outboard+saltwater question

[mla2ofus]

We're going fishing on Copano Bay next month and taking our fishing boat w/ the old '54 'rude. I've made up an adapter to fit the water flush plug hole. My question is: do I need to run the motor while flushing this way to keep water from running out thru the pump? The boat will be in the water for 3 days and nites. Do I just need to tip the motor up when sitting for several hrs, like overnite? Never had an O/B in salt water before so I want to get the right info so I take proper care of old Ole.
TIA,
Mike

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

I would flush when you get home.

 

[robert graham]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Maybe spray the motor(inside and outside of cowl) with WD-40 or similar oily product to help protect it from saltwater, then flush and wash down real well with fresh water when you get back home. Tilt motor up when not in use.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Trust me on this one. A product called Corrosion Block. Take the cover off and spray all over. Spray the cover, spray everything. Don't worry about flushing every night. The damage is caused by salt deposits left in the head after everything dries out. Spray it outside also. Get back home and get a BIG barrel and run that motor in gear and get it warm and you will be fine. Unplug your trailer lights before you back it down. Wash the sdfkjdfkl out of the trailer after you are done.

WD40 is a help but nothing compared to this stuff. It was made to do this. We use it on everything down here.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Mike, Don't you know that saltwater immediately disolves old outboards?

Just kidding, your motor was designed for use in saltwater. if convenient, flush each night after use. if not convenient, flush when you get home after trip. it really won't matter either way. Those motors were never recommended for freshwater flush. You also run a heavy oil/gas mix., which will keep corrosion at bay.

Hose off the block as well. The wd-40 treatment is fine. The corrosion block will leave a waxy buildup, like the brylcream that was popular when that motor was made. I would skip it....

 

[V153]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

CRC makes a product specifically for this purpose as well. Thought I had a can around but can't seem to find it to tell you what it's called. But any outfit that sells CRC oughta be able to hook you up.

Good point about flushing the trailer. If there's not a crowd at our ramp I'll flush the trailer after I launch the boat and then again after I retrieve it.

One more thing: If you have bearing buddies it might pay give the bearings a lil juice before you head home.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Thanks for all the replies, guys!! I'll keep the WD handy and use it lots and I hadn't even given the tlr a thought. I'll wash it down good after launching and before we head home. I have a barrel set up for small outboards, so when We get home I'll stick the motor in the bbl and flush her out good.
Thanks again,
Mike

 

[Hoss 350]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Another option that I've done in the past that seem to work better than a freshwater flush via hose is to freshwater flush via lake or river. Just back down a launch that isn't busy and let her run up to temp. YOu may have to launch and run around a bit if there are others waiting at the launch - remember to not be rude. When i ran out into the sound all the time I used to just launch at a river launch about 5 miles upstream of the sound, run out, fish, and on the run back in, the river would flush my motor out incidentally as I ran back to the truck. THis was purposeful - there were launches in the salt water there, too, but the fresh water launch will extend trailer life (don't forget to wash your trailer down afterwards, too!!!) and will clean out your already to-temp motor while it's at it. This may not be an option where you are at, but look into it.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Dont spray the WD on taped wires.It will dissolve the sticky part of the tape.This goes fom WD40 imparticular.Cant speak for the other lubes.Charlie

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Do NOT use wd40 around salt water. It is a "water drying" agent (hence WD) and leaves the parts more exposed to corrosion--it actually seems to attract salt and accelerate corrosion from salt air.

Instead, CRC products as mentioned, silicone or white lithium grease, if you must.

If your motor wasn't an old classic I'd tell you not to bother with anything for just three days. Flushing inside won't make a bit of difference, b/c salt water for 3 days won't make a bit of difference. Outside parts, spray off with fresh water--but don't power wash b/c that pushes sand, salt water, etc in to fittings. Since it is so old, go ahead and fresh water flush at the end of the trip.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

WD stands for water dispersant. It only makes things worse in salt water. I have no use for it except for cleaning stainless steel. The film left by CB is SUPPOSED to be there. That's how it helps to keep salt water from destroying things. And if you can back down to a freshwater ramp when you get home that would be the ideal thing.

I am third generation Floridian and my Dad's 70 now and has owned a salt water trailers all his life and fishes at least two days a week. His last one went 20 years. We made him buy a new boat. You could see through the old one. He puts grease ALL over them when he buys a new one. I mean all over them. Not saying you should but the idea to protect something from salt is to keep the salt off of it.

 

[stackz]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

CRC makes a product specifically for this purpose as well. Thought I had a can around but can't seem to find it to tell you what it's called. But any outfit that sells CRC oughta be able to hook you up.

Good point about flushing the trailer. If there's not a crowd at our ramp I'll flush the trailer after I launch the boat and then again after I retrieve it.

One more thing: If you have bearing buddies it might pay give the bearings a lil juice before you head home.

I use the CRC corrosion inhibitor on my outboard.

it just sprays on and dries to a thick opaque'ish/reddish hue and is a bit sticky for a while lol.

pretty much coated the engine in the stuff. any place that is inside the engine or an electrical connection gets it. seems to last pretty well until you pop the bolt/nut loose. then just reapply.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Thanks, guys. I'll look around for the CRC.
Mike

 

[elchrisam]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Intresting quotes about WD 40, I though it was vegetable based. A local inshore rescue team I was a member off allways sprayed 'Duck Oil' on all the metal parts of the Quad and boat trailer. It seemed to keep the rust worms at bay. I think I will research more products for my antique merc 350 I have just purchased.
Chris

 

[elchrisam]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

Intresting quotes about WD 40, I though it was vegetable based. A local inshore rescue team I was a member off allways sprayed 'Duck Oil' on all the metal parts of the Quad and boat trailer. It seemed to keep the rust worms at bay. I think I will research more products for my antique merc 350 I have just purchased.
Chris

This is a Mercury 7.5 hp outboard that was used in the sea but never flushed out. This is Salt. This photo speaks volumes as to why you flush a engine. I cleaned it out and it works a treat now.:facepalm:

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

I use a spray called LPS 3 to protect metal and it leaves a wax film behind. http://www.lpslabs.com/technical_info/tds/LPS3.pdf

 

[kahuna123]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

I have a Yamaha 15 that is otherwise perfect. The person who owned it never realized as much as they cared for it that the head never got warm enough to circulate fresh water hooked to the hose.

 

[Hoss 350]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

The previous post is why I advocate, as i did above, that you actually take it to a freshwater river or lake to flush it out. Often times the engine just won't get hot enough on the hose to allow the t-stat to open up and really flush the whole mess. I know that launching in a river and running down tot he salt is not always an option, although it is the best option, IMHO, but a 15 minute run in your local lake will wash it out clean-like. Just make sure you're not transporting invasive species between the two bodies of water, please.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: outboard+saltwater question

This is a Mercury 7.5 hp outboard that was used in the sea but never flushed out. This is Salt. This photo speaks volumes as to why you flush a engine. I cleaned it out and it works a treat now.View attachment 113207:facepalm:

I'm trying to figure out the photo. If those are the spark plugs installed as they should be, that is the outside of the engine block, unaffected by salt water. If those plugs are screwed in to the holes inside the cylinder/head, no water, salt or otherwise, should be htere, either, unless the walls or gaskets failed. ???

 

[elchrisam]

Re: outboard+saltwater question

I'm trying to figure out the photo. If those are the spark plugs installed as they should be, that is the outside of the engine block, unaffected by salt water. If those plugs are screwed in to the holes inside the cylinder/head, no water, salt or otherwise, should be htere, either, unless the walls or gaskets failed. ???

The photo is of a old 7.5 hp mercury. I have taken the water jacket cover off the top of the cylinders and then put the plugs back in to stop dirt ingress. This engine does not have a cylinder head, and what you are looking at are the tops of the cylinders, which are sealed unit the size of a coke can, with a rounded top where the plug fits.

Yesterday I took the exhaust baffle size off again as the gasket was not sealing properly and it all ready has salt build up in the waterways. These where cleaned out and I have on used the engine twice since I cleaned them out, and after each time I run it for 10 mins in a dustbin of fresh water. I am going to see what addative I can get to help with the flushing. (salt-ex)