Raise the motor, or not? - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Post-Classic Whalers
  Raise the motor, or not?

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Raise the motor, or not?

stlawrence posted 06-23-2005 12:17 AM ET (US)
Our boat, with Optimax 200, sits in a freshwater slip for weeks, and up to a month, between uses. What would be the effect of raising the motor out of the water while she's sitting and waiting? Any benefit to that? Any potential harm?
RJM posted 06-23-2005 01:24 AM ET (US)
Raise the motor. I am sure others will speak to the electrolysis issue, so I will not go there. I will just tell you that wake action will rock that motor back and forth when it is in the down position and nothing good will happen to your steering system. I once damaged a steering cable in just one night by side tying a skiff to a larger vessel with the motor in the down position. I now always put my engine in the up position.
WHALER27CC posted 06-23-2005 06:56 AM ET (US)
Of course leave it raised, it will protect the finish, reduce electrolysis, and generally keep the engine looking much better. There is NO benefit to leaving it down, NONE. While we are at it, the hull is bottom-painted, right???
Peter
mikeyairtime posted 06-24-2005 09:19 AM ET (US)
Raise it only if you can flush it. If you have no way to flush with fresh water leave it down.
stlawrence posted 06-30-2005 09:08 AM ET (US)
Thanks. To me, raising it makes sense, but I didn't know if there were an issue with lube in the gearcase, or something, which might require it to be in the down position.
On bottom paint, that's a horse of a different color. The boat is in fresh water. I would bottom paint it, because it does get a little grungy, but we get our toothbrushing/bathing water from the cove where the boat is, and I'm not sure I want the bottom paint chemicals leaching into the water.
prm1177 posted 07-01-2005 02:07 PM ET (US)
Since you are in fresh water, flushing is less of an issue. I would keep the engine down for a few minutes after switching it off to enable all the water to drain out of the powerhead. Then I would tilt it clear of the water.
While bottom paing may not be necessary if you scrub your hull regularly, I'd consider a barrier coat since this is good insurance against hull blisters. Interlux makes their 2000e series in white, which may be reasonable aesthetically.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Raise the motor, or not?
stlawrence	posted 06-23-2005 12:17 AM ET (US) Our boat, with Optimax 200, sits in a freshwater slip for weeks, and up to a month, between uses. What would be the effect of raising the motor out of the water while she's sitting and waiting? Any benefit to that? Any potential harm?
RJM	posted 06-23-2005 01:24 AM ET (US) Raise the motor. I am sure others will speak to the electrolysis issue, so I will not go there. I will just tell you that wake action will rock that motor back and forth when it is in the down position and nothing good will happen to your steering system. I once damaged a steering cable in just one night by side tying a skiff to a larger vessel with the motor in the down position. I now always put my engine in the up position.
WHALER27CC	posted 06-23-2005 06:56 AM ET (US) Of course leave it raised, it will protect the finish, reduce electrolysis, and generally keep the engine looking much better. There is NO benefit to leaving it down, NONE. While we are at it, the hull is bottom-painted, right??? Peter
mikeyairtime	posted 06-24-2005 09:19 AM ET (US) Raise it only if you can flush it. If you have no way to flush with fresh water leave it down.
stlawrence	posted 06-30-2005 09:08 AM ET (US) Thanks. To me, raising it makes sense, but I didn't know if there were an issue with lube in the gearcase, or something, which might require it to be in the down position. On bottom paint, that's a horse of a different color. The boat is in fresh water. I would bottom paint it, because it does get a little grungy, but we get our toothbrushing/bathing water from the cove where the boat is, and I'm not sure I want the bottom paint chemicals leaching into the water.
prm1177	posted 07-01-2005 02:07 PM ET (US) Since you are in fresh water, flushing is less of an issue. I would keep the engine down for a few minutes after switching it off to enable all the water to drain out of the powerhead. Then I would tilt it clear of the water. While bottom paing may not be necessary if you scrub your hull regularly, I'd consider a barrier coat since this is good insurance against hull blisters. Interlux makes their 2000e series in white, which may be reasonable aesthetically.