variety of sources.
Patrick and Steve move Betsy (the Kubota 18hp) into the
pilothouse via a chain hoist.
It's a boat. Everyone has an opinion. Designing a cooling system for the exhaust of the Kubota certainly offered a ripe opportunity for a multitude of choices.
All of us know an automobile motor is cooled via an anti-freeze and water solution in a radiator with a big fan blowing air on said radiator. At the other end of the car engine is your exhaust and muffler. The exhaust is air-cooled and the mufflers are h-o-t, far too hot to touch and certainly not something I wanted inside my Seaweed.
My first concern is that I do not want any salt water running through my motor. She's a tractor motor and few tractors (none!) are designed to have salt water in their innards. I didn't want to take a perfectly good Yanmar Tractor Parts Kubota engine and ruin her.
Many of the problems related to motors (say "risers" if you've a gasoline engine) or manifolds on diesels can be directly related to salt-water. Corrosion occurs and no motor is happy with salty water running through it. That's why many of the yacht-boats have devised closed systems for cooling.
The final decision on the Kubota exhaust has been made. What Just Right Marine in Carrabelle along with a welding shop in Tallahassee came up with is a manifold attaching to the starboard side of the motor. This item was ordered and should be ready on Monday. I'm thrilled, though my credit card is cringing.
It's custom built, from heavy duty stainless steel... A once-in-a-lifetime build that should last forever.
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Manifold Design for Tractor Motor Used in a Boat |
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Addendum April 2015: My drawing is a bit off from the final result. The changes you'll note are the box (aka manifold) is now U-shaped. That will allow better flow of the fluids through it. Also, the coolant goes in at #1 and exits at #2.
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As you can see, no salt water will be able to get into the motor. She'll be totally 100% fresh water and air cooled. That's why I won't be dealing with corrosion issues. The difference between stainless pipes and elbows as shown was just more than $100 extra over black iron. I opted for stainless, 'cause I like it better.The final cost of this custom built box is not yet in. We are talking a day of labor, plus parts. It won't be inexpensive, though this should be a one-time item. Like many others, I'd rather pay once for a superior job. This work should last until I'm 90 years old. By then, I just might be ready to come ashore -- but I hope not!
Happy cruising.
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Tractor motors can be bought from Yanmar Tractor Parts in Tennessee. Shipping is via pallet and not terribly expensive. In Carrabelle, Just Right Marine designed the manifold and is having it custom welded by a professional.
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Have you ever replaced your exhaust manifold? How frequently has that occurred?
Was yours custom-built or off-the-shelf? If custom built I'd be curious as to location and price paid.COMMENTS:
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