Saltwater Damage? - Maxum Boat Owners Club

Fkn.MAXUM · 05-15-2022, 09:52 AM

I just purchased a 1997 2000 srl that has been docked in saltwater & neglected pretty bad in my opinion. There is barnacles and what nots all under and on the outdrive. Also corrosion on the metal surfaces not painted on the out drive. I liked the boat and i always wanted a Maxum so I purchased it. I started by pressure washing the hull & drive. It is coming off but i got a ways to go.
Now the questions, what is recommended to remove the crustations and whatever else is growing on the hull & drive? And 2, what is recommended for the outdrive as far as whats damaged, should i replace the whole unit? I happen to have same outdrive on another freshwater only boat. I like my maxum more than my galaxie and how to prevent further damage aside from staying out of saltwater. any and all help will be appreciated, thank you in advance

mmwjr · 05-15-2022, 01:10 PM

The marine growth will need to be scrapped off. If you plan to keep the boat in the water be sure to paint the drive with a anti fouling paint made to be applied to aluminum. If you swap drives make sure they are the same gear ratio. Cleaning the drive should be followed by priming any bare aluminum them a top coat and finally anti fouling paint.

wiigelec · 05-15-2022, 02:49 PM

You may find some useful information here:

https://www.yachtsurvey.com/SternDrive.htm

Fkn.MAXUM · 05-17-2022, 06:24 AM

I am also curious of damage done to the inside mechanisms if this is the visible damage to the metals on the outside. Do I just clean it or should I take apart or replace the parts or the whole outdrive.
Remember we had a unanimous decision my Galaxy will be a donor if Maxim needed. Im not sure about messing with the transom mount if not needed. I add the pis to give better idea. Thanky you guys again.

2004_3300_SCR · 05-17-2022, 02:04 PM

First and third pictures are sacrificial zinc anodes that are meant to corrode and can be replaced cheaply. Honestly that drive doesn't look too too bad to me, I've seen much worse still operating. Only thing I'd be worried about from those photos is the water intake looks clogged in the second photo. Should be able to wire it out to break that up? Inside of the drive should be coated in gear oil and shouldn't have issues unless there was a leak and the water got inside. Mike knows these inside and out and will have better input but those are my 2 cents

mmwjr · 05-17-2022, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2004_3300_SCR

First and third pictures are sacrificial zinc anodes that are meant to corrode and can be replaced cheaply. Honestly that drive doesn't look too too bad to me, I've seen much worse still operating. Only thing I'd be worried about from those photos is the water intake looks clogged in the second photo. Should be able to wire it out to break that up? Inside of the drive should be coated in gear oil and shouldn't have issues unless there was a leak and the water got inside. Mike knows these inside and out and will have better input but those are my 2 cents

I’m 100% in agreement with you. Regarding the inside drain the gear lube to look for milky lube which would be a sign of water intrusion. If the lube looks good just need to clean up the outside, prime any bare aluminum, top paint Mercruiser phantom black the anti fouling paint. Also new anodes; zinc for salt water.

Fkn.MAXUM · 05-21-2022, 05:05 AM

Now how do we prevent this and how does this happen? looks like it was submerged in water fort quite a bit. this is what i found upon opening up the starter. i tried cranking it and it wouldn't crank. tried jumping the starter once it was off and still didn't turn so i took it apart. of corse I'm getting new o0ne but how does this happen

mmwjr · 05-21-2022, 12:55 PM

For the starter to be submerged there must have been around 2 feet of water in the bilge. A maintained boat would only have a few inches at best.

wiigelec · 05-21-2022, 03:32 PM

Has the boat sunk?

Fkn.MAXUM · 05-22-2022, 02:39 AM

I doesn't appear to have sunken before. it was docked in water for bout 6 months from what im told. it looks like it was kept up and cleaned other than the starter and outside. i don't see and water lines on the interior , no water or milky oil water mix anywhere. owner stated he used it last season and only thing wrong was carburetor issues when docked. i emptied the gas tank and no water. inside motor looks good. took out spark plugs and valve covers and no trace of any water. im baffled...

mmwjr · 05-22-2022, 12:32 PM

Sorry but the condition of the starter doesn’t lie, it was under water. Now that does mean the boat sank nor would a water level high enough to submerge the starter result with water in the oil or fuel IMO.

2004_3300_SCR · 05-23-2022, 04:08 PM

i wrecked a starter on my old byliner 1850 ... leaky cover and inoperative auto bilge switch. Boat didn't sink but the rainwater got through the leaky cover over the period of a few summer weeks to the point that there was enough water in the bilge to submerge the starter. Put a new one in, fixed the auto bilge float, and everything was fine.