Air cooled versus water cooled?

Fishery Pokery · 16 February 2010, 20:33

Hi everyone,
Was wondering what the disadvantges are of an aircooled outboard?
I know you can only get low powered aircooled engines.
But if they are effective, why do you get 2.2 and 3hp water cooled engines? Why would they put something in that requires extra maintaince, if there is no disadvantages with aircooled outboards?
Cheers,
Geoff

chewy · 16 February 2010, 20:47

Water cooled quieter.

Poly · 16 February 2010, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff_Jubb

Hi everyone,
Was wondering what the disadvantges are of an aircooled outboard?
I know you can only get low powered aircooled engines.
But if they are effective, why do you get 2.2 and 3hp water cooled engines? Why would they put something in that requires extra maintaince, if there is no disadvantages with aircooled outboards?
Cheers,
Geoff

Noise?

Mollers · 16 February 2010, 20:55

Hello, What was that? Eh? Say again!

Nos4r2 · 16 February 2010, 22:15

Yep, noise.

I had an old aircooled Volvo Penta 5hp auxiliary a few years ago. It was louder than the 50hp 2 stroke it was next to.

Probably power loss too-it takes quite a bit of power to drive a fan to cool an aircooled engine in a cowling.

m chappelow · 17 February 2010, 18:29

Had a 5 hp yamaha air cooled ran like a dream ,,used to get some comments though when i warmed the engine up on the trailer top of the slip for 10 mins or so ,,,things like your impeller will be all burned out comming from those that dident know .but it was noisy,, i have an old j.a.p.seabee somewhere under the house ,...apart from water cooled seagulls ,think a lot of the early small outboards were made air cooled as there was a big influx in the 1950s of leisure boating and the oriental engines were in their infancy so ready made industrial engines /lawnmower engines were used ,though with the industrial/lawnmower engines desinged for vertical use ,when made into outboards they had to be laid horizontal some say added less reliability and wear on parts ,,

Fishery Pokery · 18 February 2010, 22:31

Thanks very much for the replies guys. If noise is the only difference I think an air cooled will do as my auxiliary.
Cheers,
Geoff

Nos4r2 · 19 February 2010, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff_Jubb

Thanks very much for the replies guys. If noise is the only difference I think an air cooled will do as my auxiliary.
Cheers,
Geoff

Size, too. An aircooled will be a bit larger.