New territory for me, Advice appreciated ! new to outboard power and antifouling

[truebrit]

Hi Folks, Have just purchased a nice condition Merry Fisher 585 with very low hours Mariner 100 EFi.
Questions.
I see there is a flush point on the engine cowl, do you need to use this when starting motor ashore or can you use flush muffs as I used to on my stern drive ?
If I leave the boat on mooring pontoon in marina will it harm the engine to be left for prolonged periods without freshwater flushing ?
The seller gave me a can of antifouling which says on the can that it must be immersed within 24 hours of coating, is antifouling available that can be left ashore for longer and still effective ?
How do you protect a transducer from fouling ? and are through hull transducers any good? The Sonar GPS is a humminbird 587ci dual beam sonar.
Lots of questions I know but hopefully some of you knowledgeable folks will enlighten me, my thanks in advance !!!

 

[sprocker]

Hi Mike,

I don't know that specific Mariner engine, but I would say that the flushing point on the cowl is for static flushing only, and the engine should not be run.
For flushing the engine whilst running then use flush muffs.

My boat is on a pontoon and I tilt and static flush my Suzuki outboard via the flushing point after every trip (But I'm a bit anal about things like that).

Regarding the antifoul, is the 24 hours a 'Not before 24 hours' rather than a 'within 24 hours'? I use Hempels and I seem to remember the immersion time being not before 24 hours after application, and within 3 months of application.

I always fit my transducers to shoot thru the hull, it saves them getting knocked/broken when lifting or trailering. You lose the water temp benefit but everything else works just fine.

 

[truebrit]

Many thanks for your kind advice

 

[simonfraser]

Workshop manual for my OB says 'don't forget to connect the hose to the flush port before testing the engine'
That's how I flush mine after use ...