Motor Position

Big dave

Big dave

Member
I was down at the marina the other day having lunch in Raven Dancer, while eating I was reading my C-Dory manual and the manual for my 4 cycle Yamaha motor, In the C-Dory book it says the motor should be stored in the raised position, I thought that was rather odd so I looked up in the Yamaha manual and it said keep it in the normal running position and then they told a bunch of reasons to do so.
I went with the advise of the Yamaha manual and then took a walk around the marina looking at boats with outboards (most were 2 cycles) and found that it was about 50 / 50 half tilted up out of the water and the other half in the water.
So I was just wondering what the Brats are doing and why, or does it really even matter ?
Thanks.........Big Dave.
 
In fresh water I don't know what difference it would make. In salt water I raise the motor out of the water when I am anchored or docked. Would rather not have the electrolysis working on it. Or am I showing my lack of knowledge here and there is plenty of electrolysis working in fresh water also?
 
Remember that if the temp. is freezing - water in the lower unit can freeze and rupture the housing. (BTDT). I leave my outboards in the water if there is any possibility of freezing weather. Otherwise out of the water to reduce all the bad stuff.

Dusty
 
Hmmm... I always thought that the electrolysis required oxygen to work. So by raising the motor out of the water you are actually making it worse rather than better. I know that the metal that only occasionally got splashed by my reef tank would corrode much faster than the stuff fully submerged all the time. Am I way off base here?
 
I don't think it make a world of difference. Even in the raised position, the motor bracket still touches the water, and that's all you need for electrolisis. But if your zincs are in good condition, and your grounding wire between the motor bracket and lower unit is intact, you should be well enough protected in either position. Personally, I leave them down when ever I'm out overnight and moored. I prefer not to have the salt water drain and possibly build up a salt residue. Plus, they are less vunerable to being hit from behind.
 
Ditto me on leaving the motor in the water if there is any chance of freeze. Otherwise I will lift it up unless the parking is tight at the docks. After spending a good part of the past winter in the water, I have no broken housings to replace.
 
Leaving the motor down too long in salt water can result in a growth of barancles, mussels, tube worms, and other stuff.

It's bad enough if it only grows on the outside, but the critters will grow inside water passages, case drains, & exhaust housings.
 
Danged if you do and danged if you don't, eh Larry? :lol:
At least if you crack the housing you can get at the ugly critters inside when you replace it! Because I must keep my boat in the salt chuck I put up with this all the time. Down when it freezes, and up at all other times -- and worry.

Hey, get your .... over here and share a cuppa.

Dusty
 
Don't like letting nice props attract folks who would rather remove props than buy their own....so I generally go props and lower unit down in the water. Then, use it very often and keep the kritters ran out and the gunk blown off of the unit. But, this is fresh water up here. I think if it were salt water, I'd just lower the deduction and raise the props to keep the unit out of the salt water. Interesting point about the motor mount portion being in the water most of the time anyway.... Sort of makes you want to put clean and re-paint the motor mounts on the bi-annual maintenance checklist if ya leave her in the water.
 
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