Thread: Outboard Winterizing

If the busted from freezing they had to have some shot seals and the lower units were full of water instead of oil. Oil does not freeze and expand like water.

I've always Just let the water drain before leaving the lake. Never had a problem.

per Mercury. If leg is down all water from cooling system will drain out. If leg is up it can rain into prop and freeze. I keep the Sea Dancer covered with motor all the way down. If temp is near or below freezing I put motor down as soon as I pull out of water. I always use pure gas but still add sta-bil. I do annual maint. first warm spell in March. Oil change, filter, prop. lube, clean and lube steering cable, change lower unit gear oil, pull check and repack wheel bearings. This is all done on a windy day when I can't fish.

Originally Posted by SEA DANCER

per Mercury. If leg is down all water from cooling system will drain out. If leg is up it can rain into prop and freeze. I keep the Sea Dancer covered with motor all the way down. If temp is near or below freezing I put motor down as soon as I pull out of water. I always use pure gas but still add sta-bil. I do annual maint. first warm spell in March. Oil change, filter, prop. lube, clean and lube steering cable, change lower unit gear oil, pull check and repack wheel bearings. This is all done on a windy day when I can't fish.

I do this every 4 months! of course thats every 75-80 fishin trips! But I change trailer bearins this often, every 10,000 miles!

Originally Posted by bearclaw

Fellas,what do yall do ,or what's best to do.? Ive pretty much just let the motor down,haven't had any trouble,I got my first boat in 89.I have seen some busted up foots/lower units before at shops though

I drain my lower unit and put new grease in it

Originally Posted by fishdoc

I do this every 4 months! of course thats every 75-80 fishin trips! But I change trailer bearins this often, every 10,000 miles!

That is easy 4x the trips I take. I guess I'm not fishing enough. I also fish more than ride. Trolling motor runs 10x more than Mercury.

Some outboards have water cooled alternators and such. Simply letting them drain don't necessarily get it all out. Cranking it out of the water will help blow out a little more. If you take a 5 gallon bucket and mount a regular outside water spigot in the bottom of the bucket you can hook a small piece of water hose to the spigot and the other end to a set of water ears and put them on the motor. Mix up about 2 gallons of anti-freeze water mixture in the bucket and crank the motor. When it starts peeing the anti-freeze mixture turn the motor off and it's winterized. Very simple very cheap. Can do it every time you go out in the winter when you get home and never have a problem. Must hold the bucket higher than the water pick up area and turn on spigot.

Originally Posted by SEA DANCER

That is easy 4x the trips I take. I guess I'm not fishing enough. I also fish more than ride. Trolling motor runs 10x more than Mercury.

been retired 8 yrs! gives me a lot more time to fish! I put 30,000 miles a yr on my boat trailer! I put 7-800 hrs a yr on my 4 stroke! about 2,000 hrs a yr on the Minnkota! yea, I'm lucky! and I still love to fish!