Outboard permanantly in water......

[Superflid]

Helped a friend take the outboard off his Hurley 22 yesterday, it's probably 2 years since it came off. The boat's design means that it can't be tilted up out of the water which has meant that it's been left soaking on a swinging mooring near Suffolk yacht harbour.
I've heard advice before regarding leaving outboards in the water for long periods, none conclusive enough to make a difference.
After reaching the workshop and doing an initial scrub I found 2 holes corroded through the middle section of the casing. The damage can be repaired, but I wanted to share a pic I just had to take......

Not sure if the pic "thingy" is working, but pic is here http://community.webshots.com/user/superflid34
Look in the "Mac's Mariner" album.

 

[machurley22]

Nice! My Yam 8 probably looks like that (same boat - same problem) though I don't have any holes in the casing. It always starts and runs so well too.

Dave

 

[Superflid]

Hi Dave

I've noticed your username before and had to check your profile as my friend is normally known as Mac!

The rest of the motor looks fine and starts and runs as well as it always has.
Seems like it would be a good idea to fit a big anode and lift the engine off a couple of times a year to keep an eye on it.

Have a good new year.

Ken.

 

[geoffatstanpit]

The anode fitted to the cavitation plate looks like a zinc one. You really need an Al/Mg one as supplied for mercury OBs My Merc lives in a well and stays down all season. The merc anode wastes much faster than the zinc one I have on the skeg (to give some protection when the prop is half out of the mud at low tide). No obvious corrosion after 4 years.

Geoff

 

[Joe_Cole]

I may be wrong but I thought that you use Zinc in salt water, Al/Mg in Fresh water.