cold weather precautions

N

nordicstallion

New member
on cold nights i cover my main and kicker with an electric throw blanket. Friends say its not needed because its not a closed system. I say I dont care, 4 strokes are too expensive to risk. Its been getting down to 28 degrees lately on the north calif coast and im a worrier. what do those in the know say? Vern / C-Dog
 
I think that if your OB's are in the vertical position, out of the water on a lift or trailer no worries. The power heads should be completely drained in that position.
 
-20 here yesterday. Plenty of boats sitting outside at 40 below every year, can’t imagine why you need to heat the engines. We are hoping to warm up to +28 next week.

What about all those C-Brats in Alaska?

Kevin
 
Hi,
I keep a small heater running on low all winter inside our cabin with a shore power cord plugged in with battery charger on. I just fog the motor and change the lower unit oil. I run RV antifreeze through my fresh water system after it has been drained. I run RV antifreeze through my raw water wash down to prevent any freeze type damage. I change fuel filters and do an engine oil change before the boat is winterized. I use a complete boat cover, see album. I would worry about the heat blanket causing extra condensation. If it makes you feel better do it. I would guess your local outboard mechanic would say the heat blanket thing is not necessary. It can get to zero here in Pa. Our Four stroke 150 hp Yamaha is a couple years old and still runs like a top.
D.D.
 
Montana Kev":251ibo9x said:
-20 here yesterday. Plenty of boats sitting outside at 40 below every year, can’t imagine why you need to heat the engines. We are hoping to warm up to +28 next week.

What about all those C-Brats in Alaska?

Kevin
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I have left my boat in the water on several occasions with the motors down in 10 or so degree weather in Homer and Seward trying for some winter kings with no troubles. They seem to drain out almost completely upon shutting them off. I see others with the motor up too with no troubles. I have also parked the boat on the trailer over night just after boating in Seward in below freezing weather with the motors down with no trouble. Perhaps either is fine if you let them drain adequately. I'd be nervous with them up though. BTW they start just fine even when it is frigid out. What does the manual say?
 
The main danger to freezing outboards is if there is any water in the lower unit oil, it will freeze, expand and crack the gearcase.
Roger
 
We leave the outboard(s) down in the water when mooring here on Lake Shasta.

The water here doesn't freeze, so it has enough warmth to keep any water in the lower leg from freezing.

It is thought that if you tilt one up, while the boat is still in the water, any trapped water could then freeze when exposed to sub-freezing air, which might crack the lower unit housing, if it were unable to escape.

When on the trailer, or when the boat is on some form of lift, so the motor can be lowered with the leg vertical, but out of the water, it is felt that the lower leg and whole motor, really, drains throughly enough that there is no danger of the freezing or cracking of the motor or lower unit.

I'd rather tilt the motor up out of the water to prevent algae growth on the lower unit, but the perceived danger to the lower unit stops me from doing so.

One really ought to do a test to see if there is any trapped water in the tilted up unit to see if there is any real danger there.

I'll bet that sounds pretty confusing, no?

Joe :teeth :thup
 
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