Flushing out engine question etc

[ivan4199]

Just got a new boat this week with a Yamaha 50 outboard engine. Starting off with a few puttering river trips since I'm a total novice & live some way inland. Estuaries will probably have to wait for next year.

- Presume I dont need to flush the engine through when its just had river water?
- Also thinking now of keeping it in the water (in the River marina at Tewkesbury) over the winter, as I like river trips even in the cold. Would the engine be okay with that and is it still okay to keep the prop down submerged all the time?

Thanks in advance, Ivan

[doggypaddle]

any freshwater flush should be fine, its salt that does the damage, that said though just look in any saltwater marina at the number of older engines that live in the sea all the time! they seem to survive OK, though obviously suffer from more corrosion than a freshwater engine.
the marine at tewekesbury is full of 30 year old engines that live in the water all year so freshwater shouldnt be a prolem.

I sent you a PM too...........

[doggypaddle]

Ivan check your personal mail folder!!

[snoopay]

I presume it is a electric lift? Maybe be worth that extra 5 seconds to lift the engine and protect it a bit! Despite what people say about the electrodes when lifting a engine, all the boats i work on are kept tilted and seem to all be fine! But i am sure will say in a manual that you got with the engine..

[m chappelow]

normally i wouldent flush the engine for fresh water use ,but i would flush out if used on a fresh water river or lake or canal if running through any heavy mud or silt ,with a hot engine it can bake its self on hard if left .i have repaired a few outboard engines used on our local canal and some of the water passages were totally blocked solid with silt and sand but at least it will poke out ,