Rufus1010

Thanks Tony, all information much appreciated! 👍

Yes the boat is on hardstanding at present and requires a lot of work before it goes anywhere near the water. I anticipate welding, shotblasting and epoxy coating of the hull, including the bottom within the next 6 weeks. Then having a fully serviceable engine will be the next priority.

Thanks all, I've already learned so much in a day and a half! When the engine is out I'm going to do a partial strip to see if it's viable, if not it will be replaced. I've removed the hoses from the manifold today and there is indeed a heat exchanger core (very gunked up!) This project will be a lengthy one but will be completed. I will undoubtedly be back with more questions, if I become a pain just say.....I won't be offended.🙂

Thanks all, it did seem bizarre to me but being such a newbie I was unsure. The boat is a major project but I'm determined to restore her to former glory days. Engine is being removed next week, all new channels and some other welding being done around engine bay, chines replaced and some pitting to deal with. I'm back to steel work both inside and out. Just another quick question if I may. Assuming the skin tank is serviceable would you consider it large enough to provide keel cooling? The area you circled had a large patch of clear sealant stuck to the side but it doesn't hide anything sinister.🙂

Sorry meant to say its an old bmc1500 and the boat is from around 1992 by Aqua Marine. I took off what I believe was the raw water cooling system and it was indeed gunked up with slime leaves and marine growth. Thanks everyone for the useful information so far. I've been back at the boat today getting the engine ready for removal. I took some photos below. One is an overview of the engine, one shows what I was advised was a raw water cooling system that I removed. One shows the raw water incoming through the hull the others are what I think is the coolant pump and hoses to the head of the engine. There are two othe hoses that were disconnected but look as though they should go to the skin tank?j

Hi all, photos not great but best I have. On first you can just see edge of raw water cooling at the left just below my stepping board. Other two show the slim tank in the engine compartment. The raw water cooling has the hole through the hull and a surveyor told me that was a raw water cooling system. I later noticed the tank and there were hoses attached to what looks like a pump with a drive belt to the main engine but not to the tank? Sorry I'm vague but the boat isn't a runner at the moment and needs a lot of work. Just trying to establish what I'm dealing with. I want to avoid raw water cooling and wondered whether I had the bones of keel cooling. Thanks everyone. Sorry meant to say its an old bmc1500 and the boat is from around 1992 by Aqua Marine. Sorry meant to say its an old bmc1500 and the boat is from around 1992 by Aqua Marine. I took off what I believe was the raw water cooling system and it was indeed gunked up with slime leaves and marine growth.

Sorry all, thanks for all the great responses so far. I'm currently working with very limited availability. When home later I'll try to dig out some photos. Forgive my ignorance as I'm very new to narrowboats at 61 years old! I will do my best to provide pics and more information when I can.

Sorry all, thanks for all the great responses so far. I'm currently working with very limited availability. When home later I'll try to dig out some photos. Forgive my ignorance as I'm very new to narrowboats at 61 years old! I will do my best to provide pics and more information when I can.

Could my narrowboat have both keel cooling and raw water cooling? I seem to have a narrow tank to the side of the engine bay with two inlet/outlets and a relief at the top but I also have a raw water cooling setup. I'm unsure as I purchased the boat whilst it was on hardstanding and couldn't ask the previous owner.