Cleaning outside of transmission

[gianenrico]

My engine has produced a lot of salt water through the anti-syphon valve, and said water was carried by a small black pipe well camouflaged between the 2 salt water hoses, just above the transmission gear, which now looks covered by salt encrustations (boat is 4 month old). My question: keeping in mind that the installation is just under the 2 stern cabins, what are your suggestions to wipe out the salt and to protect from other possible salt water drips the transmission?
I have now led the black pipe end to an (empty) plastic bottle of Schweppes (Yup, we love

 

[cliff]

If it is salt then hot water to remove it. After all salt washed away and the transmission case is dry, a good covering of Finnegans "Waxoyl" should do the trick and keep the transmission case in pristine condition.
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[VicS]

I agree with Cliff but seawater is also has a high "temporary hardness" ie has a high concetration of calcium and magnesiun bicarbonates which may have left a carbonate scale behind which will not be removed by hot water. It can be ignored though.

Waxoyl is an idea but it forms a sticky and rather messy coating, which will always soften when things get warm, and in my experience does not give particularly good protection from salt water.

I do think you should remove any rust build up, treat the remaining surface rust with a good rust remover and then maybe repaint the casing.

 

[gianenrico]

Thanks a lot, at the moment happily no rust, just salt and scale; wiped with warm water and dried + WD40 spray.
Cheers