engine up or down?

willfinch36 · 09 March 2009, 15:26

Just wondering wether when you dont use your rib (assuming it is OUT of the water) do you leave the engine up or down?

codprawn · 09 March 2009, 15:42

Up most definitely.

Something bizzare happened to my boat a while ago. I went to check on it and the engine was down. I was worried thinking the hydraulics had failed. I discovered the hatch on the console had been opened and someone had obviously turned on the battery master switch to do it. The switch was off again but the handles on the hatch werte in a different position.

I was going to raise the engine again when I realised that very cold weather had been forecast so I left it down. The weather got so cold the sea water froze.

I wish I knew who my boat's guardian angel was. No other boat had been tampered with in such a nice fashion!!!

Downhilldai · 09 March 2009, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by willfinch36

Just wondering wether when you dont use your rib (assuming it is OUT of the water) do you leave the engine up or down?

Make sure you drain all the water out of it. This sometimes means raising and lowering the motor a couple of times.

doggypaddle · 09 March 2009, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Up most definitely.

whats the rationale behind that then codders? I ask because I was always told leave them down so all the rams are closed up and hence the ramrods are in oil and not likely to corrode or suffer damage, and also it ensures all the water runs out of the leg and you dont get a pool in the exhaust behind the prop, which then evaporates in the sun, and condenses in the powerhead (because its cooler as its out of the sun under the engine cover,) and causes corrosion to the cylinder walls and rings.

yoyo · 09 March 2009, 16:09

I agree with doggy: I always leave my engine down with the cover on if possible. (assuming the rib is OUT of the water)

codprawn · 09 March 2009, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggypaddle

whats the rationale behind that then codders? I ask because I was always told leave them down so all the rams are closed up and hence the ramrods are in oil and not likely to corrode or suffer damage, and also it ensures all the water runs out of the leg and you dont get a pool in the exhaust behind the prop, which then evaporates in the sun, and condenses in the powerhead (because its cooler as its out of the sun under the engine cover,) and causes corrosion to the cylinder walls and rings.

Well I have a 2 stroke so there is no oil in it.

Looking at the growth that occurs in our harbour I do NOT want it all on my engine. Also metal just doesn't like seawater - keeping it out will preserve your anodes.

EVERY outboard in our harbour and in Swansea marina is kept out of the water. Some of those boats have been there 20 years with very old engines and they seem to be fine. The 4 stroke people keep their engines out of the water as well.

It is often said that the reason an outboard is better than a similar sterndrive is that you can keep it out of the water!!!

Hightower · 09 March 2009, 16:17

I've always left mine down and had no problems and if afloat people leave theirs up.

I don't think there's going to be a definitive answer on this one.

So, whatever takes your fancy I guess.

doggypaddle · 09 March 2009, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Well I have a 2 stroke so there is no oil in it.

Looking at the growth that occurs in our harbour I do NOT want it all on my engine. Also metal just doesn't like seawater - keeping it out will preserve your anodes.

EVERY outboard in our harbour and in Swansea marina is kept out of the water. Some of those boats have been there 20 years with very old engines and they seem to be fine. The 4 stroke people keep their engines out of the water as well.

It is often said that the reason an outboard is better than a similar sterndrive is that you can keep it out of the water!!!

So you missed the OUT OF THE WATER bit in the original post?

Hightower · 09 March 2009, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggypaddle

So you missed the OUT OF THE WATER bit in the original post?

Perhaps he has a use for a bucket other than Peeing into?

PeterM · 09 March 2009, 16:30

Out - down , in - up (out of water)

9D280 · 09 March 2009, 16:32

I'll second Blackroady - mostly because if I leave it up when on the trailer I can't shut the garage door behind it!

Left the SR4 engine up tho- made for a far quicker escape in the morning!

(No faffing with raising it)

codprawn · 09 March 2009, 16:38

Sorry my fault for not reading things properly.

Out of the water - and you did emphasise "out" I would definitely leave the engine DOWN!!!

JSP · 09 March 2009, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Up most definitely.

Something bizzare happened to my boat a while ago. I went to check on it and the engine was down. I was worried thinking the hydraulics had failed. I discovered the hatch on the console had been opened and someone had obviously turned on the battery master switch to do it. The switch was off again but the handles on the hatch werte in a different position.

I was going to raise the engine again when I realised that very cold weather had been forecast so I left it down. The weather got so cold the sea water froze.

I wish I knew who my boat's guardian angel was. No other boat had been tampered with in such a nice fashion!!!

Forgive me if I'm reading this wrong, but you left your engine down in the water when you knew it was going to freeze? I would have thought the engine would have been better out of the water if it's going to freeze? Be interested in the answer to this for the future

jyasaki · 09 March 2009, 17:17

Caveat: It doesn't freeze very often in the area my boat is stored. I don't pay any special attention to whether the motor is up or down, except after it's rained, when I'll drain the exhaust hub to limit mosquito breeding.

Usually, people recommend keeping the motor down. This prevents rainwater from collecting in the exhaust nacelle and freezing (assuming severe enough ambient conditions), which may split the LU.

Manufacturers seem to recommend either lowering the motor, or blocking the motor up and running the tilt/trim rams all the way down (as doggypaddle suggested, it retracts the rams and keeps them out of the elements.) The oil he referred to, I believe, is the hydraulic oil that drives the rams, not the engine lube oil.

jky

codprawn · 09 March 2009, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

Forgive me if I'm reading this wrong, but you left your engine down in the water when you knew it was going to freeze? I would have thought the engine would have been better out of the water if it's going to freeze? Be interested in the answer to this for the future

Because there could be water in the gearcase/hub and if it freezes it could crack something.

chewy · 09 March 2009, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

EVERY outboard in our harbour and in Swansea marina is kept out of the water. Some of those boats have been there 20 years with very old engines and they seem to be fine. The 4 stroke people keep their engines out of the water as well.

Apart from the Tornado with the Yamaha V4 hanging off it, it was left down all the time I was working down there. That was when the marina froze over too.

CJL · 09 March 2009, 23:15

I tend to leave the engine down when its out of the water with the logic that the water drains out better.

The Verado owners club suggests it's a good idea for the supercharger for some reason.

Chris

Hightower · 10 March 2009, 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Because there could be water in the gearcase/hub and if it freezes it could crack something.

If there's water in the gearcase I wouldn't be worrying about freezing water

codprawn · 10 March 2009, 06:00

I would - a dodgy seal is easier to replace than a cracked gearcase!!!

Hightower · 10 March 2009, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I would - a dodgy seal is easier to replace than a cracked gearcase!!!

So you wouldn't mind having Salty water sloshing about rusting all your gears and buggering up your bearings then?