Thru hull intake

[HawkX66]

If you're having to install a thru hull for extra cooling, you have problems elsewhere. The bravo drive provides plenty of cooling.

 

[89P270]

There is a major difference in Bravo I vs Bravo III. For Bravo III go Google "BravoItis" and see what it turns up!. There are half dozen items on Bravo IIIs that are hazards to appropriate cooling. I have covered these in other threads too.

 

[HawkX66]

There is a major difference in Bravo I vs Bravo III. For Bravo III go Google "BravoItis" and see what it turns up!. There are half dozen items on Bravo IIIs that are hazards to appropriate cooling. I have covered these in other threads too.

The biggest hazard being lack of proper maintenance.

 

[Korkie]

Did this several seasons ago. Bravo IIIs on 496 mags. Bravoitis was the problem. Installed thru hulls and block offs along with flush kits. Disadvantages of intake thru the drives - no filtration. Anything that is sucked in; pieces of shells when in shallow water that the drive works up from its thrust, anything that will fit thru those little holes in the drive go straight to the raw water pump. This tears up your impellor and ends up plugging your heat exchanger. Advantage of thru hull is you are straining what goes into the motor. It was one of the better upgrades I did. Temps 5 degrees cooler at higher rpms and impellors were in better condition when pulled and replaced every other year. I also added drive showers to help cool the drive while in plane. The flush kits make it so easy to fresh water flush. Just plug i n quick connect hose in rope locker and run each engine for 5 minutes. The muffs will not work anymore.

 

[scoflaw]

I use 1 of these mounted to he stringer//i.ebayimg.com/d/w1600/pict/174391286139_/GIL-Marine-Sea-Water-Strainer-Hardin-IMCO-Mercury.jpg

 

[89P270]

One additional Item I did on the Rinker set up - I also upgraded to Hardin Marine Stainless Steel Impeller/housings

https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-157...sea-pump-for-mercury-350-496-and-502-mag.aspx

These go 4 years between impeller change outs and the interior housing is polished which reduces drag/turbulence and yet another heat reducing component.

 

[Thornton69]

Not sure if I missed it somewhere, but if flushing with a garden hose, is there some sort of relief or pressure reducing valve required to protect the intake side of the raw water system?
Going to be switching to a full closed cooling system this winter and start using the thru hull again. The muffs are kind of looking after that now on the outdrive.

 

[ColoSR]

You are spot on. I used an RV water pressure regulator to drop the hose pressure. The hose bib at the decontamination station blew off my raw water intake hose on the first day I owned my boat. Took out the raw water impeller before I figured out what was going on. I used the RV regulator until I switched back to thru Hull+leg pickup.