Anyone have a certain stock tank or garbage bin that would work to run your outboard at home? I have the hose water muffs, but it does not seem to run the same and runs warmer than normal. Many bins are not big enough or deep enough to allow the intake to stay under water. I have the fins on the lower unit and don't want to remove them each time I run the engine. I have seen some people modify a plastic trash bin and it does work. Some even added a drain plug for ease of emptying. What works for you?

A buddy of mine uses a 55 gal. drum with the top cut off.

FM

For my 50hp o/b, i just use a plastic garbage can. The only time i use it is in the spring, prepping for the new year. From then on- i only fire it up at a lake. For the record, this has been the first year in the last 5 that i have had zero issues with my o/b.       

The local shop uses one of these

 

I use a cut down 50 gal drum. I've drilled a hole low on it I cover with tape to facilitate draining.

I use one of these but in the Behlen brand.  Agrimaster Galvanized Stock Tank, Approx. 103 Gallon - 50130028 | Blain's Farm & Fleet (farmandfleet.com)

 

Mine just the right height I can usually slide it just under motor.

Tractors Supply usually has them it's one of those things you have to shop around for to get the best price, because you will see huge swings in the price's, depending on where it's at.

Not sure where you’re located but I have a big one either 100 or 150 gallons that my sho 250 fits in with no problem. Also has a drain on the bottom. It’s yours for free if you’re near northern Pennsylvania. No way I’d ship it.

I use a garbage can also for my old Merc 50.

If you use a barrel make sure you take the prop off.

Tom

I have a barrel similar to the one Green Pig uses, and it was perfect for my little 15 hp Evinrude 2 stroke. Now I have a Merc 40 hp four stroke and I can thread a garden hose straight into it where the pee stream usually exits. 

I can't use muffs on my '73 Evinrude cause of where the intake is placed...you can get an adapter for use with hoses, but you remove the plate, bolt on the adapter, then reverse that when done...plus with a hose supplying water, the impeller isn't properly tested under load...a bad impeller won't show up in this case as the hose is supplying the pressure needed to run water through the motor.

 

So I found that a Sterilite 30 gallon container is large enough and deep enough when put up on 4x4s so that the skeg is almost touching the bottom to run the motor...can even rev it up if I don't mind spilling water over the back from prop-wash.