New Owner Angler 16 - Outboards and Saltwater

S

scatton

New member
Hello group. I'm new to the Forum and new to C-Dory ownership having just purchased the '89 16 Angler in Bandon. I'm out of Edmonds and couldn't be happier that my wife pushed me to drive the 900 miles on the hope of finding the C-Dory in good condition. It was obvious the previous owners took great care of boat as we intend to do as well. Apparently the boat knows how to catch fish as we've caught three silvers since the purchase.

Would someone enlighten me on how to keep the Nissan 50 from suffering ill effects of saltwater while we moor it for a couple months in Puget Sound. I notice that no one seems to pull their outboard engines up and I haven't seen anyone flushing with fresh water either. I think I know the drill when she's out of the water, its when she's in the saltwater that I'm not sure what to do. Your comments are appreciated.
 
Scott,

Based on all I've read and seen, the engine should be raised out of the water and flushed after every use. It's also best to rinse off the entire engine externally too. Some outboards are better than others at resisting salt water corrosion. I'm not familiar with the Nissan's level of protection.

Hope this helps some. I'm sure more folks will chime in.
 
Congratulations! We would back her into the slip and put the muffs on for a freshwater rinse. If you have a swim step and a longer hose you can tie up bow first.
 
Hi Scott,

Can't help you with information about keeping your CD in salt water as our boat is stored on land but we're so pleased to see that you've signed onto the C-Brats site. Welcome!

The 16 CD that you bought belonged to our very dear friends of almost forty years, Doug and Janice. Nice to know that it's been purchased by someone here in Washington. Hope we'll get to see you sometime out and about.

Ruth and Joe/R-Matey
 
Welcome aboard, Scott.

Our boat spends much of its time in saltwater. Fresh water rinses are hard to come by, depending on where you are... the obvious situation with anchoring, and many marinas will not allow boat washing/motor flushing at the docks. I think the problem is in using the boat in saltwater, then NOT flushing/washing when it comes out. We make it a point to wash/flush everytime we pull out - boat AND trailer. If there is no facility at the ramp, then we head to a car wash. Many car washes near boating places have the muffs in their stalls. We carry a set with us on the boat.

Another option with these trailerable boats is to make a quick run on the trailer to a nearby fresh water lake, launch (rinsing the trailer at the same time), and take a quick cruise of that lake. Of course, that also isn't always available.

So, you do what you can, given the circumstances. When we are at home, the boat stays in the water - it gets a fresh water wash down after each time out. I flush the motor at least once a week. When cruising (we've been out about 4 months now this time), I wash the boat when I can (rarely) and flush the motor each time it comes out of the saltwater (we've done a variety of salt/fresh traveling this time).

I spoke to a Honda rep years ago regarding the "flush motor after each saltwater use" statement in their manual. He said, "Absolutely, follow those instructions." Then he looked both ways and said, "But, I don't personally know anyone who is able to do that. Just use it a lot and you will be fine."

HTH

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Welcome Scott,

I too live in Edmonds and my boat sits in the water 24/7/365 in the Port of Edmonds.

I always raise my motor out of the water when it is moored. All the outboards around me also raise their motors when moored. The only exception would be if they are in too small of a slip. Some boats squeeze into small slips, but when they raise their motors they extend beyond the marina's acceptable length (the marina measures all the boats!) so they are told to either move to a bigger slip, if available, or keep the motor in the water.

I also flush my motor after each use. My slip has access to fresh water, so flushing isn't an issue.

Your 'new' boat is a little more mature than mine so I'm betting that your motor is also older. The only reason this matters is the methodology of how you would flush your motor. My motor has a hose attachment, so I don't need muffs. I'm not familiar with flushing a motor with muffs.

Send me a PM if you'd like to meet and discuss matters in person.

-Carl
 
The only problem with storing the motor with the leg tilted up out of the water is during the winter with freezing temperatures.

The standard accepted warning is to not do it because the water left in the tilted up leg can freeze and crack and ruin the lower unit casing. The water freezes up over the openings first, and is subsequently followed by the freezing and expansion of water traped inside the cooling passages. It does happen to some.

The better choice is to leave the lower leg down in the water, assuming the water in the lake/bay/ocean will not drop to the air temperature and freeze.

If you think the water is going to freeze, you'll have to get the boat out of the water or up on a Hydrohoist or somehow drain any water out of the lower unit.

Would probably best to put 'er in the barn for the winter and have a warm cup 'o something by the fireplace!

Joe. :teeth
 
Joe,

It's August...the glaciers and icebergs don't start forming in Edmonds until September at the earliest :wink:

Scott,

I needed to have my boat hauled out for it's 100 hour service and I saw your boat! I 'think' the reason no one around you has his/her outboard up is because you're currently in the guest area and it's been my observation that when most people visit another marina they seldom lift their motors. C'mon down to E dock and look at the boats there.

I have to think what Joe said is true about the winter months. I'll ask one of the other Old Salts in the marina what they do with their outboards during freezing temperatures. As a resident of Edmonds, you know that it seldom if ever snows around the water, which may or may not mean anything when it comes to freezing water in the outdrive.

You've got a nice boat. Hope to see you around.

-Carl
 
Definately raise the motor so that the leg is out of the water. I don't think you will be able to satisfactorilly flush that motor, unless you can get to the lower unit and put the muffs on to run water thu the passages.
 
Scott – welcome to the site.

Glad to have you aboard and hope our paths cross in the Sound sometime in the near future.

I don’t think you have to worry about the lower end of your engine freezing with the boat moored in the Sound, except maybe once every 15 to 20 years. If there is that slight chance, go lower the engine into the water.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Sounds like in the ideal world one would tilt her up, put on the muffs and rinse with fresh every time.

Of course, I live in the real world where I'm fishing prior to going to work. Alotting fifteen minutes for "tilt, flush, and rinse" using muffs is going to be stretching it when the fish are biting and the clock is ticking. I can see why the quick flush adapters came to be.

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated.
 
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