"Flushing" a 205 Sport (2008)

[ClearCreekRdr]

I have a 205 Sport (2008). I am going out the California Delta today for the first time and the Delta has varying degrees of salt water (mostly fresh where we will be). This is because the freshwater rivers run into the Bay.

I have been told that it's mostly fresh water where I am boating today and I have nothing to worry about. Though, I was thinking it would be a good idea to flush the boat after for good measure.

How do I do this? I am a first time boat owner of 1 month, and I have yet to receive the manual that came with my boat (boat dealer is still getting this for me).

Thanks for the help!

 

[Hampton]

You need to buy the outdrive attachment commonly referred to as "Ear Muffs." It's a pair of black rubber cups attached to a metal wire that holds them together. They fit around either side of the outdrive where the water inlets are. Attach a hose to the muffs (obvious) and turn the hose on with the muffs on the outdrive.

Start the engine and check for water flow out of the exhaust ports (Prop? - bottom sides of the outdrive? - That's where it was on my B-III. Can't remember my alpha - too long ago). I bumped the throttle to 1000RPM, but NO MORE. Make sure the hose doesn't collapse due to the impeller sucking the water out too fast. The manual recommmends flushing at idle power only, but idle didn't circulate well enough for my accessories.

Monitor the water intake and exhaust during 100% of the time you are running the engine. If muffs fall off, you'll toast your impeller very quickly.

Let the engine get up to operating temp so that the thermostat will open and all areas get flushed. After five minutes at op temp, taste water from exhaust. It'll taste tinny, but not salty. Select idle power for 1 minute, then shut engine off, then turn hose off, then REMOVE EAR MUFFS (rooky lesson, but it happens).

 

[cdefreit]

IMHO, tasting is optional After 5 or 10 minutes at operating temp, it should be good.

 

[Hampton]

IMHO, tasting is optional After 5 or 10 minutes at operating temp, it should be good.

I used to wash my face/hands in it - nice, clean, warm water.

 

[ClearCreekRdr]

Where do I buy these ear muffs? Any specific brand?

 

[wengerda]

An additional question to this thread, do you put the boat in gear when flushing the alpha one drive?

Thanks.

 

[beernutz]

I use ear muffs and a salt eliminator product called Salt Away (www.saltawayproducts.com) when I flush my engine. I bought it with a mixing unit that attaches between the hose and the muffs. When I'm finished flushing, I remove the muffs and attach a garden hose sprayer to the mixer and spray the outside of the boat and anything else that came in contact with salt water. You can feel how Salt Away leaves the boat with a cleaner, smoother feel after using it when there was salt residue on it.

We boat in salt water quite a bit but also in several rivers which run into Mobile Bay which have high salt levels near their mouths but are mostly fresh. I know a lot of people think fresh water flushing alone is sufficient but I've talked to several boat owners who boat in these rivers and fresh water flushed but ended up having to replace risers and even engines. To me Salt Away and products like it are very cheap insurance since I think I use maybe $2 worth each application. I probably use more gas than that idling out of the launch area. </$.02>