OMC Saildrive Engine

"Hello - I have a 1981 Montego

"Hello - I have a 1981 Montego 25 that has a 1981/82 Saildrive
engine (gasoline) installed - apparently OEM. It still runs like a
champion and, hopefully, will continue to do so for a long time to come.


I have always run this engine in fresh water, but I\'m planning a
retirement relocation next year to the SAvannah, GA, area where I intend
to slip the boat in salt water. All my experience with similar engines
have required a fresh-water flush when the engine was run in salt water.
Of course, these involved times that a freshwater boat was run for a
time in salt water, but then pulled and trailered back to its usual
fresh-water habitat.

Since I don\'t see any way to flush the Saildrive engine like one would
an equivalent outboard, I hope to get some information from you about
what needs to be done for a Saildrive engine run and stored in salt
water. Perhaps nothing extra is required, but I wanted to inquire of the
\"experts\".

I will appreciate any information that you can provide, as well as any
references you can direct me to, about Saildrive operation and storage
in salt water. I love the engine that I have and hope it lasts forever.

Thanks to anyone who can provide comment, answers, solutions, or sympathies "

"The problem is that it is all

"The problem is that it is allways below waterline, so flushing it is not easy at sea! But whenever lifted, run it with a flusher and fresh water. Before launcing it have Your impeller and thermostat changed. Note that the OEM thermostats are SST, not all of the aftermarkets are."