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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Throbbinhood on September 30, 2019, 05:55:39 PM

Title: Boat motors/salt water and free camping
Post by: Throbbinhood on September 30, 2019, 05:55:39 PM
Those that travel full time, or long freecamps with a tinny.. How are you flushing your motors after salt water use given limited fresh water access while freecamping?

Or just suck it up while your near the salt and give it a good long run next time your near freshwater?
Title: Re: Boat motors/salt water and free camping
Post by: kizza1 on September 30, 2019, 06:36:30 PM
Most outboard have a silent flush option where you run water through the power head with it switched off. You could do this with a small amount of fresh every 3 or 4 days if you were concerned. 10litres should be heaps
Title: Re: Boat motors/salt water and free camping
Post by: briann532 on September 30, 2019, 06:53:57 PM
Hell I know I'm going to shot down in flames for this but................

You see boats "living" in salt water for years and it's not that big a problem.
yes it does cause corrosion, yes it does slowly kill the motor, but how much and for how long?

I'd reckon you'd just flush it when you can. Then when you get home give it a right old clean out and proper flush using an inhibitor.

A quick google came up with these "mixed" responses.
https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/585640-how-often-should-i-flush-my-outboard.html (https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/585640-how-often-should-i-flush-my-outboard.html)

Title: Re: Boat motors/salt water and free camping
Post by: glenm64 on September 30, 2019, 07:07:37 PM
Do more damage to them leaving them sitting there doing nothing for months, even after flushing them. You can never get all the salt out and it crystallises and blocks up water pump and small galleries. Just use it, abuse it and enjoy. It will go forever if you do good regular services and start them every month.
Title: Re: Boat motors/salt water and free camping
Post by: Pete79 on September 30, 2019, 07:53:20 PM
I was going to say the same.
As long as it gets used often enough, I recon it will be fine until you stop somewhere with a tap to give it a really good fresh water flush out.
Title: Re: Boat motors/salt water and free camping
Post by: Palmer on September 30, 2019, 08:58:53 PM
I've got mates with outboards that only get flushed with freshwater when the boat gets taken to the lakes.
They use them a couple of times a week, so water is going through them regularly.  They've been doing things this way for ages.