Cleaning Lower unit

[Checkmate21]

What will take the dried up lake scum and algae of a 150 4 stroke mercury outboard. The boat sits in the water and the marina left the motor down. There is algae and some kind of white junk buildup on the lower unit and on the stainless prop. What will remove this and not hurt the paint on the motor?

The boat is kept at a marina in Big Bear Lake and I do not have a trailer.

 

[fishing fool]

Try CLR or lime a way for the white stuff. The algae should dry up and come off as well

 

[svlperry]

Muratic acid


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[RiverDave]

Muratic acid


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I'd acid wash it, and use toilet bowl cleaner..

RD

 

[Checkmate21]

Straight acid, or cut it with water? Trying not to damage the factory Mercury paint.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Straight acid, or cut it with water? Trying not to damage the factory Mercury paint.

I dilute 50/50 muratic pool acid and water in a pump sprayer... I have a pair of mercs that sit in a marina for 8 months a year and go through the descale exercise every winter. Whatever damage is done to the paint is done, the acid wash isnt going to do any more. Flush the entire area with water and don't do it on concrete. Keep flushing/rinsing after the bubble/fizz of the acid. It takes alot of time and constant rinse with acid rinse with water cycles.

 

[wzuber]

remember, it's on the inside too...sooo cooling system, water pick up, pump, block, heads etc. seems like a "cheap" used trailer or storage rack might be a better alternative in the grand scheme of things? Or does this particular unit have a closed cooling system? Either way, good luck with your project. How does the lake level look this year? How's the fishing? I typically take my parents up there for a month or so in july/august when it's too hot in the valley for them and would like to put my dad's boat in the water this year since I got it running for him again and put new carpet etc. in it.

 

[Checkmate21]

Big Bear is down about 15.7 feet. The water temp is about 63 degrees. I have not fished it yet this year. A few bass boats were out this weekend. The only ramp that is open is the one in Fawnskin, about 2 miles east of the dam.

I normally keep my motor tilted up so nothing touches the water. Most people just leave their motors down and let them look like crap. My boat is a 2017 Suntracker XP3 with a 150 Mercury 4 stroke outboard. Nothing fancy, but it is great for leaving in the water. As Dave once said, " cheap enough that when it gets trashed, you can buy a new one".

If we do not get a very wet winter, Big Bear will be dry in a couple of years.