Capt'n Pauley's Virtual Boatyard -- Projects Galore!!!

Seen at the Boat Show: Beta Marine Engines

Does your sailboat have an old Atomic 4 gas engine? Is it at the end of its useful life? If so, you may be a candidate for a Beta Marine engine.

Water Separator Filters for Outboards

I recently received this email from a reader:

I have a 6 HP Tohatsu outboard. I have been looking for an in-line water separator for some time. All I could find were for larger engines. I would be even happier if I could find one for a funnel as I store gas in regular cans also and then could just put it through the filter when filling the boat. Does anyone know of a simple water filter?

How To: Out with the Bad, In with the Good (Water that is)

Most of us running our inboard/outboards (I/Os) and inboards in salt or brackish water understand the potential harm that water can afflict on our expensive machinery. Corroded and leaking manifolds and risers, blocked cooling passages and overheating engines, to name just a few of the hazards.

One partial solution is a fresh water cooling system, where outside water is used to cool the engine antifreeze in a heat exchanger. This will help eliminate the ill effects in the engine block, but the raw water side of the cooling system is still vulnerable to salt and corrosion.

Another, better, option is to install a fresh water flushing system in your boat. Such a system allows the engine to be flushed with fresh water after you have returned to your slip. Most of these units have to be added after purchase of the boat and vary widely in concept and execution of the product.