I/O in salt water

[borz170]

Just wondering, does anybody have any input on running I/O's in sat water?

I have a 2007 Larson 180 Sport with a 3.0 Volvo Penta. Does anybody have any experience with this perticular drive train in salt water?

Any input would help. I am afraid I jumped into a bad spot with the I/O rather than going with a 4 stroke OB.

Concerned,

Mike

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I/O in salt water

It will be fine, just make sure you keep up with the sacraficial zincs & flush it with fresh water after each use.....​

 

[lmannyr]

Re: I/O in salt water

I prefer I/O over OB so my opinion is biased. Like said above, flush it after each use, check zinc before the season, and don't run it with the lower unit tilted all the way up ( ex. after launching, near shallows ).

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[Lou C]

Re: I/O in salt water

Not only have I run mine in salt, but it gets moored in salt for 6 months of the year. If you're just running it and not mooring in salt, not really anything to worry about, just flush and keep up the anodes. Check the exhaust riser and manifold after about 4 seasons worth. Make sure you have the drive removed and the bellows checked for water leaks at the end of each season. The drive should be pressure checked for leaks at the same time.

If you are going to run in salt all the time, consider adding closed cooling to the motor, it will greatly prolong the life of the engine and make winterizing easier.

 

[Coors]

Re: I/O in salt water

Some people swear by Salt-away, I think that is the name.

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

Thanks for all of teh responses. A lot of my friends have made fun of me because I purchased an I/O rather thatn an OB 4-stroke. Sounds like I may have the last laugh. i have heard of Salt away. What exactly does it do?

Mike

 

[Scaaty]

Re: I/O in salt water

Thanks for all of teh responses. A lot of my friends have made fun of me because I purchased an I/O rather thatn an OB 4-stroke. Sounds like I may have the last laugh. i have heard of Salt away. What exactly does it do?

Mike

hook up a flusher for the Saltaway...it will NOT do anything for old salted out stuff...but when new Manifolds put on...you will double the life of them. It neutralizes the salt corrosion..works..but only new stuff...(did the test on an old head..zero..)

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

hook up a flusher for the Saltaway...it will NOT do anything for old salted out stuff...but when new Manifolds put on...you will double the life of them. It neutralizes the salt corrosion..works..but only new stuff...(did the test on an old head..zero..)

My boat has less than 5 hs on it. Sounds like a good time to install. Is it difficult?

 

[lmannyr]

Re: I/O in salt water

My boat has less than 5 hs on it. Sounds like a good time to install. Is it difficult?

NOPE! I'm sure the iboats store has it. Nice feature. Or better yet, add a closed cooling system. With a closed system, your engine and part of your exhaust (depending on full or half system) will be cooled with antifreeze prolonging your engine and exhaust much longer! The good is you only have 5 hours on the engine. The bad is a much more money. The money is a fraction of what a new engine will cost you later though.

Let us know what you decide and we will help you pick, choose and install it.

ENJOY!!

 

[rogair]

Re: I/O in salt water

what did you end up with motor/outdrive wise???

I have similar problem w 2 350 chevy/alpha 1's....looking for cheap solution...

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

what did you end up with motor/outdrive wise???

I have similar problem w 2 350 chevy/alpha 1's....looking for cheap solution...

3.0 Volvo Penta SX

 

[DukesFin]

Re: I/O in salt water

I had an I/O in Florida and like you, I caught absolute hades for my purchase from all of my outboard motoring friends. Even with the gas mileage I was getting, they still would not look kindly on the I/O set up.

Here are my takes on it though:

Get electronic ignition if you don't already. Even under the cap, you'll be surprised at how quickly salt air will/can find it's way to points!

If you can afford it, GET A CLOSED COOLING SYSTEM INSTALLED! I can't stress that enough.

Flush it EVERY time you pull it out of the water. I don't care if you come in from a long day of fishing, the boat is loaded with fish, kids, coolers, etc and you are more tired that you have ever been. I'd let the fish rot before I skip the flushing step. It only takes one time of not flushing the system out to begin the horrible corrosion salt water and air can do, especially to your manifolds and elbows. They are not cheap!

I loved my I/O and still swear by them, even for salt water. For some reason, Floridians in particular are not fans of them.

Just take care of it and it will take care of you. Your new favorite word is Maintenance. You have to be proactive to get everything out of your drivetrain that you want.

Have fun and go fishing!

 

[runithrd]

Re: I/O in salt water

These guys are on the money, friend - keep it flushed, check the zincs, and hopefully you don't need to KEEP it stored in SW - My I/O has basically LIVED in it, but I'm also small enough to trailer around to FW lakes, etc, and pull her out more often than not...your greatest danger/dilemma is being unable to trim her completely out of the water, like an OB can, if storing in SW - otherwise, ENJOY IT! Mine does island jumps here in SoCal, Mex waters fishing, at least 80% of her time in the bigger blue - GO FOR IT

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

Thanks for the input guys. I have loved this boat so far. I have flushed it out after every use. I live close to the ramp, so the engine is still almost at operation temp when i hook the fresh to her. I set up a gated Y at my hose bib and flush for the duration of my rinsing of the trailer/hull/interior. At least 10 minutes.

Mileage has been awesome. Sunday we tubed all day on 10 gallons of gas. So happy I didn't get the 4.3. 3.0 is way strong enough, unless you a re a pro wake boarder of something. Thanks for the advise...

If you're aroune St. Auggy, hit Conch House for Ragae Sunday. Matanzas is nice too...

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: I/O in salt water

reggea sundays is where it is at. I love matanzas. The whole salt run area is beautiful. Do you use vliano to port out because during low tide with an IO you have to be careful it will shallow up to about 2 feet

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

I use the ramp in St. Auggy South, but don't tell anybody, ti's packed. Pretty good even at a low tide but u gotta be careful...

 

[Lou C]

Re: I/O in salt water

Don't worry about what people say. Those 4 stroke outboards will need to be fixed one day too, and I'll tell you one thing, they ain't driveway mechanic friendly for anything besides oil changes and plug changes. Plus eventually they need timing belt changes and valve adjustments, similar to Japanese car engines they are based on. That 4 cyl 3.0 is dead simple and easy to maintain, there is not an easier to maintain engine. You have to be very careful about maintenance, with corrosion protection, fluid changes, maintaining the cooling system and exhaust. I would for sure put closed cooling on it, that will prolong the engine's life for sure. If you don't put in closed cooling you can always add the Volvo Neutra Salt system, which neutralizes the effect of the raw water on the engine, if you can't flush with fresh water.
Here people are anti I/O too, but about 1/3 of the boats out there are I/O and I just keep my old Cobra going along.....spraying Corrosion X here and there, coating all bolts with OMC triple guard grease, etc, in the battle against corrosion. Tell your OB friends that bolts corrode and break off in aluminum too.

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

I don't think I have had one person reply to this thread with anything negative about I/O's. Sounds like I picked a winner. Thanks to all for the info.

 

[sputnikv8]

Re: I/O in salt water

I don't think I have had one person reply to this thread with anything negative about I/O's. Sounds like I picked a winner. Thanks to all for the info.

Well...uh... you're in the I/O message forum. ))

 

[borz170]

Re: I/O in salt water

Well...uh... you're in the I/O message forum. ))

why didn't I think of that...