Outboards let on boats

[m1taylor]

I am rather paranoid about flushing with fresh water after use in salt water having had a Mariner 4HP fail on me through over-heating- but taking the motor home each time I go out with my boat
does involve hassle, and lugging etc.

I am amazed at how many boats are left in on salt water moorings with their outboards attached, even small ones down to 2hp. So what is the secret? Do these people not bother flushing their engines, and get away with it for a season? Or is there some nice easy way to flush the motor on the boat that I don't know about? What's the secret I am missing?


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[Guest]

Religiously flushed both my 4.5 Johnson and 3 Mariners ....... both ended up blocked anyway ...

I don't say its not worth flushing, but having had 2 engines block up - even though I set-up a dedicated flush tank at home etc. - I am now a start and go - stop and stow boater !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Talbot]

I dont bother with the religous experience of flushing I know it is going to block up anyway so can be bothered. Just pull the thing fully apart every couple of years and clean out the passageways thoroughly.

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[LORDNELSON]

Re: Outboards left on boats

I do flush my 2hp Yamaha almost every time I use it. It blocked up after 4 years and (7years after purchase) is showing signs of again blocking up. A new head gasket costs about £15 so it is really a question of how often you wish to shell out £15 or so! I think someone below said that without flushing an outboard would block every 2 years.

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[VicS]

My 20yr old Evinrude is left on board. I used to stow it in the cabin after every trip but it got heavier each year so now I leave in on its bracket.

Although I have twice had to sort out a cooling problem associated with corrosion there are no signs that the water ways are becoming blocked. I have seen inside to a limited extent and there is a good flow through when connected to a hose.

I take it home at the end of the season and give it a good run in fresh water and store it upright for the winter.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[wiggy]

Got a new 2.2hp honda and I hate to be smug but there is no water cooling at all, is air cooled, no flushing no hassle, fab engine.

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[MIKE_MCKIE]

I was looking at one of those, with just the same thought. Aircooled & 4stroke, just the job. However a "friend of mine offered me a 5 year old, virtually unused Mariner 4, for the princely sum of 100 squids, so OK says I that will do me!
Now that I have paid out another 140 squids for the OBM centre in Fareham to strip & rebuild the motor following a dramatic overheat, with flames & all thrown in, I rather wish I had kept to my original wish & got the Honda! (the Mariner was on the back of an inflatable at the time, so the bicycle clips were working overtime!!). Never was the old adage "you gets what you pays for" more dramatically illustrated!
Brgds
Mike


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[m1taylor]

Many thanks for the replies.

I guess the real option is to learn how to take the head off an outboard motor (or how much does a typical agent charge to do this every couple of years?)

I like the idea of the Honda 2.3hp, but I think that will be a little weak to push a 17ft boat on a tidal estuary (correct me if I am wrong?)



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[PhilF]

I am sure you know this.
You can buy a simple suction cap thing that has a hose connection that you can use to flush the outboard with. It fits over the inlet outlet at the bottom of the shaft and costs £10 or so.


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