Outboard up or down while in water?

I

iflyboeing

Cadet
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Jul 20, 2010
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75 Evinrude E-tec outboard on my Zodiac RIB. While in the water, if I raise the outboard as far up as it will go, it is still partly in the water (Skeg and bottom half of prop/hub). Problem is, that the sacraficial anode is not submerged at this hight. The other alternative is to keep the outboard lowered until to the point that the anode is submerged, but then most of the gearcase is wetted and more area for marine growth to accumulate on. Which is preferable?
 
MH Hawker

MH Hawker

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

Their made to be in the water year round. Just run it more to keep the stuff off.
 
M

mpsyamaha

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395
Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

aren't there anodes on the trim/tilt bracket that are always submerged when the boat is in the water?
 
F

foodfisher

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Feb 18, 2009
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3,756
Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

If it's salt water, yes, anode with water contact. If it's sweet/fresh water, flip a coin. Edit: It would be nice if a location was posted so the answers could be calibrated to "that" location.
 
B

Bamaman1

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

Your boat is not aluminum or metal, and it doesn't matter if the anode is submerged on an inflatable boat.

Just enjoy your day.
 
H

Home Cookin'

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

do you have antifouling paint on the hull? if not it doesn't have to be in the water so raise it. Do you leave the boat in the water, or keep it on the trailer? If trailer, it doesn't matter.
 
H

H20Rat

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

freshwater, always up! There is no corrosion or growth if its out of the water, and absolutely no advantages to leaving it down. Looking at the local marinas in my area, about 75% of the newbie pontoon owners leave theirs down. At the end of the season, you can tell the clean engines from the ones with a couple inches of furry growth on them.
 
RotaryRacer

RotaryRacer

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

I'm pretty sure that your engine has a trim limit switch that can be adjusted. It should be adjusted so that it tips up until just before it touches something solid on the boat. Ideally it could be tipped up until there is 1/4" or so from the boat and that hopefully also gets it all the way out of the water.
 
Fireman431

Fireman431

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

Carburetors are not meant to be stored for any significant length in the fully tilted position. Leave it vertical.
 
Lurch77

Lurch77

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Apr 10, 2013
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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

E-TEC's do not use carburetors, so no worries there.
 
H

Home Cookin'

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

Fireman431 said:
Carburetors are not meant to be stored for any significant length in the fully tilted position. Leave it vertical.
Click to expand...

now that's a new one, and would get stares or outright guffaws from everyone on the river that keeps his boat in the water.
 
Fireman431

Fireman431

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

Lurch77 said:
E-TEC's do not use carburetors, so no worries there.
Click to expand...

Missed the E-Tec. Thx.

Home Cookin' said:
now that's a new one, and would get stares or outright guffaws from everyone on the river that keeps his boat in the water.
Click to expand...

Three seperate marine mechanics have all told be the same thing. Floats get stuck in the top position and portions of bowl gaskets dry out. I don't just make stuff up....
 
H

H20Rat

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

Fireman431 said:
Missed the E-Tec. Thx.



Three seperate marine mechanics have all told be the same thing. Floats get stuck in the top position and portions of bowl gaskets dry out. I don't just make stuff up....
Click to expand...

Throughout the years every single outboard I've owned has been stored tilted up. Only had carb work done on one of them, and it wasn't because of seals. (gummed up from lack of use)
 
H

Home Cookin'

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Re: Outboard up or down while in water?

maybe the operative word is "storage". In a shed for a year, yes vertical. While in the water not being used, tilted is fine. Just run it occassionally.
 
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