questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

[bluefishing]

Hello,

First of all, thank you for reading this thread and attempting to answer any or all of my questions.

My parents found a really nice sea ray 215 that they want to keep on a dock in a protected cove in Sarasota all year. I am worried about the i/o. The boat is a 1999 and engine is the same year. How many years of life can you expect out of the block if it has been stored in water and not flushed?

How often would you recommend pulling the boat for an inspection on the outdrive?

do you store the drive tilted down or up? If up, doesn't that let marine growth ruin the trim pump?

On a related not, If it is substantially better to keep the boat on some type of air dock or drive-up dock, what do you recommend?

 

[Bondo]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Due to the nature of yer questions,...

I'm thinkin' this thread will get alot more replies, 'n Ideas in the general boatin' forum,...

Lets see what it does there, Ok,..??

 

[bluefishing]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Due to the nature of yer questions,...

I'm thinkin' this thread will get alot more replies, 'n Ideas in the general boatin' forum,...

Lets see what it does there, Ok,..??

Sure, thanks for the move

 

[Bondo]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

Ayuh,... Back to yer questions,... I don't boat in the brine, other than a few hours every few years,...
But,....
I'd think it's quite doable, 'n would think a bi-annual service oughta be considered,...
ya know, pulled in the Spring, 'n inspected, as well as Serviced, then again in the Fall...
Once a year might work, or not, donno...

Anodes, 'n other corrosion protection would of course be a big part of the service schedule...

 

[JoLin]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

Hi, bluefishing.


First, if you can do it, it is always preferable to keep a boat out of the water unless it's being used. Best option would be a dock lift that raises the whole shebang clear of the water. Can't speak for those other options (never seen them used), but the more boat you can keep dry the most often, is definitely the way to go if you have the means.

That said, we Yankees who wet slip all summer have the boats in continuously for 5-6 months out of the year, and neither I nor my compadres flush the motors, though it's certainly a better plan to do so if you can. An unflushed raw water cooled engine is good for 20+ years in salt, easy. The kicker is manifolds and risers that need to be replaced periodically. That's variable- they tend to last anywhere from 5-8 years.

As for keeping it in the water year-round, everything needs to be coated in good anti-fouling paint, and you'll want to either pull the boat or get in the water and use a scraper on the metal parts every month or two. I'd be pulling it out twice a year to wash/scrape the bottom and check the condition of the anti-fouling, zincs and all the thru-hulls. You'll also want to perform routine service on the engines and drives at least once a year.

I/O's in the water should be kept DOWN- reduces strain on the bellows by keeping them compressed.

Finally, if it's in all the time, somebody needs to be keeping an eye on it. Boat covered against the weather, batteries kept charged, (bilge pumps and float switches testeed, routine visual checks of the bilge for leaks anywhere.

 

[Don S]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

A lot depends on the growth rate of the underwater creatures as to how long it can stay in. Even with bottom paint, you will need to pull the boat out of the water and pressure wash the hull and the drive, the green and barnacals will grow fast in warm water. Be careful around the bellow, pressure washers will also blow holes in them.

Anodes is another reason to have to pull the boat out to inspect and replace as needed.

Yearly pulling of the drive for maintenance on the drive and gimbal housing is an absolute must. Props need pulled and regreased as well, or they become impermanent.

If it has a Bravo drive, you can actually run and flush the engine after use using a hose, even if the boat is sitting in the water.

 

[bluefishing]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

Thanks for the replies. Assuming we buy the boat, is pulling the drive and inspecting the bellows the first thing we should do? That seems like the most critical maintenance item. I know it can vary, but how much does it cost to pull and reinstall the drive?

Can barnacles grow inside the cooling passages in the outdrive? It doesn't seem like you can get paint in there. Thanks for the help.

 

[JoLin]

Re: questions about keeping an I/0 in sarasota bay 12 months a year...

If the seller can produce receipts to show that the outdrive has been serviced recently you can use your own judgement. If he SAYS it's been done but doesn't have documentation, then yeah, have a service done. Consists of pulling the drive, inspecting/replacing bellows, gimbal bearing, u-joint as needed. Change the drive lube and inspect for any water infiltration there (milky fluid means the lower unit needs to be resealed). Cost? Depends where you live and what's turned up. Probably a couple hundred if no issues are found.

The thing with bellows is that it's hard to determine how old they are if they aren't leaking. If the boat's more than 5, 6, 7 years old, the seller doesn't have proof and you don't have a clue, I'd just replace them. In addition to the exhaust bellows, Mercs have a gearshift cable bellows that can sink the boat if it splits.

I suppose barnacles can grow in the water passages but I haven't personally seen it.