A cooling device for a power source for a boat propulsion apparatus includes a cooling water passage. The cooling water passage includes a passage provided in the power source, in which an engine or an electric motor is used as the power source of the boat propulsion apparatus that propels a boat. Water from outside the boat is taken into the cooling water passage as cooling water to cool the power source, and the cooling water after cooling the power source is drained from the cooling water passage. From the cooling water flowing through the cooling water passage, foreign substances having a size that clogs the cooling water passage are removed. The cooling water passage is provided with a filter device which can filter residual foreign substances remaining in the cooling water.