Starting issue

[Bushwacker]

[QUOTE=pelican;240684 . . . water in the bilge,sea water,boat's covered - heat builds up quickly...water evaporates,yes ?
salt is left behind,salt wicks moisture - it has a corroding effect and a prying effect

moisture rises too... [/QUOTE]

Good points about the warm, damp bilge/engine compartment!

My friend that bought the Moesly 21 "Unohu" I/O new in 1965 and ran it for 27 years, literally wearing out 3 different engines and drives, was fanatical about keeping the bilge dry! He wasn't satisfied with the main bilge pump because it always left a little water in the bilge. His concern was that windage off the flywheel would spray any bilge water all over the engine so he installed a second tiny pump with a manual switch. Claimed it left the bilge just barely damp! I followed him all over the Bahamas on a half dozen trips, and I noticed that EVERY TIME he put the boat up on plane, being a very methodical engineer, he would turn on that pump and look back over the side to see if it spit out any water!

Ideally you'd like to have a solenoid that is 100% airtight, but if it's the type that's integral with the starter that mechanically actuates the Bendix gear like a Chrysler or some GM types, it definitely won't be airtight, even if ignition protected! And although a wiper-type contact is a good idea, I've never seen a starter solenoid made like that.

Regarding sprays, how do you like Boeshield? I like the idea of the waxy protective coating it leaves, although I don't know how good it is at displacing existing moisture.