[kutzcb]

I boat in salt water (Louisiana/Mississippi) and have not used boat in 4 years, got everything up and running but I have no water flow into engine. Come to find out that the hose is crimped shut from corrosion between the outdrive and the hull, basically in my transom. In reading this is an issue that even Merc knows about and they sell a cap to install where I would hook up my hose going to the sea water pump and the suggestion is to go to a remote sea water pick up/ strainer.

I am looking for any input regarding this... everyone seems to have a differant opinion. I have a 2000 Z238 Shabah which has the 454 MPI and the Bravo III outdrive.

Please and thank you......

Hoping to get on the water at least once this year.

[ColoradoDiablo]

Only thing I know is mercruiser insists adamitly that the use of bonding wires , anodes , and even the mercathode system needs to be used on the Bravo III's in saltwater conditions.
I personally , have never had a boat in saltwater , but if you hang in there kutzcb , I'm sure more of the "Saltwater Runners" will chime in.
It definitely is a major issue from what I can gather.


Larry

[Hudson River Steve]

I have a 1999 and I replaced the hose along with everythin else on the outdrive last year. Not sure if it is the salt water or ozone in the air that makes the hose from the outdrive to the transom assembly hard after many years. If the drive was stored for a long period in the down position and the hose kinked and then hardened I can understand your problem. Why not remove the outdrive and bell housing and change the $10 hose...which should last another 15 years? Seems to be an easier solution than drilling a hole in the bottom of the boat and installing a sea strainer.