Should you tilt your outboard motor out of water between uses?

[motion30]

Yes tilt the motor especially if you were in saltwater. Unless you are at the dinghy dock in which case you never tilt your motor up. As you figured out almost to impossible to flush after every use if you are a liverboard anchored out

[DavidMRea]

You may be interested to learn that at the historic boat float in Dartmouth, boats may tilt their outboards, but are required to tie a bucket on them!

[Lionshooter]

My tilt lock has been broken for over 20 years so it can't be tilted. The prop and skeg get a lot of crap growing on them that must be cleaned regularly. As far as I can determine, that is the only reason to tilt a motor.

[n5ama]

Originally Posted by StuM

Dinghies move around a lot at a loading dock. It's common for the bow of one to get between the tubes of another.

Looks like a shuttle might be needed here��

I get barnacle growth in a week on my OBM in places difficult to clean.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by n5ama

Looks like a shuttle might be needed here��

Picture looks pretty normal for most of the Caribbean. Many places are short on dinghy dock space. If you tie up tight you can expect foot traffic through your dinghy.

Use a stern anchor to keep outside or to prevent getting bashed under the pier.

[hlev00]

If tilt up our Tohatsu 6 4 stroke, I disconnect the fuel hose and close the vent. I have found that with the hose attached, even with the vent open, that my engine floods and sometimes I get some cylinder lock (maybe there is a more accurate term).

Even with the hose disconnected starting is often hard after having the engine tilted up. I turn the throttle to 3/4 to full.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by hlev00

If tilt up our Tohatsu 6 4 stroke, I disconnect the fuel hose and close the vent. I have found that with the hose attached, even with the vent open, that my engine floods and sometimes I get some cylinder lock (maybe there is a more accurate term).

Even with the hose disconnected starting is often hard after having the engine tilted up. I turn the throttle to 3/4 to full.

We have a 5 hp two-stroke outboard on our 19' microcruiser. We always tilt it up when not running it, because of the drag while sailing, and the marine growth, even in freshwater.


It took me a long time to learn that after it's been tilted up for a while, our motor likes to be down and left alone for about 5 min... then it starts up easily.

[Just Cause]

Originally Posted by hlev00

If tilt up our Tohatsu 6 4 stroke, I disconnect the fuel hose and close the vent. I have found that with the hose attached, even with the vent open, that my engine floods and sometimes I get some cylinder lock (maybe there is a more accurate term).

Even with the hose disconnected starting is often hard after having the engine tilted up. I turn the throttle to 3/4 to full.

Is that OB carbureted or Fuel Injected?

[s/v michaela]

Originally Posted by Just Cause

Is that OB carbureted or Fuel Injected?

kinda sounds like a needle and seat problem huh??

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by hlev00

If tilt up our Tohatsu 6 4 stroke, I disconnect the fuel hose and close the vent. I have found that with the hose attached, even with the vent open, that my engine floods and sometimes I get some cylinder lock (maybe there is a more accurate term).

Even with the hose disconnected starting is often hard after having the engine tilted up. I turn the throttle to 3/4 to full.

Has it always been like that? I’d be looking for a replacement. Our 20-something year old Mercury 2-st starts on the fist pull even in the morning. Sometimes a carb disassembly and rebuild may reveal all.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by s/v michaela

kinda sounds like a needle and seat problem huh??

The carburetor float may not work correctly when the motor is tilted. So the float valve may open a little, or more. If the fuel line is still connected, tank pressure may force flooding. I don't know why this isn't a problem with most outboards but it seems to affect some more than others.

[Siberian Sea]

Please leave your outboard down when tied at the dingy dock with others, it shows not only thoughtful consideration towards others but demonstrates proper dingy manners. When your rafted alongside or tied a stern your boat I think either up or down is personal choice with neither being right or wrong. Myself I tilt mine overnight and leave it down when I plan to use it again that same day. Congratulations on your first boat and welcome to the fleet.

[Nauti-Nauti]

I will not remark about tilting the dingy motor as we lift almost every night because of security, possible need to move, water drain, keep bottom clean, etc. However...PLEASE DO NOT tilt your motor at the dinghy dock. If your propeller causes damage to another dinghy, well, you get the picture.

[Lambretta]

A point probably worth noting is that if you tilt your motor up ..... you should ensure that it high enough out of the water so that ideally no part remains in the water (NB if the paint is missing on the skeg etc) ..... the reason for this is the sacrificial anode (will most probably then not be in the water anymore - they are most often on the cavitation plate) and then your corrosion will accelerate on the motor. This more often that not applies to slightly larger motors .... the worst is when the gearbox is left in the water and the anode is out of the water as the motor cannot be trimmed high enough (for various reasons)
I would also recommend that if the engine is going to be stored for longer than a week or two, to flush it with fresh water and a product like salt off to keep the water jackets clear ... and flush it for at least 5 minutes - assuming you have a good pressurised water supply.

[BlackHeron]

When you have a dinghy so big that your motor has an electric tilt you are ALREADY "that guy." Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.