www.iFourWinns.com

I've been boating at Norris Lake for 20 yrs and hoped that the Zebra Mussel would not find it's way to this land locked fresh water lake but no go. They're here and here to stay. My question is what should I do to protect the boat / systems for a boat left in the water 24/365. Antifouling paint is already a given but what about protecting:

1. Water inlets in the VP DP drives
2. Water inlets for the AC and Gen
3. Rubber boots on the drives

We generally use the boat for 4 days at a time every 2 weeks between Memorial day and Labor day and it mostly sits unused 6 months of the year. Winter water temps are in the low 40's and summer water temps are upper 80's. How do you protect against these buggers if dry storage is not a reasonable option?

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2014 Vista V435
2011 Glastron GT180
2013 Sea Doo RXT-260

Beautiful boat. Where do you boat out of Norris? We are at Twin Cove Marina. I'll be interested in hearing what everyone has to say on this one.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

I'm a relatively new boat owner, last year was the first year owning a boat. Our boat was in the water from May thru September here in Michigan. When I pulled it out there were plenty of zebra mussels on the drive and the bottom of the stepped rear part of the hull. I'm not sure if there is anything special to keep them off. Our boat is not bottom painted, I cleaned it with a cheap pressure washer and then had it acid washed. Still looks nice and white.

As for the drive, I used the pressure washer to blast them off best i could. Didn't have any problems with inlets or bellows. Hopefully someone with more experience will come along and add some information.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

Ive been boating in lake erie for a while and I have not found one thing that can be done to protect the drives so far. when the boats pulled I power wash the drives and take a stiff nylon brush to the areas where I see build up, it takes a while to get them all. you could always pull you boat more frequently and do this.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

Somewhere.. I think, in my operators guide, it explicitly says not to power wash the drives.. damage to the ??? And darned if I can't remember what would get damaged.. maybe the speedo pitot.

I'll have to dig up reference.

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2008 H180 3.0L Volvo/Penta

You do have to be very careful.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

They warn against it because of damage to the bellows. Of course I didn't read this until after I had pressure washed the drive. You would really have to get in there to damage the bellows but I can see how it could happen.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

Eric, our boat is at Shanghai

Regarding protecting the A/C, Gen, and VP DP water inlets, has anyone ever had their heat exchanger blocked or fouled by mussels? What about blocking water inlets to the drives and gen?

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2014 Vista V435
2011 Glastron GT180
2013 Sea Doo RXT-260

Had a friend who lost an A/C to them. Fouled up the freshwater lines to the pump.

A few folks on Loudon have tried putting a chlorine tab or two in their strainers periodically to "flush" them out. Not sure if that works or not.

Supposedly they thrive on running water. As such, I don't run my A/C when we are not on the boat.

When I hauled my boat last fall, there were several on the trim tabs, but nowhere else.

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2004 Sea Ray 420DB
Formerly: 2005 348 Vista

Well we don't have those but we have every other thing that can grow in salt water...the barnacles are REALLY bad this year...my boat's been in only 6 weeks and because I was away for 2 weeks and did not use it much even though the drive was painted by the yard with Trilux it was covered in barnacles...I scraped what I could but will have to haul it mid August and re-paint...the fouling issue is why I will not buy another sterndrive boat here...outboards only from now on....last season I spent hours digging them out of the pivot housing....not fun...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II