Outboard submereged, what to do?

[colhel]

After a rather alarming incident on Friday night my 2.3 honda 4 stroke OB became submereged in the sea upside down (still attached to tender) I don't know for sure how for how long but minutes not hours.
It's still in the boot of the car, I wasn't in a fit state to tend to it yesterday, but today it needs TLC.
Can I jet wash it?
If I submerge it in fresh water how long for?
Anything else I should do?


Regards

Colin

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Wash it off in fresh water, and get it to an expert.

Even if you get it started (which isn't a bad idea) there will be salt water in some of the bearings, so for long-term health take it to someone who knows that they're doing.

Don't worry, I'm sure loads of us are still using outboards that have been under at some time in their long lives!

 

[tinkicker0]

Fresh water, then "pickle" the power head in a container of diesel until you get around to stripping it.

 

[webcraft]

.
<anecdotal mode>In 2004 we came back from a pub on Aran, Donegal to find our dinghy upside down after some kids had been playing with it. A friendly local helped us recue everything and gave us a tow back to where we were anchored. I put the outboard on the transom, thinking it would need stripped down.

Next day we were alongside behind the Tory island ferry and I was chatting to the skipper. He asked if I had tried starting the outboard and suggested I did. It started after a few pulls. The outboard is still going strong 7 seasons later with minimal maintainance - one impellor change, one flap valve change and the occasional end of season run in fresh water when I remember.</anecdotal mode>

The engine in question is a 2-stroke, and it is entirely possible that your modern 4-stroke may be more deeply upset by the experience, but I would suggest as a first line of attack just giving it a good hosing down with fresh water and see if it starts. You have probably done no lasting damage at all, and outboard 'experts' are (in my experience anyway) expensive and not always as knowledgeable as they would have you believe.

- W

 

[vyv_cox]

Not an outboard, but a generator. One evening I watched a skipper lose his generator when it vibrated off the transom and fell in the sea. He made no attempt to recover it. Next morning he had gone. I dived down and found it, attached a rope to the handle and lifted it into the dinghy. I pulled the starter cord a few times to check that the cylinder was clear, drained off the fuel to separate the small amount of seawater that was in it, put the fuel back, cleaned the plug and it started after about three or four pulls. Still running to this day, although I repainted the metal parts which were rusty.

The best advice is to do something soon, before the bore and rings become badly corroded. Electronics are always best washed in fresh water after a dunking in the sea.

 

[TQA]

Time is of the essence.

Wash with fresh water. Spray electrics with lots of WD 40.

As it is a 4 stroke you may need to change the oil. Check if there is water in the crankcase if yes change the oil.

Remove plug and pull the strter till all water is evacuated.

Fresh fuel and get it started. Run till hot say 10 mins.

Check crankcase oil again and if milky change.

 

[colhel]

Thanks for all the advice. I've hosed it down, there was oil on the outside so I guess it stands to reason it's possible for water to be inside so I'll flush and change the oil (it must be about due anyway), re-fill with fresh fuel and see what happens.

Many Thanks

Colin

 

[Heckler]

Not an outboard, but a generator. One evening I watched a skipper lose his generator when it vibrated off the transom and fell in the sea. He made no attempt to recover it. Next morning he had gone. I dived down and found it, attached a rope to the handle and lifted it into the dinghy. I pulled the starter cord a few times to check that the cylinder was clear, drained off the fuel to separate the small amount of seawater that was in it, put the fuel back, cleaned the plug and it started after about three or four pulls. Still running to this day, although I repainted the metal parts which were rusty.

The best advice is to do something soon, before the bore and rings become badly corroded. Electronics are always best washed in fresh water after a dunking in the sea.

Still running.
Stu

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Did the same thing with a 2.3 Honda.
Original paperwork is very helpful, it may be here,
http://marine.honda.com/Owners/Manuals/models/BF2
As I recall (it was a couple of years ago) it was essential to remove the plug, add oil to the pot and turn the engine over still without the plug in. The engine oil WILL have been contaminated with water so it's essential that it is replaced ASAP. Finally, it MUST be taken to a dealer to replace a bearing in the shaft. If not the bearing will corrode and seize leaving you with a much bigger bill.
Only Seagulls are really designed to start after dunking but as everyone knows they never start normally anyway so no-one notices the difference!

 

[pagoda]

Did the same thing with a 2.3 Honda.
Original paperwork is very helpful, it may be here,
http://marine.honda.com/Owners/Manuals/models/BF2
As I recall (it was a couple of years ago) it was essential to remove the plug, add oil to the pot and turn the engine over still without the plug in. The engine oil WILL have been contaminated with water so it's essential that it is replaced ASAP. Finally, it MUST be taken to a dealer to replace a bearing in the shaft. If not the bearing will corrode and seize leaving you with a much bigger bill.
Only Seagulls are really designed to start after dunking but as everyone knows they never start normally anyway so no-one notices the difference!

Snap..
With a 2hp 2 stroke Yamaha. The dinghy flipped in a F6/7 gust. It wasn't immersed more than 2 or 3 mnutes. Lots of fresh water / WD40 and warm air ... to no avail. However - replaced the points, and it has been on best behaviour since. Runs much better!
I agree it's different with 4 strokes, but if caught quickly - you minimise damage. Get an oil change if need be - and a seriously good run and you are probably OK. Or you can pay somebody for an expensive rebuild.. with no real certainty of any more use from the engine?
I have been in the habit of leaving the choke shut....but NEVER tow the dinghy with the engine attached any more...!

Graeme

 

[colhel]

Snap..
but NEVER tow the dinghy with the engine attached any more...!

Graeme

I never do anyway. I was sat in it when it flipped over. Very scary.

 

[[2068]]

Can I ask how it happened?

dv.

 

[pagoda]

I never do anyway. I was sat in it when it flipped over. Very scary.

we had lots of fun doing MOB for the seat and the inflateable floor immediately afterwards, given the wind conditions (fairly flat water but F6-F7)

Who got you out??

Graeme

 

[colhel]

Can I ask how it happened?

dv.

A short version.
On a swinging mooring, had a call from Helen at 8-30pm to say she was on the shore ready for me to pick her up.
I was in the dinghy which was still attached to the boat by it's painter, I had a torch,life jacket and extra clothes as it was cold and windy, the tide was also flowing, as I went to start the engine I lost balance possibly due to the torch giving a "false horizon??" don't know. I went arse over it into the sea and the dinghy flipped upside down, hence OB submerged. I forgot how to deploy my life jacket and swam back to the boat.
Like i say ver scary, and to be honest I'm still not over the shock of it. Perhaps a new thread describing how I felt and what I learned may help.

 

[colhel]

we had lots of fun doing MOB for the seat and the inflateable floor immediately afterwards, given the wind conditions (fairly flat water but F6-F7)

Who got you out??

Graeme

Missed that one sorry. Me

 

[explores]

I also went in when the dinghy tipped over,( SWMBO thought she would give me a helping pull to get me nearer to shore) Outboard was in the water for about 5 minutes. Took the plug out and fired WD40 at the engine,tipped water out of cylinder and it started first pull.The petrol was switched off at the time ,so this my have helped.Still going strong.