Big Dogg
New Member
:huh:I have a bravo three that I went to add lube to the grease zig on the engine shaft running to the upper unit behind the engine on the inside of the transom. I found a bunch of what appeared to be dirt coming out of the inside of the upper unit where the steering shaft goes through the transom. My first thought was either mud dobbers (wasps) made a nest or a geko, or small birds.
I used a new vacuum cleaner bag and sucked out as much as I could. I put it into a clear peanut butter container and it was about 1/3 full of something that is a mix of salt crystals, sand or dirt, and paint chips. No hint of bug parts or grass or other debris that would lead me to believe it was a critter. Ran the boat for several hours and had no water in the bildge.
My best guess at this point is that it is just corrosion on the inside of the top of the I/O unit. The unit has been service every year for the last six years at the SeaRay dealer and has about 700 hours of use. It is stored on a lift above salt water.
The steering is fine and the boat is running great. I keep the bilg 100 percent dry while on the lift. I can't see up inside what might be going on in the upper unit through the transom due to the lack of space. Does anyone have suggestions of what I can check?
I used a new vacuum cleaner bag and sucked out as much as I could. I put it into a clear peanut butter container and it was about 1/3 full of something that is a mix of salt crystals, sand or dirt, and paint chips. No hint of bug parts or grass or other debris that would lead me to believe it was a critter. Ran the boat for several hours and had no water in the bildge.
My best guess at this point is that it is just corrosion on the inside of the top of the I/O unit. The unit has been service every year for the last six years at the SeaRay dealer and has about 700 hours of use. It is stored on a lift above salt water.
The steering is fine and the boat is running great. I keep the bilg 100 percent dry while on the lift. I can't see up inside what might be going on in the upper unit through the transom due to the lack of space. Does anyone have suggestions of what I can check?
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