Stupid Question but I have to ask!

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

Hey guys I have a 1983 Cobalt, and am looking to add a ballast system because I just hate throwing them over the sides and such. Soooo drilling is not an option just not an option dad's call. I know people T the raw water and am wondering if my boat has a raw water intake since most of these are done on inboards not i/o's....

Thanks,
Elliott

Ody3 · Newbie Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 11 City: Vancouver

I belive they dont....But dont count me on it Twisted Evil

Damon · Posted: May 22, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject:

Yes, it should have a raw water line. Even if it is a closed coolant system or not, there is always some water being pumped into the system. BUT, unless you know alot about your boat, and the plumbing of it, I wouldn't want to touch it. What are you throwing over the sides? From my understanding, all you do it throw a hose over, or a submersable pump.

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

Thats what I mean I don't like doing that as it causes a huge mess when the hose disconnects and such. So is there anyway I can find out which hose to tap?

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

on an i/o, it'll have a raw water source coming in through the gimball housing into the engine compartment... mine's like a 2" hose... it will likely be the only one like it... Mine actually has a hose that then goes all the way from the rear to the front of the engine where it connects to the raw water pump. If you're gonna T something, that's the place (before the raw water pump). If you look behind the engine, you should only see one of these water hoses that seems to go right into the center of the gimbal housing. On mine, if I disconnect it from the raw water pump, it's very maneuverable.

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

I think I know what you are talking about, but how can I be sure?

dirtysparks · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 2428

Aren't you going to overheat from robbing water from the intake? I'd vote no.

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

I have talked to someone who has done this on over 4 boats and has not had problems so I am going for it....

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

the only way to be 1000% sure is to take apart the outdrive and check... but in reality, you should see 1 hose coming through the gimball and going into the intake side of the raw water pump. if you've ever changed your impellar, you should be able to figure out which side is the intake... the output will then feed into the octopus looking distribution then into the normal sea-water pump, etc.

As for "robbing water" - do it at low RPM's, and nothing to worry about - your water volume fluxuates massivly between RPM's... unless you're hooking up a fireman's pump, you're not gonna compete.

Also, since there's a raw water pump and a fresh-water... it's not like you're gonna suck air - there's a circulation within the engine like a car, then the seawater which does the recycling with fresh water... ***Worst*** case you'd slow the recycling of cooler freshwater, but boat motors run so cool - not a concern at all. Just like with a car - it's not cycling all the water through the radiator - only the water in the block that's over a certain temp.