Salt water mooring

Fisherman87 · 04-18-2003, 10:12 AM

I'd like to moor my boat over at the coast but I'm not sure of the impact on my outboard. I always flush the motor really well after a trip to the coast for fishing or crabbing but that is just because I know that it isn't good to have that salt dry up within the motor. How does it affect the motor if it stays in the water for long periods, say all summer?

Troller · 04-18-2003, 10:52 AM

From my experience last year I got some electrolisys on my outboard. My best advice make sure the anodes are in good shape. Also lift the outboard up and out of the water if you can. The first spot I had it moored I couldnt do this as it would have stuck out into the outgoing path. Next spot I got was bigger 30 foot slip for 22 foot boat I could lift it and and not worry. It definitly will be harder on your motor and will require higher maintanance to upkeep than pulling the boat out of the water and flushing.

seasquid · 04-18-2003, 03:28 PM

Hey Fisherman87,

The guy next to me at South Beach flushes his outboard after every trip and he moors for about a month at a time. He just raises it, hooks a hose up, etc....He doesn't have serious problems with salt.

Troller's advice is some of the best I have seen in weeks on this site....DO NOT leave your outboard raised, even your kicker, it's an accident waiting to happen.

ss

gimmeumpqua · 04-20-2003, 06:49 AM

One thing noone has mentioned......BARNACLES!!!!
If you leave your boat in the salt for greater than 2 weeks you'll have barnacles that leave permanent etching on your boat...but worse than that...your outboard will be permenantly scarred unless you can raise it out of the water. I moored my boat at Winchester bay for 2 months last year thinking I would be smart.....cost me thousands in devaluation because the outdrive now has permanent measles.

Don't do it unless your bottom is painted and you can lift your motor completely out of the water.

My $.02,

Kurt