hope i may save some one a headache........

[terry]

i had over heating problems with the wifes boat,after new thermostats,thermosensors,pop it valve,water pump,sub tank sensor,main tank sensor,and the boat still overheats,i broke down and took it to the dealer.now with my lower unit off,my mid section off,and also the power head removed the dealer found a mud dauber nest in the return cooling passage of my motor.they told me they had to take a drill and drill it out and that it was as hard as cement.now with 9 hrs labor at 79.00 an hour plus parts all for a BUG.there advice to me- cover your lower unit as you never know what might crawl up in there to cause you problems.this boat a.k.a as sandees lemon has been a nightmare.this must be the year for boat problems for people.man do i miss my glastron.HAPPY BOATING TO ALL.

[David CVX-16]

I heard from a marine mechanic that a mouse crawled up the exhaust hub of the prop and landed in the combustion chamber. When the engine started, the piston blew. I personally take my propeller off before winter storage and stuff steel wool into the exhaust hole to prevent anything from traveling up into the engine. 

[Hyperacme]

OUCH !

[Rosscoe]

Unreal! Why would anything go up in there, that far?
And cover it how? I've had mice eat holes right thru plastic litter containers to get a bird seed, so how much can you do to a lower unit?

[okhmbldr]

My 175 Evinrude had been sitting for 10 years. Before even thinking about starting the engine I had the impeller replaced. When we dropped the lower unit we found a mud dabbers nest on the impeller housing. Hard as a rock. We cleaned it off and blew air thru all the water passages to be sure they were clear. It runs like a champ.