260DA Newby question

R

Russell H

New Member
Aug 31, 2020
5
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 275 Sundancer
Engines
MerCruiser 350 MPI Horizon with Bravo 3
G'day from Brisbane, Australia. New owner here of 2005 275 Sundancer (260 in USA) with 350 MPI Horizon motor (closed block/heads cooling system - risers cooled with raw water). I bought this boat 2 days ago and haven't been out on it yet bar sea trials. It's living in dry storage - in a rack in a shed in the marina. This boat will be operated only at sea.

My question relates to flushing the motor after use. This boat has raw water pickup in the sterndrive (Bravo 3, Gen 2) and a through-hull pickup. How best to flush this system after use before the boat goes back in the rack? Do I need to use muffs on the drive AND a fake lake on the hull pickup, or can I shut the sea cock for the through-hull before she comes out of the water and only use muffs on the drive? I don't believe there is a flush port currently fitted (previous owner kept it on-water).

I've read the factory instructions (MerCruiser), but these seem aimed more at long-term storage/winterizing than after-use haul-out and flushing for short-term storage.

Apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere and my searches have failed to locate it...

Thanks in advance.
 
Russell H said:
G'day from Brisbane, Australia. New owner here of 2005 275 Sundancer (260 in USA) with 350 MPI Horizon motor (closed block/heads cooling system - risers cooled with raw water). I bought this boat 2 days ago and haven't been out on it yet bar sea trials. It's living in dry storage - in a rack in a shed in the marina. This boat will be operated only at sea.

My question relates to flushing the motor after use. This boat has raw water pickup in the sterndrive (Bravo 3, Gen 2) and a through-hull pickup. How best to flush this system after use before the boat goes back in the rack? Do I need to use muffs on the drive AND a fake lake on the hull pickup, or can I shut the sea cock for the through-hull before she comes out of the water and only use muffs on the drive? I don't believe there is a flush port currently fitted (previous owner kept it on-water).

I've read the factory instructions (MerCruiser), but these seem aimed more at long-term storage/winterizing than after-use haul-out and flushing for short-term storage.

Apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere and my searches have failed to locate it...

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
You can cut in a Tee and valve into the hose from the seacock, Then you just have to shut the seacock and open the valve you installed and attach a garden hose to it!:cool:
 
Russell H said:
G'day from Brisbane, Australia. New owner here of 2005 275 Sundancer (260 in USA) with 350 MPI Horizon motor (closed block/heads cooling system - risers cooled with raw water). I bought this boat 2 days ago and haven't been out on it yet bar sea trials. It's living in dry storage - in a rack in a shed in the marina. This boat will be operated only at sea.

My question relates to flushing the motor after use. This boat has raw water pickup in the sterndrive (Bravo 3, Gen 2) and a through-hull pickup. How best to flush this system after use before the boat goes back in the rack? Do I need to use muffs on the drive AND a fake lake on the hull pickup, or can I shut the sea cock for the through-hull before she comes out of the water and only use muffs on the drive? I don't believe there is a flush port currently fitted (previous owner kept it on-water).

I've read the factory instructions (MerCruiser), but these seem aimed more at long-term storage/winterizing than after-use haul-out and flushing for short-term storage.

Apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere and my searches have failed to locate it...

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Use a garden hose “Y” and leave the through hull seacock open with this tool. That way you can flush your outdrive as well.
0AD44E7A-14B2-4E09-8CC6-B274316CB68D.jpeg
 
Russell, you may be able to use either the muffs or a Faka-a-lake. Or, you might have to use the Fake-a-lake ONLY. The question is whether or not the hose from the drive is still connected. Search for "Bravoitis" and you'll find info on the problem that sometimes occurs and the reason for disconnecting/cutting the inlet hose coming from the drive. If that hose is cut, then you'll only be using the F-A-L. If that hose is intact and still in good shape (not pinched close because of Bravoitis), then you should close the seacock if you wanted to use the muffs.
 
Last edited:
Natebawl said:
Use a garden hose “Y” and leave the through hull seacock open with this tool. That way you can flush your outdrive as well. View attachment 91497
Click to expand...
Russell H said:
G'day from Brisbane, Australia. New owner here of 2005 275 Sundancer (260 in USA) with 350 MPI Horizon motor (closed block/heads cooling system - risers cooled with raw water). I bought this boat 2 days ago and haven't been out on it yet bar sea trials. It's living in dry storage - in a rack in a shed in the marina. This boat will be operated only at sea.

My question relates to flushing the motor after use. This boat has raw water pickup in the sterndrive (Bravo 3, Gen 2) and a through-hull pickup. How best to flush this system after use before the boat goes back in the rack? Do I need to use muffs on the drive AND a fake lake on the hull pickup, or can I shut the sea cock for the through-hull before she comes out of the water and only use muffs on the drive? I don't believe there is a flush port currently fitted (previous owner kept it on-water).

I've read the factory instructions (MerCruiser), but these seem aimed more at long-term storage/winterizing than after-use haul-out and flushing for short-term storage.

Apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere and my searches have failed to locate it...

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Does the seacock feed into a raw water pump ? I Never saw a boat with two intakes. For what purpose ?
 
Lazy Daze said:
Russell, you may be able to use either the muffs or a Faka-a-lake. Or, you might have to use the Fake-a-lake ONLY. The question is whether or not the hose from the drive is still connected. Search for "Bravoitis" and you'll find info on the problem that sometimes occurs and the reason for disconnecting/cutting the inlet hose coming from the drive. If that hose is cut, then you'll only be using the F-A-L. If that hose is intact and still in good shape (not pinched close because of Bravoitis), then you should close the seacock if you wanted to use the muffs.
Click to expand...

Good to know - thank you. Had not heard of Bravoitis before.
 
Express 390 said:
Does the seacock feed into a raw water pump ? I Never saw a boat with two intakes. For what purpose ?
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. Not exactly sure why. It was a standard option from Mercruiser (and Sea Ray) as far as I can tell.
 
In case anyone has the same question:

I've been advised by multiple sources to simply close the sea cock and use muffs on the outdrive. Just keep the revs below about 1200 RPM.

The through-hull is to allow additional water flow for the heat exchanger.
 
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