Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

[jontoronto27]

I have a 78 OMC that was left for dead for about 15 years, is relatively clean for it's age, is it a good idea to degrease it from time to time? or do I risk screwing up the lube around the linkages and electricals? It seems like a huge annoyance to collect the liquid after anyways, should I even bother?
thanks

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

Once it is clean a general soap and water wash is all you should need.
Watch out some of the "engine clean" stuff screws up the electric wires. It changes the insulators color so it cant be good on the wires. Also most boats motors rival show cars for clean motors because they never see the outside elements so if your motor is getting "greasy" it coming from itself and you need to fix it.

 

[jontoronto27]

Re: Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

Once it is clean a general soap and water wash is all you should need.
Watch out some of the "engine clean" stuff screws up the electric wires. It changes the insulators color so it cant be good on the wires. Also most boats motors rival show cars for clean motors because they never see the outside elements so if your motor is getting "greasy" it coming from itself and you need to fix it.

It's coming from fuel vomiting carburetors and shaky hands with the oil and it being 29 years old lol I think I'll just use some palmolive and a toothbrush and get down and dirty with it. thanks

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

If your hands are that shaky have you tried using a funnel I'm 39 and use a funnel with out shaky hands, using a funnel would make your life a lot easier so you can spend more time boating instead of cleaning up after yourself

 

[Ro-Tator]

Re: Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

I'd like to clean my '72 inline 6 cylinder GM, but I like the thought of all that grease, dirt, and oil protecting the engine block from corrosion. even though it's cast iron and will never fully disintegrate, I still like knowing that it's protected. Laugh if you want.

 

[jontoronto27]

Re: Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

If your hands are that shaky have you tried using a funnel I'm 39 and use a funnel with out shaky hands, using a funnel would make your life a lot easier so you can spend more time boating instead of cleaning up after yourself

Lol I'm 27 but MS is a *****. yeah even with funnels and taking all the precautions, they just get all.. I dunno.. dirty. And I'll never get top spot at the OMC Sterndrive Show and Swapmeet with a dirty engine.

oh and I made that up. ha!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Is degreasing a good idea for boats?

AAHHH I see, Well to answer your question, I probably wouldn't use anything harsh all the time, and just make sure she completely dries wouldn't want any of your connections to arch due to water is a conductor for electric current even though some of them are supposed to be moisture proof.