please settle a bet

[Pa mountain man]

When I take my buddy out, we get to a spot, and I refuse to raise the lower unit out of the water for a few minutes, I call it a cool down moment, is there a difference if I do this or not? My theroy is all moving parts create heat, and if I leave it in the water for a few minutes, it may help cool the motor down a little.

His theroy is it's only a 6 hp seahorse, and there isn't much to cool down.

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: please settle a bet

Absolutely it will. Water dissipates heat much faster than air will. Thats why 35 degree water will make you hypothermic in minutes where as 35 degree air will not. Take a red hot griddle off the stove and see which will cool it faster--70 degree air or 70 degree water.

 

[jtexas]

Re: please settle a bet

it's a theoretical difference -- the water drains from the powerhead whether the l/u is in the water or out of it. Exhaust is pretty darn hot, but if memory serves, the exhaust exits that motor above the waterline. That leaves the gearbox. I guess if its generating extra heat cause of dirty oil or whatever, the extra soak might delay the inevitable.......

That's just an opinion completely without support of documentary evidence or even personal observation. End of the day, how will you feel if you stop doing that, and it burns up within a year............

 

[jbjennings]

Re: please settle a bet

When I take my buddy out, we get to a spot, and I refuse to raise the lower unit out of the water for a few minutes, I call it a cool down moment, is there a difference if I do this or not? My theroy is all moving parts create heat, and if I leave it in the water for a few minutes, it may help cool the motor down a little.

His theroy is it's only a 6 hp seahorse, and there isn't much to cool down.

The powerhead is cooled by water being pumped up to it from the lower unit. Once the motor stops running, there's no more cooling water being pumped to the powerhead. The lower unit housing is made of aluminum (one of the best metals to conduct heat that there is) and the motor is in the water, hence the lower unit never builds up any heat worth mentioning because the aluminum housing conducts it all to the lake. The midsection would conduct some of the heat from the powerhead into the lake.

BUT-- Why do you care if it cools down faster? If your water pump and thermostat are working right, it never heats up more than it's supposed to anyway?
Technically, it would be easier to start and less wear on the motor if it stayed at operating temperature during the fishing trip.
Just my opinion on a really funny question. Let me guess....it was a slow fishing day!
JBJ

 

[petryshyn]

Re: please settle a bet

Ditto on jbjennings

 

[lowkee]

Re: please settle a bet

You are correct in it cooling down a bit faster, but it is certainly not required. As others have said, if the impeller is working, it doesn't need cooling down anyhow.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: please settle a bet

JBJ has it right, the only thing in play is the time period involved in cooling - which is a non-iissue.

The next thing on the list is, why does your buddy care if the motor is up or down?

 

[Pa mountain man]

Re: please settle a bet

JBJ has it right, the only thing in play is the time period involved in cooling - which is a non-iissue.

The next thing on the list is, why does your buddy care if the motor is up or down?

We can't get the boat into our sweet spots with it down. That poor minn kota has seen more mud and silt than clear water, most of the time you have to pull up on the release cord, and chance getting covered in sludge.

Thanks for the answers guys.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: please settle a bet

ever thought of poleing.