Motor up or down when moored?

USAF M26X sailor · Post by **USAF M26X sailor** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:02 am

Getting most of the winter mods done (Stereo, new steering cable) and looking forward to a season on the Potomac. Last year I had a slip at Ft Belvoir and they are rebuilding the slips so I relocated to Quantico Marine Corp Base Marina (QMCBM rebuilt last year). QMCBM is on the Potomac where as FTBM was off up a creek and we experienced quite a bit of marine growth so I raised the Merc 50 OB after tying up for the day. Since we trailer with the OB up I think the stress would be acceptable, your thoughts?

Red Coat · Post by **Red Coat** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:00 am

I keep my engine up to avoid marine growth. But also to protect it from galvanic corrosion. Many marinas are bad for electrical discharge in the water which can speed up the process. Sacrifical zincs are fine but why expose the engine if you do not have to. If I am going to leave it up for extended periods of time I will put the tilt lever in place to take the strain off the lifting gear.

Larry

Sloop John B · Post by **Sloop John B** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:45 pm

Tilt lever is probably all right for being moored. You have to take the pressure off the hydraulics. When trailering, however, prop the motor up by inserting a small piece of wood or a PVC pipe. Tilt lever could smash the bracket on the bumps.

edurbin · Post by **edurbin** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 3:04 am

I've taken to leaving mine down to try and ease the perpetual swinging/yawing. But my current mode of operation is to leave the boat in the water for 1 to 5 nights at most. I can get away without the antifoul. If I could ease the yawing, I'd leave my motor up for sure. Made some progress this weekend. See my other reply tonight.

Craig

udannlin · Post by **udannlin** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:48 am

if its a slip that you rent long term I would keep it up for the sake of minimizing marine growth and corrosion. But if its an overnight mooring, the proper etiquette is to keep your motor down so the skeg and prop does not scratch and rip up other boats and dinghys in case if they swing into it.

Sloop John B · Post by **Sloop John B** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:23 pm

Marina ediquette? I tape Ben Hur hub caps on the outside of my fenders. Nobody dares get within fifty feet of my swinging Mac. I think cause I snore pretty bad.

udannlin · Post by **udannlin** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:34 pm

mooring etiquette. not marina etiquette. I believe thats what USAF M26X sailor was inquiring about. As in most moorings, people have their dingyes and inflatables loosely tied to the stern and an exposed prop can cause some major damage.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:08 pm

But if its an overnight mooring, the proper etiquette is to keep your motor down so the skeg and prop does not scratch and rip up other boats and dinghys in case if they swing into it.

I guess I would like confirmation of this as I have never heard this. Mooring and marinas are the places where all the stray juice is lurking, and where all your metal on your boat can get damaged. With 5-10k invested in my motor, I feel compelled to protect it.

If you cant figure out how to keep a dinghy attached to your mooring/boat....

Am I being harsh? I will suffer the judgement of the Board.....

Sloop John B · Post by **Sloop John B** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:59 pm

Yes, and Gee Whiz, Cat. If my inner tube with the air mattress floor floats over and gets pronged by your evil prop being out of the water, I'm not only going to contact my lawyers, I'm turning you in to Emily Post.

udannlin · Post by **udannlin** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:53 am

Some of you guys may have this book and if you don't, I highly recommened it and its kind of the bible for all boaters.

Chapman Piloting & Seamanship
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846

Look under the mooring and anchorage section. As implied with an etiquette, it is not required by 'law'. Just something nice to do for others when you are out enjoying a nice overnight trip.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:27 am

Udannlin - appreciate your post and tact.

Its the

face for Catigale

If its in Chapmans, then its gospel as far as Im concerned.

Now I have to devise a way to cover my prop when I have it tipped up...

Andy26M · Post by **Andy26M** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:02 pm

In my slip, I keep the motor raised all the time. I'm in salt water and the marine growth would be insane otherwise.

As to stress: If the simple weight of my 250-or-so pound outboard causes damage to my transom, then Mac is gonna get some very irate warranty claims. They say this boat can pull a water skier - the sheer act of pulling a water skier out of the water has to put a lot more strain on the transom than the weight of the outboard ever would, even bouncing down a highway. If anything, the motor up should reduce the torque on the transom by putting more weight over it rather than haging off the back.

- AndyS

Post by **kmclemore** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:13 pm

udannlin wrote:....Just something nice to do for others....

(Speaking of 'nice to others', how's about a a quick edit to shorten that URL? See how to do it here. Thanks!

)

udannlin · Post by **udannlin** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:22 pm

kmclemore, just for you and anyone else looking to buy the book (as if the shortened link wasn't nice enough, I included their prices too.

)

Amazon : $45.00

Landfall Navigation : $49.95

Barnes & Noble : $34.96

SailNet Store : $55.95

Post by **kmclemore** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:56 pm

Thanks.. actually, I have two of them.. one so old that everything is in black-and-white...
and I also have the latest edition as well, which includes such novel things as
GPS! Imagine that.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Motor up or down when moored?

Motor up or down when moored?

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