What kind of damage from an I/O in salt water for 2-3 years?

T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
Considering buying a boat. It's an IO that has been in salt water for the past 2-3 years without being used, just sitting. Anodes are gone, I assume I will have to replace the outdrive. Not sure of the bell housing, but aware that I might have to replace that as well. There is no way to get this boat out of the water and it's not running, so I have no real way to inspect the outdrive or transom assembly, or the actual transom.

So, I have some questions.

1) Is it possible that the outdrive served as an anode and the corrosion has just been eating up the outdrive and the transom assembly (bell housing/rams) is fine? Or is that not how it works.

2) Can I try to turn it on and run it? What happens if the outdrive is frozen or something? I assume I can run it in neutral but what happens if I try to put it in gear?

3) My big worry is that the damage has gone past the outdrive and transom assembly and messed up the actual transom or the engine. The engine looks like it's in great shape (it's clean, very little rust) and there is zero water in the bilge after 2-3 years. Does this mean that there is no water leaking in, and that the transom and engine are probably fine?

4) Hull is fiberglass. Is fiberglass generally okay in salt water for years, or is it possible that the hull is damaged?

Thanks!
 
T

tphoyt

Lieutenant
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
1,404
Sounds like a bucket full of unknowns to me.
I wouldn’t even consider it unless I was able to get it out of the water for a complete inspection.
Even if it were free. Cost of disposal would be a great concern to me.
I’m sure others will chime in.
Best
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
tphoyt said:
Sounds like a bucket full of unknowns to me.
I wouldn’t even consider it unless I was able to get it out of the water for a complete inspection.
Even if it were free. Cost of disposal would be a great concern to me.
I’m sure others will chime in.
Best
Click to expand...
Thanks—so what I'm trying to figure out is, what are the unknowns? I can do anything in the water, so for example, I can start the engine, test (at least most of) the electrical, get under the deck, etc.

Some unknowns I'm aware of are the transom, the stringers, the outdrive, and the bell housing/rams. So I guess what I'm trying to figure out is.... let's say I'm willing to pay for a new outdrive/bell housing if necessary. I think that removes them as an unknown. Transom is still an unknown, so I'm trying to figure out what the likelihood of damage is. And then, what other unknowns are there that can ONLY be tested on a dry dock? Because those are the things that will sway my decision the most.

Thanks!
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
racerone said:
Turn around.----Take big steps in rapid succession.-----So many better projects are available
Click to expand...
Thanks—this is probably what I'll do, but I'm also trying to learn. So, for example, it's good information for me to have to know what kind of damage is likely on this boat and why. Plus, then I can make an informed decision for myself, as my risk tolerance may be different from yours, or I may be specifically looking for a multi-year project (which, as it turns out, I am! But I'd need to know what to expect on this boat in order to make a good decision on whether I'm equipped to tackle the specific problems this boat has or might have).

Given this, can you help me learn what kinds of things I can expect as far as damage? I'd really like to make a fully-informed decision here :) I appreciate the fact that you're trying to help, but just providing an answer that might be right for *you* doesn't help me learn and doesn't let me make an informed decision that will be right for *me*. Hopefully you can appreciate this perspective, as well :) Thanks!
 
Lou C

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,055
replacing an outdrive runs into thousands and a transom mount costs about the same plus the engine must be pulled! Boats can live for a long time in salt water but they require yearly maintenance….Ive done it….for 23 years!
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
Lou C said:
replacing an outdrive runs into thousands and a transom mount costs about the same plus the engine must be pulled! Boats can live for a long time in salt water but they require yearly maintenance….Ive done it….for 23 years!
Click to expand...

ok, thanks. so are you saying that the transom is DEFINITELY ruined and I will absolutely need to replace it, and I should budget that in?
 
Lou C

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,055
No I’m saying that the boat needs to be pulled out of the water and thoroughly inspected by someone who knows what to look for. It could be salvageable or a complete refit needed which may exceed the value of the boat or anything in between. Was the boat bottom painted before being put in the water? Was the outdrive painted with alu anti fouling? Is the bilge dry or has there been salt water laying under the engine all this time? Were the exhaust manifolds & elbows ever checked/changed? These are all basic issues that salt water boating entails, thousands of boats survive in salt water but not without regular maintenance. For salt water outboards are superior as far as longevity and low maintenance. Sounds like you need a salt water boating friend to help you out so you don’t make a big financial mistake….which it certainly could be!
 
M

Mc Tool

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
345
tabletop said:
lol I don't know exactly what this means but I think I can figure out the overall message from context :)
Click to expand...
Old pommie saying "wouldnt touch it with a 40 foot barge pole (barge pole is like what the Venetian gondoliers use to push their gondolas along ), and I mean its so dodgy I wouldnt even touch it with someone elses barge pole 😁.
I have been where you are now and sometimes all the small things seem trivial enough to want to take it on , but you are facing some big things ,any one of which would put off an experienced boat fixer ( as above comments ). It can be hard to walk away when you have the finished image in mind but , I really think the money and time it could end up costing you would be better off investing in a better boat to start with .
I have had this lesson pounded into me a few times now .😁
 
Lou C

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,055
If you’re not an accomplished back yard mechanic familiar with old school GM engines and marine propulsion systems (outdrives) this is a very risky venture. You can leave an outboard boat in the salt with the OB tilted up for a long time, people do it here all the time but an I/O, no way, obviously the owner didn’t care about it and you shouldn’t get involved in it, likely will be an expensive headache. I wouldn’t take it for free and I’ve been maintaining I/O boats in salt over 20 years!
 
J

JonBoat55

Seaman
Joined
Aug 26, 2019
Messages
59
Do you have pictures? Make/model of the boat? Make/model of the engine? Been floating at a marina, private dock, mooring? You are asking a lot of specific questions with very little detail guys in here would need to make those answer worthwhile.
 
dingbat

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,320
tabletop said:
Considering buying a boat. It's an IO that has been in salt water for the past 2-3 years without being used, just sitting.
Click to expand...
First off, year, make and model of the boat?
tabletop said:
3) The engine looks like it's in great shape (it's clean, very little rust) and there is zero water in the bilge after 2-3 years. Does this mean that there is no water leaking in, and that the transom and engine are probably fine?
Click to expand...
The zero water in the bilge after 2-3 years is concerning......
Was the boat shrink wrapped in the water for 2-3 years?

Self bailing cockpit?
Even then, hard to believe there isn't some water in the bilge after sitting that lonfg

I would personally run....
 
nola mike

nola mike

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,426
You'd have to assume a complete repower. Good amount of work, you probably need to find a donor boat with a rotten hull. In the water, unable to be tested, it is worth negative money. Especially without a trailer. However, you said that the owner was willing to start it, or at least try to? Even in the water, you can get an idea of what the outdrive and bell housing look like as far as corrosion.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,149
Well, we don't know how new the boat is, or the brand of the engine/outdrive. . . which may help.

As for the outdrive . . . I get about 3-4 months out of a set of anodes, then they are ready for the scrap bucket. You mentioned that the boat has been in the water for several years (continuously, I assume). I would doubt that there is much left of the outdrive casing. The transom assembly is probably not much better.

the hull/transom should be OK, if it is a newer boat. If the boat is 20+ years old then the transom may have age-based deterioration.

What attracts you to this boat? :unsure:
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
Lou C said:
If you’re not an accomplished back yard mechanic familiar with old school GM engines and marine propulsion systems (outdrives) this is a very risky venture. You can leave an outboard boat in the salt with the OB tilted up for a long time, people do it here all the time but an I/O, no way, obviously the owner didn’t care about it and you shouldn’t get involved in it, likely will be an expensive headache. I wouldn’t take it for free and I’ve been maintaining I/O boats in salt over 20 years!
Click to expand...

If it matters, it actually looks like it's in great shape and well maintained on the inside... apparently the owner died and his kids just let it sit and didn't realize that they needed to change anodes, etc.
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
JonBoat55 said:
Do you have pictures? Make/model of the boat? Make/model of the engine? Been floating at a marina, private dock, mooring? You are asking a lot of specific questions with very little detail guys in here would need to make those answer worthwhile.
Click to expand...

Ah sorry. Yes, it's a 1991 Baylinr trophy. Engine is a mercruiser, outdrive is an alpha one. Floating in a marina for about 2-3 years. Just said above, but inside of the boat is in great condition, everything looks really nice except I just can't see the outdrive. But the hull is clean, the cockpit is clean, cabin is in good shape.... the owner clearly took good care of it but then died and his kids didn't realize that anodes need to be changed or whatever and figured it was good to just float. So it's been floating :)
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
dingbat said:
First off, year, make and model of the boat?

The zero water in the bilge after 2-3 years is concerning......
Was the boat shrink wrapped in the water for 2-3 years?

Self bailing cockpit?
Even then, hard to believe there isn't some water in the bilge after sitting that lonfg

I would personally run....
Click to expand...

OK, this is the kind of info I am looking for! Why is no water in the bilge concerning? Like if the bellows are in good shape and hull is sealed.... how would water get in? And what's the concern if there isn't any water?

Boat was not shrink wrapped, unfortunately :/
 
T

tabletop

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2023
Messages
19
nola mike said:
You'd have to assume a complete repower. Good amount of work, you probably need to find a donor boat with a rotten hull. In the water, unable to be tested, it is worth negative money. Especially without a trailer. However, you said that the owner was willing to start it, or at least try to? Even in the water, you can get an idea of what the outdrive and bell housing look like as far as corrosion.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am able to start it, I had a mechanic look at it this morning and he said the engine is in good shape and it was running well. So now my main questions are whether the transom is good and whether there is damage beyond the outdrive. But someone else noted that it's bad news that the bilge is dry, so maybe the answer there will change things, too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top