NEWS FLASH: NC Freeze Warning Tonight ~ Be Sure to Check / Drain Your Lower Unit

Hello All,

I just watched the weather and it appears NC is under a freeze/frost warning for much of the state with temps likely reaching 30 degrees in some areas. Seeing this warning prompted me (as it does annually) to go to my outside shop and begin gathering items such as wood glue, water based cleaning agents and anything else that might freeze and/or be damaged by the low temps. While I was going about that business it occurred to me that it might pay me to check the lower unit of my Mercury 115 4-stroke to make sure the water was drained out thoroughly since I almost always raise the motor upon re-trailering my boat to prevent the skeg from dragging... but don't always remember to lower the motor to the full down position, (after loading), (especially in the warmer months), to drain any water that may be standing in the lower unit. I'm sure this is likely the case with many of you when the weather turns to instances of freezing.

Now, I admit that I don't know exactly how much water it takes freezing in the lower unit to cause problems, (maybe some of you do); but I do remember reading in the owner's manual how important it is to ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT ANY WATER IS DRAINED TO PREVENT FREEZING / DAMAGE TO HOUSINGS AND/OR SEALS IN THE LOWER UNIT AND ANY OTHER SYSTEMS THAT MAY HOLD OR TRAP WATER, INCLUDING YOUR LIVEWELL, HOSES OR BILGE. I'm glad I checked because once I lowered the engine to the full down position... there was about two or more ounces of water that drained out.

I hope this might serve as a friendly reminder for anyone situated like myself who also might need to check/drain water from your boat systems to prevent expensive damage and/or repairs. I've always heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Tight lines to all. :ThumbsUp

Wayne aka Special K

As many of you know I'm from up north. One thing my Fathers does is surround the Lower Unit with a cardboard box, put in a lamp with a small bulb say 40 watts and turn it on. That'll keep everything above freezing.

Lowering the motor to full down and level is all you need to do,as Special K said.It kills me to ride down the road and see a motor at full tilt this time of year,and some people go as far to wrap a blanket around it like it will keep it warm, WTH...lower the motor and be done,,,,OIL is all that's left, Shouldn't be any water in the gearbox to freeze

Thanks K , for reminding everyone. It's best for everyone to store motor in down position over winter. If not using till spring. And if u don't have a on/off battery switch. It's best to disconnect ground to starting battery. Use a zip-tie on ground wires so u don't forget 1 went , reconnecting. Disconnect trolling motor plug at bow( if applicable) if u have 3-4 bank charger, and are using( I highly recommend) make sure to leave ground wire from charger connected to start battery. This is if your not using boat over winter. Only say this because batteries setting for long periods of time in cold weather not being charged in not good. Come spring.

And also I highly recommend using permatex battery protection spray ( purple spray) after reconnection , on battery terminals, stops that over the year use , of condensation of hot - cold in battery box effect on terminals.

I've seen where raising and lowering it twice is helpful to fully drain in winter months due to water being trapped in passages. I always raise and lower at the ramp in warmer months, but I will do it twice in the winter, and a small amount, probably the same as the OP, comes out the second time.

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Originally Posted by sky hawk

I've seen where raising and lowering it twice is helpful to fully drain in winter months due to water being trapped in passages. I always raise and lower at the ramp in warmer months, but I will do it twice in the winter, and a small amount, probably the same as the OP, comes out the second time.

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Thankfully, we don't have that much freezing weather around Central North Carolina as there is in many other states and regions of the country. Still, I guess that's generally the point of this thread is to remind everyone that it's time to change the normal routine a little bit to make sure that all of the water is drained from various boat systems when the temps do drop under freezing. There have been some good points brought out for sure and if it saves just one person from suffering damage or expensive repairs... it's certainly well worth mentioning to me. Please keep the tips and best practices coming in though because it's always good to hear all of the good ideas from the brethren.

The only way water can get in lower unit at prop in outside with rain . then that can freeze.

When I fish in cold months I always lower the motor and with the kill switch off I turn the motor over a couple of seconds just in case there is a few drops of water in the water pump. I learned that the hard way several years ago when I pulled out of one ramp and trailered to another lake. The empeller of the water pump froze to the wall of the pump and ripped the rubber blades off when I started the engine. Freak thing but it can happen. I'm older now so I don't fish when it is that cold.