I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

joecooool

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
24
I will be docking my boat with my outboard 40 hp bigfoot engine. I can't flush it without a major effort. Should I raise the engine out of the water or keep the lower end submerged? I'll be using it every day, it will just be parked at night. Its not going to be an issue leaving it in the water unflushed for 48 hours or so is it?
 

Eshaw150

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
295
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

Leave the foot out of the water when not it use. When u get it home Go and buy some salt Terminator and flush it with that. U can find that it BPShops or caballas what ever is close to you,

Should not hurt it that bad as long as u take and lift the motor out.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,106
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

Joe, Don't sweat it. Just flush it with fresh water when you are done. Ot here on the east coast, many folks never flush their outboards. More than many never flush their sterndrives. They last 20+ years if the balance of the maintenance is good.
 

jacobacope

Recruit
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
5
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

What if it is a freshwater motor? Is it still ok to leave in for a few days?
 

gss036

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2003
Messages
2,914
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

Really no such think as a freshwater motor, they can all be used in saltwater. but should be flushed w/fresh water when possible. I have seen the inside water passages completely clogged with salt and then you have to chip it out to get water to flow.
 

jaymasta

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Messages
236
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

I have always been curious of this, to leave the motor tilted down or up in salt water, I live on the wes coasts and am surrounded by marinas and have asked and talked to many people and never get a straight answer. But it seems most motors at marinas are tilted down. What is your reasoning for tilting it up?




Leave the foot out of the water when not it use. When u get it home Go and buy some salt Terminator and flush it with that. U can find that it BPShops or caballas what ever is close to you,

Should not hurt it that bad as long as u take and lift the motor out.
 

cr2k

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
3,730
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

One thing to do during your next maint...when you pull your lower for impeller or whatever use some aviation permatex to seal the threads on your lower and water pump. Anywhere they will be in saltwater. This will seal them from saltwater and prevent corrosion. Then you will be still able to get them loose later on.
 

jmburock

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
174
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

I flush my motor twice a year with freshwater, once in APril when I get ready to put it out in the salt, and once in October when I take it out. I keep the leg out of the bay when not in use but other than that, salt water flows through it for 6 months of the year w/o any adverse side effects. Only issue is I have to replace the thermostat every year or two due to salt depositing in it. 48 hours in the salt won't cause you any issues.
 

Eshaw150

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
295
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

my reasoning is that it wont stay in the salt and want get corosion build up around it but 48 hours wont hurt it
 

lprizman

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
440
Re: I'm leaving my boat in salt water for a few days and have a question

I flush my motor twice a year with freshwater, once in APril when I get ready to put it out in the salt, and once in October when I take it out. I keep the leg out of the bay when not in use but other than that, salt water flows through it for 6 months of the year w/o any adverse side effects. Only issue is I have to replace the thermostat every year or two due to salt depositing in it. 48 hours in the salt won't cause you any issues.

X 1

yup I rinse after every and all salt water run,,,and super anal about the up keap of my boat,,,you have no worries,,,they are made for this stuff
 
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