Question for us winter sufferers

[willy]

Do any of you fellows that live thru a northern winter keep your boats ready to go (trailerable boats) all winter. I have had 50-60 degree days the past week and though I know it will get colder I would like to not close the boat up but instead be able to go out, especially local lakes etc. Other than keeping the batteries charged and engines turned down for drainage any suggestions.

Second question on closing up the motor, my friend went to the local west marine to pick up some season ending supplies for the close up and they told him that he needed to pump antifreeze thru his block and sold him the stuff to do it. They told him countless engines experience damage because of freezing of the water that is trapped in the block of the engine that does not drain out.
I have never done this and I told him I would ask you guys if any of you do. ???

[Franco]

When I lived in the Great White North, I used to keep a tarp over the boat and I kept a drop light under the engine box to keep the block from freezing. I would uncover and go. If you drain your outboard that shouldn't be a problem.

[willy]

Thanks Franco, thought of that but have you ever heard of the anti freeze thing being needed?

[Airslot]

Outboards are fine if left in the down position. The guys at worst marine are refering to I/O's or inboards which do hold water in the block and will freeze / crack. I keep the batteries topped off and run the boat every few weeks all winter. Even if I can't get on the water, I'll run her on the muffs once a month on a warm afternoon. Run her for 15 minutes so the thermostats open up and your good to go. Don't leave her unattended because every now and then an outboard will overheat on the muffs if your not paying attention to her.

Airslot

Locked and loaded all winter

[willy]

I've done that Air with my small motors but did not know if the same procedure would work with the bigger blocks, I guess they should not be any different

[Franco]

I never heard of it being necessary to fill with antifreeze because all the water drains right out

[chumbucket]

Like 'slot said. Only with I/O's on the antifreeze. I've never really bothered to try to take it out in the dead of winter. December is a busy month anyways. Then Jan. and Feb. are bitter cold. By March, I start getting the bug again. ;)

[willy]

Agreed Chum, I'm closing mine up today.

[rhahn427]

I'm staying open for business ........ just got a T Top with an enclosure ......... I can launch and fish around the power plants warm water returns and catch stripers or drive down to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel in VA for some of the best striper fishing all year .......... I have an outboard and they tell me it's better if I do run it all year.

[C YENSEN]

I/O guy here. all the hatches are battened down on my boat. she wont see the water again till april. :'( block full of antifreeze, fogged, oil changed, lower unit oil changed, and batteries stored in my garage. ;D

[willy]

Weirdest thing, just put marvel mystery in both engines, ok with the big boy but the 9.9 suzuki was different. When I put the oil in the cylinders it drained out the exhaust ???
How the h@ll does it just drain out of a cylinder like that, obviously the exhaust ports are open but to just flow out like that took me by surprise.

[macojoe]

My boat is ready to rock and roll!! latest it has ever been!!

I usually fish them clocks here. Start in spring, end in Oct when we change them again.

Not to many good days here worth keeping it out after that!!

This year is a little different as I wanted to get this motor right before I put it away.

I might be taking it out for spin this sunday?? My buddy is going to the grant for Oysters and Clams for the holidays.
I think I am going with him for some!!

CB you want me to get and deliver you some freash Oysters for the Mrs for Xmas??

:-*

[chumbucket]

Oysters. yummm! 8)

[macojoe]

I will get you a bunch and drive up Mon or Tue?? Depending if the wife gets out Mon??

What you want? 2 or 3 dozen or better??

[frayed_knot]

I/O guy here too. I just drain the block, risers and steering cooler and put a light in the engine box. We rarely have hard freezes, but there are those odd times when mother nature gets nasty...I need to replace my upper gear box on the outdrive sometime this winter, but I gotta get past Christmas to afford it. :) Hopefully, this spring I'll be ready to rock.

[bassarama]

A few years ago I had a Sea Ray w/ an IO 351 Cleveland. I never bothered with a drop light because IMO it’s just a waste of energy. I sprayed the wires, cap, and other elect. Components with a special sealer (forgot the name brand) fogged the engine, changed gear oil, and before covering the motor with several layers of news paper, I sprayed the entire motor with WD40. Make sure you open ALL them hard to see drains on the exhaust manifolds.

If you boat on salt water, remove and inspect the thermostat and store it in antifreeze.

[throwback]

I have a 76 hull with the original gm 250 stright six. I pull the plug out of the engine and drain the block. The engine has an osco manifold pull the plug and drain it. check to outdrive for water in lower unit. I occasionally use the boat in the winter on lake ontario and never have had a problem.Make sure the io is in the down position for storage. Use marval mystry oil thru carb to shut it down. Never give the engine much special care it is bullet proof

[Stillrunning]

I'm staying open for business ........ just got a T Top with an enclosure ......... I can launch and fish around the power plants warm water returns and catch stripers or drive down to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel in VA for some of the best striper fishing all year .......... I have an outboard and they tell me it's better if I do run it all year.The striper fishing off Cape Henry and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is going off right now with some big 40" stripers hitting deep baits. If you have never fished ocean season its great fishing with the stripers moving south for the winter. We hit them last Monday and caught around 25 stripers keeping 5 ranging from 36" to 42" and we only fished a half day. We could have caught more but I had my father and daughter on board and I was worn out from having to do most of the work.

[willy]

Sounds great where are the pics, come on man some of us are living vicariously thru those still fishing ;D