major corrosion problems

[bobber_boy]

Hello
We have a 2003 23' Northriver Commander, with a 496 marine power engine. For the past couple years we have had many problems with corrosion on the starter, alternator, electrical in the engine compartment, and now the engine itself. The majority of the corrosion is on or near the oil pan, and all of the paint has bubbled off the pan itself. The starter was new a year ago and it has a covering of rust, along with the alternator. Can anyone point me in the right direction to solve this problem? I don't have a cherry picker or an engine lift so I can't pull it from the boat. Thanks!
BB
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ifishpic/engine006.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ifishpic/engine005.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ifishpic/engine004.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ifishpic/engine003.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ifishpic/engine002.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ifishpic/engine001.jpg

[bobber_boy]

I'd also like to add that this engine and boat have ALWAYS been washed and rinsed inside and out after each trip in the salt, or brackish water.

[Gundog]

Does this boat belong to you?

[bobber_boy]

it belongs to my dad, Northriver1

[Chrome Bumper]

Get some anti corrosive spray. Like heavy WD-40 with anti corrosive additives.

Clean it up, paint it and maintain with the spray.

That is light flash rust by the way. If I had a purty boat like that I would consider keeping an electric dehumidfier in it during storage. You cannot have corrosion without an electrolyte (water).

[Chrome Bumper]

Rust never sleeps

[boater]

I'd also like to add that this engine and boat have ALWAYS been washed and rinsed inside and out after each trip in the salt, or brackish water.



why do you wash the engine ?, if you have the motor box open and get in there with a hose with a knozzle you will spray saltwater off the floor onto the engine, ive never rinsed my engine and it still looks new.

[Gundog]

Some guesses freeze plug leaking? One of the pictures looks like a freeze plug is leaking down on the starter. Next guess raw water wash down system? Looking at the rubber parts you can see a lot of salt spray so if it didn't come from raw water wash down it must have a leak somewhere.
GD


if you have the motor box open and get in there with a hose with a knozzle you will spray saltwater off the floor onto the engine, ive never rinsed my engine and it still looks new.




:yeahthat: that makes since to me :twocents:

[boater]

persoanly, and i know there are a lot of corrosion sprays out there but this is the best stuff ive ever used, i would scrape all the lose paint and rust off and coat it down with this stuff.

PENNZOIL MARINE® Z-M CORROSION PROTECTANT

Pennzoil Marine Z-M® Corrosion Protectant uses a unique marine formula with Rust-Oleum® corrosion protection. It protects your boat on the water or in dock to prevent the corrosion and rust caused by saltwater and sea air. These conditions are constant threats to marine parts and power systems during and between voyages. Pennzoil Marine Z-M® Corrosion Protectant also provides excellent protection for steering mechanisms and the external surfaces of power tilt and trim plungers. It displaces water on parts, leaving a smooth protective coating that stands up to the elements for 12 weeks of salt spray or 2,000 hours of continuous saltwater protection

[Tyeebuster]

I second the spraying leak theory. Put the boat in the water and run the engine and look for leaks. Also, bring the engine up to temp and have someone looking for leaks while you run the baot. I had a simular problem with my old boat adn it was hard to find. It turned out to be an exhaust cross tube that leaked when the engine was warm.

Also, check the raw water wash down pump as suggested.

[Chrome Bumper]

Now that you mention it it does look like it is getting some saltwater spray. Add fixing that to the to do list.

[BloodNtheboat]

Do you have the boat properly zinced, and do you brush your zinc tabs off with a STAINLESS wire brush periodicly, this might help prevent further corrosion once you get the existing stuff taken care of?

[MikeN]

Also, something that I found that helps is to leave your motor cover open for a couple of days after rinsing out the compartment. Coat everything with the anti-corrosion. Letting the motor hatch dry out and breathe should help. Do this and and see if it improves.

I went through 3 starters in 3 years and have not replaced one in 2 years since doing the aforementioned.

[backlash442]

When you take the boat out is the bilge dry when you come back? Something would seem seriously wrong imo. 6 years of hard saltwater use never left my engine looking like that and I had plenty of saltwater get into the bilge too. Good idea to run your engine after hosing it down to dry off the block. As someone already suggested air out the motor box too.

If I'm not mistaken zincs are only on the outside of the boat so won't necessarily help your engine. I used WD-40 and Lemon Pledge on mine. Now only Pledge.

[bobber_boy]

thanks for the replies, we always keep the engine box propped open when it is sitting in the driveway, wouuld it help to take it off completely when it sits for any period of time? the bilge pretty much always has water in it from rain, and we do have a zinc bar in the bilge

[CATCH AND EAT]

Gotta love the design of having a starter in the Bilge. It is a wonder that it still functions at all from the looks of it. You are getting saltwater in the Bilge from somewhere and the spray idea seems to be the answer. If the pan has no paint on it at all watch out. I just replaced mine this last fall. Preventive to have it looked at as a hole in the pan can be a pain....and very costly.

[bobber_boy]

The starter worked a few weeks ago, we will take it out without the engine cover and watch for spray sometime. I was also concerned with the probability of a hole in the pan. This looks like it is going to be a pain :smash: :depressed:

[namu mac]

I had same problems with an older Fish Rite I had. There was always water in the bilge so when I putit away for the winter I put a tarp over it but took the motor box cover off and moved it forward to let the moisture escape. If you just leave the cover open it acts like a terrium and it will "rain" inside there. My boat was also stored outside all the time if you garage yours that might be differentBy doing this I didn't have to buy a new starter every 2 years.

[boater]

the bilge pretty much always has water in it from rain



how does the water get in the bilge ?, if your leaving the motor box proped up and dont have a slant back cover on it the rain water is splashing onto your engine off the floor and it will spray any salt off the floor with it.

[bobber_boy]

we keep the cover on it pretty much all the time, but even when we do, water still gets in there. I don't know anymore but we will start taking the engine cover off :smash: