why do large boats have spouts near water level that continuously dump out water?
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Couple reasons. Most boats use the water they’re in for engine coolant. It’s sucked in through a port in the hull, run through a radiator, then dumped out the back. This is why jet skis have that big plum of water coming out the back. Big ships do this too. Presumably it saves weight, since the vehicle doesn’t need to carry dedicated coolant around. Even small RC boats cool their motors and electronics this way.
Other reasons. Some of it is ballast water. Large vessels have tanks in the hull that are filled or emptied to keep the ship trimmed and stable. Sometimes it’s bilge water. All boats with an internal engine will leak to an extent, as water gets into the tube that holds the prop shaft. This has to be pumped out periodically. Though it’s usually not done close to shore, since that water contains grease and other debris. Sometimes it’s good old sewage or grey water. Again though, this usually isn’t done close to shore.
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