Saltwater-ness of Force Outboards

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Greetings all,

I'm interested to hear about people's experience with Force outboards in saltwater use. Have you found them to be particularly rusty, or about on par with other outboards of their time? Any particular Achilles' heal when it comes to corrosion and saltwater use?

I've got a pair of 90hp '96 motors on my project boat which have been "fine" for very limited use here in Cape Cod, but I'm wondering if they're worth re-building for more regular weekend fishing trips, or if that would somehow be asking for trouble with these motors in the salt.

Thanks in advance-

 

[jerryjerry05]

Had a pair of 88/85hp that were used primarily in salt water.
From the Florida waters to Delaware Bay.
The use in salt made the exposed fasteners almost locked in place.
The head bolts were fairly susceptible to galvanic corrosion.
Usually 2-4 were very tough to remove if not impossible to get out of the head.
The 1 1/2" in the head would have corrosion so bad the bolts would actually break.

The transom clamps were cast somehow that after time they would split.
Your 96 should have a better style.

The bottom of the kingpin can rot away, but not on all motors??

As long as you keep it greased? and flush the motors after each use, they should last a long time.

They are a good motor and fairly dependable.
My fuel usage averaged abut 2.3-2.5 mpg.


Even a 20K Yam breaks down.

 

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Thank you jerryjerry05, that's very helpful. Your comments match some of my observations, and my opinion that these old-school motors need some love but can be dirty cheap fun as compared to the new stuff today. Thanks again.

 

[jerryjerry05]

My neighbors 2005 Yam 200.
One cyl low comp because the low oil warning didn't work.
The drive had to be BEATEN with a hammer and a block of wood to remove it.
There's an area that is very narrow where corrosion can lock the drive shaft in and won't
allow it to drop.
The oil tanks on Yams, crappy design. The low spots collect moisture and a fungus can form
blocking the filter and not let oil to the motor.
YUP them high dollar motors they the best!!
My Force didn't have an oil tank or the sender either.

 

[leftyfrazel]

mY 97 Force by Mercury spent three years in Florida in Saltwater maybe 4 by the previous owner, then they moved up to Freshwater to trade the boat in, some tale tell signs were obvious when I purchased it, but they flushed the motor after each use, but salt water use was apparent in the lower unit, all of which parts just needed to be replaced and were original, not expensive either. a local marine dealer still carries parts for Force and Chrysler, he was happy to get rid of the parts he'd had in stock for years...