If you’re thinking about purchasing a boat, but you’re not that savvy when it comes to marine and automotive mechanics, it might be helpful to learn about a few parts. If you experience problems with your new boat or yacht, you might have a harder time pinpointing the issue than you might with your land vehicle.

Just as an automotive engine needs a cooling system for the engine to stay cool enough to drive, a boat needs marine engine fuel coolers and marine engine oil coolers to keep your boat running properly. These cooling systems work, both in cars and boats, by circulating water through the engine cooling systems. There are two main types of cooling systems, raw water and fresh water.

Raw water cooling systems draw water in from the outside of the boat and run it through the engine’s cooling system. The only long-term problem with these types of marine engine fuel coolers is when you use salt water for coolant. Over time the salt in the water corrodes the engine and blocks the exhaust manifolds which will cost you a lot of money to replace. A rusty engine will not run well on the water and won’t last long at all. These types of cooling systems are simpler and often less costly, they tend not to last as long as fresh water systems.