How to I remove Mussels from a VP SailDrive inlet?

[Sharkx]

I have just lifted out my Bavaria 30 for the winter.

I have noticed some mussel growth inside the water inlet holes (I'm assuming these are the inlet holes) for the cooling system. How do I get into them?

The saildrive seal isn't due for renewal so I'd rather not remove the whole saildrive.

 

[Tranona]

Only way to remove them is to poke around and then squirt a jet of water into the holes to clear the debris.

If the problem is severe enough to reduce water flow, then a separate through hull and seacock, preferrably immediately below the water filter will allow you to at least clear it easily if you get a blockage.

Having the water intake in the leg is only for convenience - it does not do anything to the leg.

 

[trapezeartist]

Remember there's a hole at the bottom that has a straight run right up the leg. A long screw driver poked up there will fairly easily dislodge the wildlife. (They don't like it up 'em! )

 

[grafozz]

bottlebrush

yes , clean through the bottom leg hole , I use a good long stiff bottlebrush its the best way to clean right up inside the leg.

 

[Elessar]

Only way to remove them is to poke around and then squirt a jet of water into the holes to clear the debris.

If the problem is severe enough to reduce water flow, then a separate through hull and seacock, preferrably immediately below the water filter will allow you to at least clear it easily if you get a blockage.

Having the water intake in the leg is only for convenience - it does not do anything to the leg.

I had to add a seacock to my out drive boat because it was blocked by shells and the engine completely overheated.

On an out drive boat though the water flow does actually help cool it, this isn't a problem with a saildrive. So I have had to unblock it by removing it.

I would add a seacock before the leg blocks, put a filter on the saildrive inlet and the seacock inlet then Y it into the engine. I now have 2 inlets as I did on my previous boat.

You then need 2 plastic bags to make your engine overheat.......

 

[Jassira]

Have you tried enticing them out with a little, garlic, onion and white wine

 

[sarabande]

as tiddlers on the beach, we used to put pepper sauce on limpets and mussels to persuade them to release their hold. Worked well.


Worth a quick squirt of Tesco's best or tabasco ?

 

[Elessar]

as tiddlers on the beach, we used to put pepper sauce on limpets and mussels to persuade them to release their hold. Worked well.


Worth a quick squirt of Tesco's best or tabasco ?

Problem is they grow behind the inlet grills and die. They are not stuck fast, but too big to get out.......

 

[Sharkx]

I'll have a look for the hole at the bottom, I didn't have that close a look. The boat will come out every year, so I'll maybe leave the second sea cock for another year. I have quite a big list for this year already.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[PeterGibbs]

I have just lifted out my Bavaria 30 for the winter.

I have noticed some mussel growth inside the water inlet holes (I'm assuming these are the inlet holes) for the cooling system. How do I get into them?

The saildrive seal isn't due for renewal so I'd rather not remove the whole saildrive.

All growth will die over the winter and form a friable crust. You don't particularly want this being sucked into the cooling system, so rake around with a narrow bladed screwdriver until nothing more emerges. The hole in the forward under edge of the leg gives full access. It's what we all do.

PWG

 

[dje67]

Might need a clever way of circulating this stuff through the leg:-
http://www.rydlymemarine.com/

 

[Slowtack]

Wire coathanger

 

[PabloPicasso]

all and any of the above. Remove as much dross mecganically by breaking up with a long screwdriver.

Make sure you get it all out with a water jet.

Prime inside with a sprayer or by using long pipe cleaners. I bought a pack of long childrens art pipecleaners from the pound shop and they worker a treat.

MOST IMPORTANT!! Anti=foul with a non-copper based anti-foul. Spray can NON-Copper anti-fouls are easily available. Using copper based anti=foul will waste your annodes in a few weeks, then its the aluminium in the drive led that suffers.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!

 

[Sharkx]

I noticed that the sail drive leg has been painted, and as you can see almost no growth on the leg. There must have not been any spray-on antifoul in the inlet.

Any recommendations for sail drive anti-foul?

 

[Shearwater]

I don't want to start a one-upmanship contest here, but here on the Ebro Delta we have problems with oysters getting inside the cooling system as lava and growing until everything needs taking apart !!!!!

 

[VicS]

Any recommendations for sail drive anti-foul?

It must be an antifouling compatible with aluminium eg International Trilux 33. Trilux Prop-O Drev is in an aerosol spray for "hard to reach" areas.

Mille Drive is Hempel (Blakes) offering. It is also in spray cans.