Flushing engine when kept in water

[brooksville_rebel]

We have our 24ft pontoon wet slipped. Its not a marina or boat related place. A business with docks behind it. Have access to water and electric. Its in salt water. Next to a a bunch of shrimping boats.
Is there any tips/advice for flushing the engine while the boat is still in the water. ? Once the muffs n hose are on should it be run tilted up out of the water and ran ? Tilt it back down and kept level with muff n hose on ?
Also are there muffs that are better than others ?
Thanks
Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

few people that moor their boats in salt water flush them at all. don't worry about it. Flushing is good; not flushing is not all that important.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

I don't boat in Saltwater but if it was me I would flush it after every use. Salt is corrosive. A lot of outboards have built in connectors to flush out the eng. check out your manual.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

We have our 24ft pontoon wet slipped. Its not a marina or boat related place. A business with docks behind it. Have access to water and electric. Its in salt water. Next to a a bunch of shrimping boats.
Is there any tips/advice for flushing the engine while the boat is still in the water. ? Once the muffs n hose are on should it be run tilted up out of the water and ran ? Tilt it back down and kept level with muff n hose on ?
Also are there muffs that are better than others ?
Thanks

I just went on the web and everyone flushes after using motor in salt water. Check it out.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

I just went on the web and everyone flushes after using motor in salt water. Check it out.

I read it on the internet....it must be true.

Flushing in a slip is a rare exception, not the norm. Those with experience don't panic at the sound of saltwater slapping against the out drive.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

I don't boat in Saltwater but if it was me I would flush it after every use. Salt is corrosive. A lot of outboards have built in connectors to flush out the eng. check out your manual.

thanks for the uninformed opinion. I hear that every fresh water boat is clogged up with 75 pounds of zebra mussels.

Obviously, if his motor had a connector (some new motors do; only one of my 6 motors does) then he wouldn't be asking.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

I just went on the web and everyone flushes after using motor in salt water. Check it out.

How did you get the email address of everyone on the internet? Clearly they didn't ask the boaters in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, or on the Eastern Shore.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

Dang, somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed (or should I say thread) this morning.

 

[brooksville_rebel]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

I thank all for the advice and info. There seems to be a split as to flushing. Seems some do, some don't , some do it at the end of their boating season when they haul out.
I am going to try to flush when we come in every time. As long as I don't drop the dang muffs again. Dropped them yesterday while taking the hose off the muffs.
Thanks
Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

the question is a lot like whether to keep a car in a garage or outside. One's better, the other doesn't matter much.

A friend of mine tried to invent and patent a pipe connector for muffs so you could attach them to the motor from over the transom, when moored or on a lift. Maybe you can come up with something like that.

I suspect you will be sucking up some salt water while flushing in the water but it won't matter. But watch that you are getting enough water b/c the muffs are blocking your intake. I always have to press the muff against the motor to get enough water up in there. For that reason you may want the muffs that have water fed to both sides.

I don't know this but it seems a bad idea to run a motor tilted up; it's contrary to the design. But I'm picturing 2 stroke carbed motors and don't know anything about 4 stroke or injected.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

You didn't say if your engine was made for saltwater or not. If it was made for saltwater, then you are fine. If not, then I would flush it a few minutes after each outing. When I haul mine to saltwater for the weekend, I flush it the day I'm leaving.

 

[brooksville_rebel]

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

Engine is a 2002 Mercury ELTPO 40 HP 2 Stroke.
I have to find new muffs as I dropped then into the water as I was taking off the hose. Thats why I asked if there were any better quality muffs or attachments. The engine does not have any built in flushing unit.

THanks
Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Flushing engine when kept in water

You didn't say if your engine was made for saltwater or not. If it was made for saltwater, then you are fine. If not, then I would flush it a few minutes after each outing. When I haul mine to saltwater for the weekend, I flush it the day I'm leaving.

all outboards are made for saltwater use, except perhaps some small rare exotics. There are a few OB's that advertise they are made especially for salt but that is really just a gimmick--they may have a little extra protection here and there but the standards are just fine.

I've heard the difference between a salt and regular trolling (electric) motor is just the paint but I don't know for sure.

It's the fresh water that you have to worry about.