Underwater Services - Outdrives

If you have an outdrive on your boat, take a moment to understand our policy on outdrive maintenance. 

SCI Marine, Inc. is one of the only professionally licensed and properly insured companies that cleans outdrives. We will always attempt to service your outdrive maintenance needs. However, cleaning outdrives is an inherently difficult process. By their nature, scraping hard barnacle growth from outdrives above the cavitation plate creates a high risk of damage and consequently a quality issue for both the customer and SCI.

Here are the facts about outdrives:

• Outdrives do not belong in the saltwater full-time.
• Aluminum metal enables barnacles and algae to grow 30-40% faster than stainless, bronze or other common underwater metals.
• Aluminum outdrives in the water use zincs more often and have significant potential for increased damage due to galvanic corrosion.
• There are various metals on outdrives, and when left in the water full-time, the normal problem of corrosion due to dissimilar metals is greatly enhanced.
• Due to the smaller size of the saltwater intakes (gills) on outdrives lower units, barnacles will cause overheating much sooner than conventional through hull fittings.
• Hose and rubber fittings deteriorate significantly faster when left in the water full-time.
• Outdrives should always have quality anti-fouling paint on all surfaces. Surfaces should be painted at least three (3) times per year.
• Outdrives, when left in the water full-time, should always be left in the down position to prevent barnacle growth on hydraulic actuators and (accordion type) rubber hoses or bellows.

Because of these facts we have established the best maintenance plan possible for customers with outdrives left in the water. The details are listed below.

• Only outdrive accessible surfaces above the cavitation plate will be brushed. Hard marine growth below the cavitation plate will be scraped. SCI will not remove hard growth from above the cavitation plate.
• SCI will not change any zincs on the outdrive. Zincs should be changed when the boat is hauled out.
• It is highly recommended that outdrives be hauled, professionally inspected, and painted with anti-fouling paint every four (4) months.
• All vessels with outdrives will be cleaned two (2) times per month regardless of any other conditions from April through November due to warm water growth patterns.
• After the haul-out of the outdrives, SCI will resume your cleaning schedule after (30) days.
• If your vessel hasn’t been hauled and the outdrives haven’t been painted and serviced in the last six (6) months, make arrangements to have your boat hauled out as soon as possible. After haul-out, notify SCI for schedule adjustments.