Instead of a radiator keeping your boat’s engine cool (like a car), your boat is sucking water out of the lake or the river that you’re fishing in. So debris can get sucked in, and more often than not, it gets stuck in the thermostat. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to clean. It’s best to do this on dry land or before you’re on the water with an overheated engine.
1
Identify your engine’s closure, pop that off.
2
Identify the thermostat housing. Usually a cooling hose is coming out of it.
3
Unscrew the bolts keeping it on. You may need a small wrench.
4
Pull out the thermostat.
5
If you’re home, drop it in a pot of boiling water. It’ll open up and you can pick it all out. If you’re on the river, just start picking it out the best you can.
6
Pop the cleaned thermostat back in, put the housing back on, the bolts back in place, and close your engine up and you’re good to go.
Alvin Dedeuax is a YETI Ambassador fly fishing guide with his company, All Water Guides, based out of Austin, TX. Check out his YouTube channel for more helpful videos like this one.
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