water flow

[ignasty]

when I purchased my boat the owner told me that he blocked off the outdrive from sucking water, so there is no need for ears ,all I have to do is run a hose into my seacock and I'll be fine. However when I drop in at the ramp in order for me to get flow I have to loosen the cap on my heat exchange to get flow and after that everything is fine other than I get my alternator covered with saltwater(goodtimes) But if my outdrive would suck water would that eliminate that problem? some one said its vapor lock and it happens a lot,doesn't seem right to me has anyone had this problem and is there a way to reverse the outdrive problem.