Outdrives in the mud

[Cavalierbond]

Marina where i berth ( Brightlingsea ) hasn’t been dredged for a few years and at low tide ,few hours the boat sits in the silt /mud ..
Do you think this will cause mechanical issues .. ?

 

[chillee]

I used to have mine on a drying mud mooring. Just made sure the trim tabs were up and outdrive trimmed up. Had no problems.

 

[simonfraser]

I used to have mine on a drying mud mooring. Just made sure the trim tabs were up and outdrive trimmed up. Had no problems.

likely to get barnies on the rods with the leg trimmed up, unless the whole lot is out of the water

 

[scottie]

Perhaps check cooling water flow more often

 

[chillee]

likely to get barnies on the rods with the leg trimmed up, unless the whole lot is out of the water

was a concern, but I didn't get a problem. Perhaps just lucky

 

[chillee]

Perhaps check cooling water flow more often

Agreed..... I cleaned my filter every trip before going out.

 

[Cavalierbond]

Does trimming up put strain on the bellows over time ... ?

 

[scottie]

Does trimming up put strain on the bellows over time ... ?

Running with them for any length of time or any amount of throttle knocks he’ll out the UJs

 

[SC35]

Leaving outdrives up exposes trim rams to fouling.
If the drive falls down and goes into the mud, the prop can end up out of line as the prop bush gets squashed if it's not soft mud.

 

[oldgit]

All of my early boats with outdrives ( both Volvo Penta and ~"Black Anchors" ) Mercruiser spent 100% of their lives on muddy drying tidal berths on the Swale and Medway .
Not uncommon to forget to raise them or due to hydraulic rams leaking , from them to drop down after few days.
Cannot recall any problems ever with mud blocking any cooling water channels in the engines either petrol or diesel.
Do not recall any problems with growth on the stainless ram rods either, everything else on the outdrive had a Welcome sign on it regards marine growth.

Loads of other outdrive problems if anybody is bored wants to fill a spare week or two.
The big upside is the reduction of growth on the hull on a drying mooring.

 

[scottie]

All of my early boats with outdrives ( both Volvo Penta and ~"Black Anchors" ) Mercruiser spent 100% of their lives on muddy drying tidal berths on the Swale and Medway .
Not uncommon to forget to raise them or due to hydraulic rams leaking , from them to drop down after few days.
Cannot recall any problems ever with mud blocking any cooling water channels in the engines either petrol or diesel.
Do not recall any problems with growth on the stainless ram rods either, everything else on the outdrive had a Welcome sign on it regards marine growth.

Loads of other outdrive problems if anybody is bored wants to fill a spare week or two.
The big upside is the reduction of growth on the hull on a drying mooring.

How many times have mud in the sea water inlet be a problem in shaft drive boats

 

[oldgit]

How many times have mud in the sea water inlet be a problem in shaft drive boats

Personally never had any problems with mud blocking any raw water inlets on any shaft driven boats.Frequently take boat into a drying muddy marina without issues.Have never bothered with shutting seacocks either.We do have some. Skippers who refuse to go to any destination where their boat will dry out on any mud berth. Strictly marina to marina and always afloat.....,their choice...their loss ?

The entire inshore run of our pontoons dry,no idea if folks shut their seacocks, yet to hear of any problems!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Outboards can have surprisingly powerful pee holes.

With an outboard in a well, black water, for about the first 20 seconds can be expected so you have to stay well forward for a bit.

 

[simonfraser]

leave your anchor chain covered in mud and salt water for a few months in the locker
that will give you a good idea as to what is happening to your OD

 

[PCUK]

leave your anchor chain covered in mud and salt water for a few months in the locker
that will give you a good idea as to what is happening to your OD

Except the chain has no anodic protection and is galvanised steel so no comparison.