Malibu Boats RESPONSE TXi 2021, Owner'S Manual

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138 Care & Maintenance | 2021 OWNER’S MANUAL
Stay back from the boat surface to avoid potential damage from
the high-pressure sprayer, and do not use the soap setting as
most car-wash soaps are intended to deal with highway-type
debris such as salt, road tar, and similar environmental hazards.
Wash the boat by hand with mild detergent as noted above, and
then rinse carefully.
Saltwater Care and Maintenance
When boating in brackish or saltwater, the post-outing
cleaning is critical for the protection of the finishes. The
cleaning process, internally and externally, are critical to
maintaining the warranty in effect and to preserving the engine
components. This is a safety matter.
The potential for corrosion means that boats operating in
this type of condition must be equipped with self-sacrificing
zinc anodes. These anodes are attached in several locations,
including the transom, driveshaft and rudder. Check with your
authorized Malibu dealer to be certain that you are aware of all
locations of these as they will require periodic replacement. The
anodes serve to significantly reduce the potential for corrosive
damage to the permanent metal components on the boat.
Malibu boats are equipped with a closed cooling system (see
the Engine section of this manual) which reduces the amount
of water utilized from the body of water during operation.
However, SOME water is necessary and must be drawn onboard
and circulated. This function exposes interior portions of the
boat, particularly some engine components, to operational
exposure to salt or brackish water. The explanation of how
properly flush the engine following an outing appears later in this
section.
Stainless Steel, Chrome, and Aluminum
Components
The boat has been constructed with various metal
components, all of which require special attention during routine
care. Decomposition occurs, resulting in rust and/or corrosion,
and it is accelerated when the boat is operated in saltwater.
While Malibu uses quality metal components chosen for their
durability as well as attractive appearance, all metal eventually
reacts to water exposure. Therefore, part of the care and
maintenance of metal requires that it is kept clean and dry. After
an outing, rinse the metal pieces as well as the rest of the boat,
allowing a thorough air drying. To avoid spotting and discoloring,
drying with a soft rag or towel will keep the new boat look for
many seasons to come. It is also recommended to wash all metal
components when you wash your boat as this will help prevent
moisture from affecting the surface.
Waxing these metal components will also help to preserve
the finish. Do not wax powder-coated surfaces as the wax will
collect in the textured surface and be extremely hard to remove.
If the boat owner notices rust or deterioration of metal
components below the water, even when operated regularly
in fresh water, this should be brought to the attention of the
authorized Malibu dealer. In some instances, it is necessary to
attach self-sacrificing zinc anodes, even when operated in fresh
water. Be safe, rather than sorry.
Routine Salt Water/Brackish Water Protection
After every outing perform a general cleaning of the entire
boat, interior and exterior, with clean water. (See flush kit
instructions, which follow.) Then reapply the Corrosion Block
or WD-40 Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor or as described in
the following instructions to the exterior of the engine.
Although every component on the boat, including the engine,
can be adversely affected by salt/brackish/polluted water,
upgraded components in the Saltwater Series building process
include:
• Stainless steel gas shocks
• Grounding and bonding of all components below the
waterline, and
• A sacrificial zinc anode.
Especially important to the
entire protection is the sacrificial
zinc anode. The anode is attached
to the exterior of the boat, on the
transom below the waterline. Other
metal components are attached to the
transom zinc anode via grounding wire.
Anodes are also affixed to the exhaust
manifolds.
These anodes provide a greater
degree of attraction between the
anode’s metal and the corrosive action
of the body of water than that occurring between the boat’s
metal parts and the water. Simply, both rust (which is oxidation)
and metal reduction are the result of operating in salt water, and
the anodes’ purpose is to attract and draw away much of the
corrosion from the boat’s metal components.
NOTICE
Failure to follow any of the Saltwater Care and Maintenance
instructions for care and maintenance will void the warranty.
Significant damage occurs to the engine and boat if proper
maintenance is not followed as outlined in this manual.
NOTICE
Damage that occurs to the boat as a result of corrosion is not covered
under the warranty!
Boats operated in salt water, brackish water, or polluted fresh water
must be thoroughly rinsed with clean, fresh water after each outing.
The corrosive properties of these types of water will cause damage
that is not covered under warranty. Hardware—even hardware
chosen for its anti-corrosive properties—that is damaged by salt/
brackish/polluted water may eventually fail, which could result in
serious injury or death to person onboard.
! WARNING