Outboards and salt water

[Bruce Hanson]

We plan on traveling soon to salt water from Michigan and was wondering if we really need to flush our new Honda 15 dingy motor after each use?

[chris mac]

We only ever flush our Yamaha outboard if we are laying up the boat for a month or more. So short answer... No.
But flushing it more often definately won't hurt it either

[tkeithlu]

If you did, you'd be in a distinct minority. Plenty of outboards die of other causes after a life in salt water with no flushing. Ones I helped maintain from 1987-2012 never got flushed.

[thomm225]

My outboard has only been used in salt water and in 10 years I believe I have flushed it with fresh water maybe 12 times.

I flush it once a year at least when I change the engine and lower unit oil.

My outboard is a 2011 Mercury 5 hp 4 stroke that I bought new.

I do give it lots of salt water flushes though when I'm not sailing and stop by the boat on the way home from work

[Bill O]

Bruce,
Does your motor have a port (instead of the "ears") to conveniently do a fresh water flush? This will make it much easier to flush.

Suspect most do not flush their motor because they need the ears to do it or they just didn't think about it.
Wouldn't be a bad idea to flush an aluminum block OB w/fresh water to increase it's life.

Depending how much you are using the OB (not everyday) and if you have extra fresh water/the time, why not.

[wingssail]

My 22 year old Merc 15 2 stroke has never been flushed and I never run all the fuel out at the end of the season. It puts plenty of water (salt water) out the flow indicating fitting and it starts easily and runs well.

[Don C L]

I had an old Evinrude that held up really well over 20 years, and I had it the last 6 years of its life. I think it would have lasted longer if I had rinsed it more often. The drive shaft became pitted with corrosion and the seal couldn't prevent the exchange of water and oil. I now rinse my new engine after every trip when I know I won't be using it for a while. That's just me. I hook up the hose to it and disconnect the fuel and let the engine burn up the fuel in the carb and flush it at the same time.