On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 17:00:33 GMT, "Franko"
wrote:

I have a 2002 Volvo Penta SX I/O. It came with a motor flush kit, the kind
that has a garden hose fitting on the motor. Is this sufficient for cooling
the motor when it is running on the trailer and out of the water? Or am I
still required to use the "headphone" style hose connection?

Technically, the hose fitting is for flushing and the "ear muffs" can
be used to run the boat, but not above idle. Most manufacturers dont'
recommend it (in fact some will void a warranty if you do use one).

I use the boat in fresh water, so I am mostly interested in how I can
properly run the motor for maintenance & tuning purposes.

Get a plastic 35 gallon barrel or a 55 gallon drum and modify that for
your tuning purposes. (This is what I use - a 35 gallon drum, full of
water with a drain on the bottom and a hose fitting on top. Works at
idle just fine - the temps stays down.) Keep a hose in it and running
while your boat is idling, but don't take it over idle - you will not
be able to keep up with the water necessary to take it over idle - the
barrel acts like a heat sink only it holds temp even with a hose
running.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------
"...the tyrannical fascination which angling
holds for all those who have been once initiated
into its mysteries." Rafael Sabatini (1925)