seawater flushing

[Mike k]

Hi my manual for my engine ( mercruiser D tronic 4.2) says that every time i use the boat i must flush the seawater system with fresh water.This would mean connecting up to a fresh water supply removiung the main hose finding some sort of hose pipe adaptor ( are these available?)
and flushing through for 10 minutes. This sounds pretty onerous- does everybody do this or is there a reasonable time interval.

What is your modus operandi please??

Any thoughts very welcome

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

I guess you have a stern drive. Is so there is a hose adaptor that retails for about £10 that fits over the water intake. Very easy to do every time if you recover your boat onto a trailer but a not so practical if you keep your boat afloat. Judging by the size of engine you are more likely to be marina berthed.

 

[ian38_39]

If you are fresh water cooled then it is only the heat exchanger and raw water pump that is exposed to salt water so while it would be very nice to remove all the salt I don't know to anyone who does it unless as has been said you are dry berthed.

There was a product in MBM, either new gear or tried and tested, a few months ago that is a permanent installation allowing the system to be flushed by just connecting a hose.

Or you can do as we do and moor in fresh water so the system is flushed as you return from sea automatically.

 

[Mike k]

thanks for your posts- yes its marina berthed so i think i have got the message as suspected that its not really practical although in an ideal/perfect world it should be done!!

 

[DAKA]

thanks for your posts- yes its marina berthed so i think i have got the message as suspected that its not really practical although in an ideal/perfect world it should be done!!

I fresh water flush and fill with 50% antifreeze 1-3 times a year, once at the onset of winter and then each time over the winter when we go out.

I dont rinse with fresh everytime.

I do change the engine anodes twice a year which I recommend you to do.

If you are lucky the easy ones on top need changing twice a year , takes about the same time it takes to change a spark plug, but the ones tucked under the oil cooler last a full year.

Pencil anodes can be bought from http://www.zincsmart.com/list3.htm for £2 each and then hack saw to correct size the shorter oil cooler ones (zinc is easy to saw).