Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

jflongwell

Recruit
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
2
Outdrive.jpg
This is what happens when you leave your boat in the water in the Finger Lakes.
 
Last edited:

scottmm73

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 9, 2012
Messages
261
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

Jiminey Crickets!! How long was it in the water? Years?
 

Thalasso

Commander
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Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

I am surprised you don't have cooling problems.
 

crabby captain john

Lieutenant Commander
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Aug 6, 2011
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Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

Saw a lot of that when I ran charters on Lake Erie. That is the main reason I trailered a 26' boat. No doubt they are around the impellor too.
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,187
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

We can blame boaters that didn't clean their hulls and bilge after being in Lake Erie, but the truth of the matter is that migrating birds feather's have had an equal impact.

We see a ton of boats kept in Erie and Niagara marinas that don't have nearly that great a buildup. I would ask the same question....how long did it sit unused?
 

H20Rat

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Mar 8, 2009
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5,203
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

We can blame boaters that didn't clean their hulls and bilge after being in Lake Erie, but the truth of the matter is that migrating birds feather's have had an equal impact.

except zebra muscles and birds have been around millions of years...
 

crabby captain john

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Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

Not sure how long zebra muscles have been around but wonder why the feds never stopped ships from over seas from emptying their ballast tanks in the Mississippi River and Great Lakes. Maybe we should blame the Walmart shoppers as their purchases of Chinese products require all those ships?

except zebra muscles and birds have been around millions of years...
 

TilliamWe

Banned
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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

...Maybe we should blame the Walmart shoppers as their purchases of Chinese products require all those ships?

Sure, that's an easy target. Ships Never came from China before WalMart became the largest retailer! Never.
 

JimS123

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Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

Mussels HAVE been around for eons, but they didn't invade the Great Lakes until about 30 years ago or so, and the Finger Lakes a few years later. Its true that they DID come in on foreign vessels that blew their bilge, but its not necessarily Chinacrap boats were the only ones to do it.

In any event, the time frame of the events correspond to the time frame that Wallyworld was proudly advertising that most of their products were USA made. So, WM cannot be credited with our demise!

Look at the chinacrap products and in most cases you'll see they are distributed and / or Company labeled by USA companies. Wasn't it Pogo that said something like "we saw the enemy and they are US". In other words, its the greed of USA companies that have sent the jobs overseas, and the GD stock market that lead the way.
 

crabby captain john

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Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

To a point it is company greed but to a larger extent it is the general public. WallyWorld customers (I'm not one) insist on paying a nickel less on an item and do not care of the quality. True, not ONLY the ChinaCrap boats, those from most countries with cheap labor. Now wonder why labor rates for the few manufacturing jobs left are much lower than in the past???

Mussels HAVE been around for eons, but they didn't invade the Great Lakes until about 30 years ago or so, and the Finger Lakes a few years later. Its true that they DID come in on foreign vessels that blew their bilge, but its not necessarily Chinacrap boats were the only ones to do it.

In any event, the time frame of the events correspond to the time frame that Wallyworld was proudly advertising that most of their products were USA made. So, WM cannot be credited with our demise!

Look at the chinacrap products and in most cases you'll see they are distributed and / or Company labeled by USA companies. Wasn't it Pogo that said something like "we saw the enemy and they are US". In other words, its the greed of USA companies that have sent the jobs overseas, and the GD stock market that lead the way.
 

500dollar744ti

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
691
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

Would running that thing at speed for a while (if it could be run) wipe most of that off the drive or what?
 

Thalasso

Commander
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Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

I boat in the Ohio and we get the mussels and the only way to get them off is scrape them ( not aggressively), they do come off pretty easy . I have to use a screw driver to get into cracks and crevices
They even get in the scuppers.
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
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Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

...there's your problem. :facepalm:
 

crabby captain john

Lieutenant Commander
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Re: Zebra mussle problem in Finger Lakes

Just a minor problem noticed on the outside could indicate a cooling restriction on the inside. Most use a plastic scraper used to fill spackling or similar.


Would running that thing at speed for a while (if it could be run) wipe most of that off the drive or what?
 
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