Q & A — May 2004
By Capt. Ken Kreisler
| Keel coolers, removing
varnish drops from a fiberglass deck, and more.
Take a look at the diagram to the right. It shows not just the location of the keel cooler (at the bottom), but also the myriad pipes and valves between it and your engine.
There are advantages and disadvantages to this system. A keel cooler is simpler, since it eliminates through-hull fittings, strainers, hoses, and raw-water pumps, with their notoriously problematic impellers. On the flip side, the exposed cooling lines—even if keel-mounted—are subject to damage from underwater objects and groundings and produce unwanted hydrodynamic drag on planing hulls. Moreover, exterior corrosion can cause leaks, and accumulated fouling can degrade the tube’s heat-exchanging capability.
What is the best
way to remove several drops of varnish from my fiberglass deck?
B.H., via e-mail
several putty knives with accumulated buildup from paint stripping. Any
suggestions on a way to prevent this from happening in the future?
R.J., via e-mail
This article originally appeared in the April 2004 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.