Trim Cylinder concerns

[GrtLkBtr]

My slip is in a shallow port, the depth of the water is barely enough when the drive is at full trim. While the bottom is soft and muddy there is a bed of sand after a few inches. I do feel comfortable motoring to the slip and have not had any hard hits with the prop. This is my question... Since the depth is shallow, I leave the drive in the trim position over the week. Does leaving the cylinder shafts extended in the water for the week, have any adverse affect on the shaft that is exposed to the water? I know that the shaft should be stainless steel, but I just wonder about it. I have lowered the drive at the slip but I will feel the bottom when it nears the full down position and actually lifts the boat a bit. A second question, I have thought of having the dock lines attached and putting the drive into gear at idle and slowly lower the drive, basically to use the prop wash to make a "hole" on the bottom that the motor can sit in while I am away for the week with it at the full down position. I do know that I am risking sucking some sand through the impeller, that I am aware of. Any thoughts?

 

[Summer Fun II]

Does leaving the cylinder shafts extended in the water for the week, have any adverse affect on the shaft that is exposed

You're in fresh water so I wouldn't worry about them.

I have thought of having the dock lines attached and putting the drive into gear at idle and slowly lower the drive, basically to use the prop wash to make a "hole" on the bottom that the motor can sit in

I had to do the same in my old slip and it didn't hurt the impellers. I had twin outdrives.

 

[GrtLkBtr]

Thanks Wayne, I think that the shafts being retracted would be the best option, even though there wouldn't be a actual problem with them extended. I will try to "wash out" a area that I can leave the drive down. Maybe I worry about things too much, and knowing that someone has experienced the same is good to know!

 

[Summer Fun II]

When you do it, turn the steering lock to lock slowly and watch the sand/muck fly out of there. :thumbsup:

 

[magstang1]

Leaving the drive up probably puts more stress on the bellows than the trim cylinders.

 

[GrtLkBtr]

When you do it, turn the steering lock to lock slowly and watch the sand/muck fly out of there. :thumbsup:

Now this sounds like it might be a alcohol related activity!

 

[Henry Boyd]

We've been leaving the drive up for years. Our mooring at low tide is barely deep enough for the boat to float. No adverse effects to bellows.

Henry


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[susanandlance]

Bellows are made to stretch, however they will last a little longer if they're not, that's why most people put drives down when not in use, unless in a shallow water situation

 

[GrandMaster]

I would suggest that the drives just be "trimmed" up and not raised to the full trailer position with the trailer switch

 

[Gunn]

Within the cap at the end of the trim cylinder is a thin metal washer... I forget what Mercruiser calls it but it fits tightly around the ram and scraps anything off of it as it is retracted. If you are exercising it regularly I wouldn't worry about it. And Henry looks to be in salt water, so there's another data point for you.

It is true that the bellow might last longer when they are not fully extended. But I'd rather have the bellows extended than use the outdrive as the pivot point for the boat on the bottom!

 

[SloBurn]

If it's that shallow, why not take a shovel and dig your own hole? I would not risk getting an impellor full of muck, nor do I like leaving my outdrive up, as it extends the bellows and may reduce their lifetimes.

 

[Summer Fun II]

How is the impeller gonna get ruined when you're pushing water/sand/muck away from the outdrive ??. :smt017


I didn't for 3 yrs with no problems and we had a nice big bowl to swim in behind the boat. :smt001

 

[susanandlance]

If anyone thinks that sand and muck doesn't decrease the life of an impeller is smoking good stuff.......

 

[susanandlance]

Because the raw water inlets are in the same stuff as the rest of the lower unit is...........

 

[Summer Fun II]

I guess OMC outdrives are different then.

What works for some, may not work for others. :smt001

 

[Henry Boyd]

We are in the mouth of a river, so by fall there is a bowl under the boat so the water is part salt and part fresh. It depends on how dry the summer has been. If it has been rainy then the all salt water line is farther downstream, if it has been dry then we are in all salt water. Boat corrosion issues aside we prefer the salt water as it is clear, the river water is brownish with a lot of silt and decomposed leaf smeg. On balance though the majority of the year the boat is on stands with the drive down......


Henry