That could take a while... I think He prefers "puff boats" to stink boats... He tends to stick with natural powerplants

Ron said to me 2 seconds ago that 180 is NOT normal... This is what I described to Ron: "I had it on the hose today (very cold water) on a fake a lake (plunger type supply) - checked all the hoses, etc, no blockage that I can see and the T-stat didnt want to open fully. The top of the housing never got hot, the lines to the exhaust never got hot, the waterpump hose (big fat one - I think it is a return hose) on stbd side of engine was plenty hot although the temp still went up to 170 or so on my temp gauge..."
Ron's answer: "180 is NOT normal. Start at the water intake grate on the bottom and work your way to the engine. Check the inside of the water-intake grate (be sure it isnt blocked in any way). Check your sea-strainer (water strainer) for small cracks and make sure the gasket is in the top when you put it back together, ensure all hoses are double clamped. Check your transmission oil cooler - take off the water (not the oil) supply & return hoses, shine a light through one side & hold a mirror to the other side of the unit. You should see through it very clearly - you may need to clean out the small pipes inside (use pipe cleaners). Next, check the supply hose to your impellor for blockages. Check your impellor to see if its serviceable (not cracked, etc) - crank over the engine once to ensure your impellor fins are folded over in the direction of the crank (they could be folded backwards - it will pump water but not well - it happens) Check all hoses leading to the thermostat, the water (circulating) pump, and the exhaust risers for blockages. Check your T-stat and/or replace - while doing this check all openings to the housing & the manifold for debris, etc... Make sure your T-stat bypass hole (about the size of a dime in my boat) is not plugged. Put it all back together and make sure you use gaskets or gasket maker for good seal on the implellor & T-stat. When its time to test the engine, use a 5 gallon bucket with a supply hose from the house into the bucket and route your intake hose from your strainer into the bucket. Throw away the "Fake-A-Lake" as the water pressure from your house could screw up your impellor..." Damn thing costs me some $$$$