Idling in neutral for extended periods?

[mfloski]

What does everyone have to say about running your boat in idle for 5-6hrs. Other than the gas consumption, and as long as the temp stays at 160 or so, is there any draw backs or potential dangers?

[Onthewater]

RE: Idling in park for extended periods?

carb or efi? our boat starts to idle rough after 1/2 of idle, pop it into neutral and rev it a few times.

i assume efi would be fine, open it up when you can though. any pros have any technical stuff to add? buildup, unburned fuel?

[mfloski]

RE: Idling in park for extended periods?

its carbed

[Hollywood]

Are you trying to keep your batteries charged by running at idle speed? I think the figure is somewhere around 75% output at idle. Depending on how much your load is this could be hurting your alternator. I'd run off the batteries until they die, then charge them again at home instead of straining an alternator like that.

Also, you have the carbed motor right? Maybe it's me and my older carbs, but they don't like all that much idling. Floats can stick and jets can clog.

[jon4pres]

Be careful of carbon monoxide. With your engine running and you not moving the back of your boat is going to be in a carbon monoxide cloud. Be very careful.

[surroundsound64]

Dirty plugs, gummed up carb (possibly)...

Why would you need to?

[DavidF]

Carbon build up on the top of the pistons that can lead to detonation later on. Just open it up every so often, if you can. If you cannot, then consider using fuel additives like Techron or better yet, BG44K.

[surroundsound64]

Marvel Mystery oil is good stuff as well.

More so for after your done with the process. Put it in a squirt bottle and take your spark plugs out and then spay it in the cylinders. Let it soak over night then start it up. It should take care of any build up.

[mfloski]

ok, then let me pose this question....anyone know of a small, quiet generator that you can hook up to your stereo system for extended play? Anyone done anything like this?

[EchoLodge]

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gensup.asp

Honda makes quite generators. I have seen them used on 26 foot deck boats. The guys have the exhaust plumbed through the transom. Might be easier to just add more batteries.