Outdrive Position When Long-Term Beached

thinkxingu · 06-06-2015, 10:44 AM

Hi! Only second month with pontoon and have a question: we'll be beaching it for the summer and am wondering if we should raise the outdrive completely out of the water or leave the prop in when not being used. I was raising it out, but I noticed my neighbors kept theirs in.

Thanks!

Tired of Waiting · 06-06-2015, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Hi! Only second month with pontoon and have a question: we'll be beaching it for the summer and am wondering if we should raise the outdrive completely out of the water or leave the prop in when not being used. I was raising it out, but I noticed my neighbors kept theirs in.

Thanks!

If there is enough water leave it in. It could bottom out due to low water or wave action then pull it up. Our is docked so we leave it in.

ToW

DRH · 06-07-2015, 10:55 AM

We just bought a new boat with a 60hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard. The owner's manual recommends raising the motor out of the water when it is not in use. I know that few people do this, but that's what the manufacturer recommends.

DBreskin · 06-08-2015, 08:58 AM

If it's an outboard motor, tilt it up out of the water.
If it's a I/O (sterndrive), leave it down if there's enough depth.

Dave R · 06-08-2015, 09:29 AM

Always tilt outboards up out of the water. Prevents corrosion and re-painting and keeps stuff from growing in the water passages within the motor.

Stern drives can be left up or down, does not matter, but it's easier on the u-joints if it's down when starting/running. Some weill say leave it down to avoid stressing the rubber bellows, I think that if your bellows are brittle enough to be damaged by trimming up, you should replace them.

thinkxingu · 06-11-2015, 05:24 PM

Thanks, all! I'll pull it out this weekend for forever more.

Peace!

DRH · 06-12-2015, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Thanks, all! I'll pull it out this weekend for forever more.

Peace!

Just curious, thinkxingu ... does your pontoon boat have an outboard motor or an I/O, and if it's an outboard, is it a Mercury?

thinkxingu · 06-12-2015, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRH

Just curious, thinkxingu ... does your pontoon boat have an outboard motor or an I/O, and if it's an outboard, is it a Mercury?

It's an outboard, and a Suzuki.

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06-06-2015, 10:44 AM	#1
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,548 Thanks: 1,184 Thanked 2,180 Times in 1,355 Posts	Outdrive Position When Long-Term Beached Hi! Only second month with pontoon and have a question: we'll be beaching it for the summer and am wondering if we should raise the outdrive completely out of the water or leave the prop in when not being used. I was raising it out, but I noticed my neighbors kept theirs in. Thanks!

06-07-2015, 10:55 AM	#3
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith Posts: 1,698 Thanks: 1,211 Thanked 678 Times in 180 Posts	Is it a Mercury Outboard? We just bought a new boat with a 60hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard. The owner's manual recommends raising the motor out of the water when it is not in use. I know that few people do this, but that's what the manufacturer recommends. __________________ DRH

06-08-2015, 08:58 AM	#4
DBreskin Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wolfeboro NH Posts: 283 Thanks: 143 Thanked 121 Times in 76 Posts	Outbard or I/O? If it's an outboard motor, tilt it up out of the water. If it's a I/O (sterndrive), leave it down if there's enough depth.

06-08-2015, 09:29 AM	#5
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Always tilt outboards up out of the water. Prevents corrosion and re-painting and keeps stuff from growing in the water passages within the motor. Stern drives can be left up or down, does not matter, but it's easier on the u-joints if it's down when starting/running. Some weill say leave it down to avoid stressing the rubber bellows, I think that if your bellows are brittle enough to be damaged by trimming up, you should replace them.

06-11-2015, 05:24 PM	#6
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,548 Thanks: 1,184 Thanked 2,180 Times in 1,355 Posts	Thanks, all! I'll pull it out this weekend for forever more. Peace!