Need a little help here, new guy no knowledge.

[pfrench]

Stern drive question, I have a 23 Sceptre with twin I/O this is going to sound like a silly basic question but, the rubber hoses that run from the stern drive back to the boat, the hose on my port engine has come loose, how do you get that back on? its so tight in there I cant get the hose over the opening. Second, what is that hose? can i run the boat with it disconnected? what would happen? I appreciate any help as I said I am learning.

[Old'sCool]

Post some pics for us

[nestorpr]

Depends, could be a cooling (water) hose, an exhaust hose or the bellows that keeps the driveshaft dry, take your pick. All of them have to be tight and secured for the boat to operate correctly. Tilt up the drive and see if you can attach it back on, I've done it before with the boat in the water, it's not easy but it's possible. Just take your time and have some beer while doing it, somehow it seems to help!

[BigLew]

Botapeje, are there some lubricant properties of BEER with rubber that we are NOT aware of?

[pfrench]

Thanks for the input guys, I am going to take some pictures later today.

[red20]

a little liquid soap can help. also try heating the end of the hose with a hair drier. *** only if there are no gas fumes and the area is well ventilated*****

[nestorpr]

Of course!!! It lubricates insides, outsides, bedsides and all other sides you can think of!!

Like the great Barney Gumble once said:

"There's nothing like beer to give you that inflated sense of self-esteem!"

[BigLew]

There's nothing more lost than a sick mind!

[oldfielder]

Do yourself a giant favor and buy at least the seloc, if not the merc, manual for your motors. As an i/o guy myself, my comfort level with boating has increased exponentially as my understanding of my motor has improved. One loose hose-which to me sounds like your cooling water-most likely means some others and these things need to be checked with care. Unlike the the o/b guys, you have some potentially boat sinking problems sitting inside your bilge with a motor in there.
I'm really not trying to lecture you, but looking back to when I first got my i/o, I did some stuff unknowingly that could have caused me huge problems and I just got lucky.