Saltwater Boats...Keep an Extra Eye Out

[ToddW850]

So I boat in saltwater in the Florida Panhandle. It is what it is. It doesn't bother me and I'm religious about washing my boat down after every use.

I change my plugs, oil, and oil filters at the beginning of every season. Except last year, I skipped the oil filter. Book says every other year...

Anyway, took the boat out Thursday and ran GREAT. Got home to clean and BAM! Oil in my bilge. I was a bit freaked. But neither engine oil level was much below full. HEAD SCRATCHER! Long story short, my port side oil filter has been rusting and began to fail. Of course its the one you can't see real well. Thank God it wasn't engine related. Now my bilge got an extra good cleaning.

So make sure if you boat in saltwater to take an occasional peek at your filters. Also keep an eye on your SS Clamps under the swim platform. I spray the heck out of them.

 

[Neutron]

Yuk, but at least it was a simple fix.

I aways change the filter, for the money it cost it aint worth the risk

 

[justason]

wow ! THATS alot of rust AND alot of oil....

 

[CraigAR]

So I boat in saltwater in the Florida Panhandle. It is what it is. It doesn't bother me and I'm religious about washing my boat down after every use.

I change my plugs, oil, and oil filters at the beginning of every season. Except last year, I skipped the oil filter. Book says every other year...

Anyway, took the boat out Thursday and ran GREAT. Got home to clean and BAM! Oil in my bilge. I was a bit freaked. But neither engine oil level was much below full. HEAD SCRATCHER! Long story short, my port side oil filter has been rusting and began to fail. Of course its the one you can't see real well. Thank God it wasn't engine related. Now my bilge got an extra good cleaning.

So make sure if you boat in saltwater to take an occasional peek at your filters. Also keep an eye on your SS Clamps under the swim platform. I spray the heck out of them.


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You need to spray that entire engine area down with some T-9. That will protect it from any corrosion. I only boat in the Gulf and I've done this with every boat that I've owned and the engines were immaculate.

 

[swatski]

Hate to point it out, but part oft he blame is on this shitty (new-ish) Yamaha oil filter, a FRAM-like POS. Those used to be made in Japan, solid and filled with fleece like media. The newer ones are so thin you can bend those with your fingers and the media is paper.

I've switched to (stupid) amsoil filters for that reason, as those are actually built super solid, it is hard to puncture them. I think @ISLANDRACING did a comparison cutting a bunch of those open. Filtration wise - most filters will do these days, kind of like with engine oil - most brands will do fine, but the water/salt environment calls for filters w/ a solid can. Unfortunately, the new Yamaha filters are just inferior.

--

 

[ToddW850]

Hate to point it out, but part oft he blame is on this shitty (new-ish) Yamaha oil filter, a FRAM-like POS. Those used to be made in Japan, solid and filled with fleece like media. The newer ones are so thin you can bend those with your fingers and the media is paper.

I've switched to (stupid) amsoil filters for that reason, as those are actually built super solid, it is hard to puncture them. I think @ISLANDRACING did a comparison cutting a bunch of those open. Filtration wise - most filters will do these days, kind of like with engine oil - most brands will do fine, but the water/salt environment calls for filters w/ a solid can. Unfortunately, the new Yamaha filters are just inferior.

--

On this oil and filter change, I installed the K&N 303. I again sprayed the crap out of it, so hopefully it works out better. Thanks

 

[boudin]

The K&N's are nice as they have a 17mm nut on the end that makes it easy to tighten/loosen the filter.
Always change the filter when doing an oil change.

-Greg

 

[Scott - Hilton Head]

I had my 2013 Yamaha SX-210 in for service and they did a water test after work was completed. They said the intake water passages were clogged causing the engines to overheat quickly. The repair center (Authorized) has given me a quote for $3200 to remove both engines, remove exhaust heads and clean each passage by drilling out each passage (carefully) and then flushing remainder to clear - then reassembling. Other option they say is to replace both engines at $10K per plus 8 hours labor. Clearly not an option for me?!?! Is there an easy way to remove built up sand/salt myself? If not, is this estimate reasonable or should I have work completed elsewhere? Thanks very much.

 

[boudin]

@Scott - Hilton Head This question should be asked in a new thread... maybe one of the admins can move it.

Were you having a problem with the engines overheating? Do you see water coming out of the pissers at 6k+ RPM? (The two water exits on the starboard side of the boat, in the rear.)

-Greg

 

[swatski]

I had my 2013 Yamaha SX-210 in for service and they did a water test after work was completed. They said the intake water passages were clogged causing the engines to overheat quickly. The repair center (Authorized) has given me a quote for $3200 to remove both engines, remove exhaust heads and clean each passage by drilling out each passage (carefully) and then flushing remainder to clear - then reassembling. Other option they say is to replace both engines at $10K per plus 8 hours labor. Clearly not an option for me?!?! Is there an easy way to remove built up sand/salt myself? If not, is this estimate reasonable or should I have work completed elsewhere? Thanks very much.

There was a thread by @CrankyGypsy on flushing the cooling system with excessive build up - I'll try to locate it.

Also @buckbuck knows more than anyone about the MR-1 cooling system, maybe he can chime in.

I agree you would be better served posting these questions in a new thread!

--

 

[Scott - Hilton Head]

@Scott - Hilton Head This question should be asked in a new thread... maybe one of the admins can move it.

Were you having a problem with the engines overheating? Do you see water coming out of the pissers at 6k+ RPM? (The two water exits on the starboard side of the boat, in the rear.)

-Greg

Thanks so much for the reply - first time using this site but find myself spending hours reading all the info when I really should be working?!?! The boat sat for 4 months then I took to the repair center for repairs that I knew I needed. They have had it for 3 months now, so not very pleased to say the least. The last time I used, it ran fine and no overheating - water did come out the starboard side pissers as you note. I took your advice and did create a new thread in hopes of more advice on how to handle this repair.

 

[CrankyGypsy]

here's an improved version:

http://www.crankygypsy.com/mechaniac/mr1flush.htm