Outboard antifoul in freshwater.

[Deefor]

In 2013, our Viking and Honda BF20 outboard will be in the water for seven months on the Thames. Having never had an outboard before that is permanently in the water, do I:

1) Need to take precautions to prevent algae & slime build-up?

2) If yes to the above, what would you guys recommend I use?

3) Or should I not worry and just brush the slime off the lower parts of the engine every time I visit the boat, roughly once every 7-10 days?

Whilst on the Broads in August this year, I was amazed how quickly in just three weeks the slime built up. Having said that, it seemed to brush off easily in the water. However, 3 weeks is a lot different to seven months.

 

[dash300]

Tilt the engine out of the water whenever you leave the boat for extended periods. This will save you not only the fouling but prevent the aluminium of the leg and prop being eaten away by eletrolysis. This can be a problem particularly in large marinas with a high percentage of livaboards all using electric in a large static pond.
If you do want to antifoul your leg MPX by International used to be recommended many years ago.

 

[Deefor]

Tilt the engine out of the water whenever you leave the boat for extended periods. This will save you not only the fouling but prevent the aluminium of the leg and prop being eaten away by eletrolysis. This can be a problem particularly in large marinas with a high percentage of livaboards all using electric in a large static pond.
If you do want to antifoul your leg MPX by International used to be recommended many years ago.

And there lies my next problem.........

Due to the cockpit seat arrangement, namely the back of the seat across the transom, the OB won't tilt fully into the OB well as it hits the seat back. With it tilted until the cover hits the sit back, the prop's still submerged together with about 12" of the leg. Great design eh .

 

[dash300]

And there lies my next problem.........

Due to the cockpit seat arrangement, namely the back of the seat across the transom, the OB won't tilt fully into the OB well as it hits the seat back. With it tilted until the cover hits the sit back, the prop's still submerged together with about 12" of the leg. Great design eh .

Ah. In which case slap on some MPX or equivalent and make sure you put a new freshwaterleg anode on and check it regularly to ensure it is wasting. Renew when 2/3ds gone.

 

[CJL]

The best option is always going to be to get the engine out of the water. Painting it will never get a full effective coat and it will significantly affect the resale value of the engine.

Can the seat be moved or swapped for a folding design? The financial outlay for this might off set the enhanced maintenance/damage/resale value.

CJL

 

[Deefor]

Can the seat be moved or swapped for a folding design? The financial outlay for this might off set the enhanced maintenance/damage/resale value.CJL

Good point . Will look to doing this over the next few weeks and forget the antifoul option.