Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

[Mark42]

Just a FYI for anyone who stores their o/b outside....<br /><br />Last year I stored the boat outside without the prop. I had put a thin coat of grease on the prop shaft, then wrapped it in regular plastic food wrap. Put a couple of rubber bands on to keep the plastic wrap from unwinding over the winter. It sat out in the rain, ice and snow all winter here in NJ. In the spring when I took off the plastic, there was not one spot of rust on the prop shaft. And the spacers, castle nut and cotterpin were there right where I left them. <br /><br />I know some people take off the prop when storing to prevent theft. Just thought I'd share this simple technique to prevent the shaft from rusting.<br /><br />Mark.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

Prop shafts are stainless steel, it does not rust when you are using it in salt water. Why would it rust during storage?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

I didn't know it was stainless. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

It's my understanding that stainless steel is resistant but not immune to corrosion.

 

[njlarry]

Re: Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

If there is no corrosion why can they be such buggers to remove?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

Originally posted by Njlarry:<br /> If there is no corrosion why can they be such buggers to remove?

Because the prop isnt stainless, and dissimilar metals corrode against each other. Thus you have to keep a generous amount of grease on the shaft.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Storing boat outside without prop; what I did last year that worked.

As Lubedude pointed out, its the difference in materials that causes the corrosion and seizing. Stainless and aluminum are on opposite ends of the galvanic corrosion table and hence are subject to significant corrosion if zincs are not used on the motor.