outboard left in or out of water??

[clickboxpro]

Hello,<br /><br />I will be keeping a boat with a Mercury outboard, 60 HP, 4-stroke, BigFoot<br />out at Lake Pleasant, Arizona in a wet slip. I would like to find out the<br />proper recommendations for leaving the boat for a week at a time in the<br />slip.<br /><br />Should the lower unit be tilted COMPLETELY out of the water? Or should I<br />leave it down in the water? AND Why?<br /><br />What are the pros and cons to each? When and how often do I need to flush<br />the system with a hose?, and how is this done? What extra equipment do I<br />need?<br /><br />Thanks<br />John<br />john@clickboxpro.com

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

Hi John.Outboards are made so that you can leave them tilted down and left in the water with little adverse affect on them.But honestly why would you leave it in water when it is easily tilted out of the water.I never leave my outboard tilted down left unattended.This is the best method of keeping it new looking as well as keeping any marine growth out of it.Flushing should be done as often as you can.You can attach earmuffs to the intake vents and run the motor or you may have a flush attachment on the back of the motor.I know the newer mercs have them.If you have one read the manual to use it.Charlie

 

[elcamino12sec]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

I believe leaving it down would be better due to the zinc anode taking care of the ecoctrolasis, that is what that piece is made for, but if in a lake I dont think it would matter unless it brackish water in the lake, just my opinion though, happy boating.

 

[Forktail]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

The main advantage to leaving it up is that it's out of the constant wet environment. The lower unit is free from damage of hitting bottom or drifting debris, catching on ropes, etc.<br /><br />The disadvantage is that it sticks out, making it more apt to be hit by your docking neighbor.<br /><br />I always leave mine up.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

Elcamino,the moment the outboard is raised out of the water there is NO ecectrolysis.The moment it touches the water the environment is then created for electrolysis.Charlie

 

[rschnack]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

If I understand correctly, it can be bad to tilt four strokes up all the way when letting them sit because the oil in the crank case moves away from parts that need it. I may be wrong but this is what I was told.<br /><br />RCS

 

[DJ]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

clickboxpro,<br /><br />Being in Phoenix myself, I am familiar with Pleasant.<br /><br />That water is very mineral laden. If you can, tilt it out.<br /><br />If you want to flush it, you can with a (flushette) muffs available at any marine store.<br /><br />See the fourth item down, on this page.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cg...ent_category=flushette&submit.x=36&submit.y=7

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

Leave it up. You'd be suprised at how much algae and gunk can accumulate on the lower unit in no time at all. No need to flush it, unless you run in saltwater...

 

[mattttt25]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

i keep mine up.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: outboard left in or out of water??

If there were no advantage to keeping your motor out of the water then we wouldn't be having this discussion and how much does it really take to push a button for 10 seconds, or the 3 seconds it takes to pull it up. It does not cause any problem with four strokes to tilt them up, when you shut your car off all of the oil drains back into the pan on the other side of the engine from the cylinder head, as soon as you tilt it back down the pump will do it's job.