To Drain Or Not To Drain

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simpleur2

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
42
To drain or not to drain, that is the question. Wether it is better to drain you block after you flush, or leave the block full of water. I live in an area where I don't have to worry about freezing. I use the boat in salt water and flush with salt away after each use. I fish seasonally so it can sit a couple of months with no use. I know this will probably be a subject of opinion but someone may have proof one being better than the other.
Thanks
 
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Buster53

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 16, 2022
Messages
113
My opinion, a lot more rust will develope when you drain. Leave the water in
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,228
If you flush with salt away, keep flushing when the solution runs out so you have pure tap water in the block

Salt away without salt is almost as corrosive as salt

However if you turn off the solution and keep flushing, you are good to go as long as you are in Southern Florida or Southern California......

Because everywhere else, the temp has dropped below freezing
 
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cyclops222

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,962
A lot of motors will have new blocks this spring.
Too lazy to do a simple draining.
 
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Buster53

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 16, 2022
Messages
113
cyclops222 said:
A lot of motors will have new blocks this spring.
Too lazy to do a simple draining.
Click to expand...
Sounds like the OP keeps his boat in the water. If that is the case, it would have to be really cold for a couple of days before any damage would happen. I’m in VA and while I always winterize, we have had a couple recent winters where I probably would have been safe not winterizing since my boat was in the water.
 
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cyclops222

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,962
Mine is put into dry storage after drain & oil changes every September 15. By a marina. My old body and Arthritic fingers are too pained.
 
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Donald0039

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 11, 2022
Messages
418
FWC solves most of the problems. Just pull a few hoses and the blue plastic drain plugs. Ten minutes tops.
 
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DeepCMark58A

Commander
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
2,537
Yep I drain, pull the thermostat and suck up antifreeze to pickle and prevent rust.Super easy, ounce of prevention because who knows it could snow in the gulf states.
 
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BRICH1260

Lieutenant
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Messages
1,380
I think some of you are misreading the question. This is not a winterization question but a question of leaving a block with or without salt away in the block while in storage. Since I do not boat in salt and am not familiar with salt away, I will defer to those that do.
 
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DeepCMark58A

Commander
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
2,537
BRICH1260 said:
I think some of you are misreading the question. This is not a winterization question but a question of leaving a block with or without salt away in the block while in storage. Since I do not boat in salt and am not familiar with salt away, I will defer to those that do.
Click to expand...
Same concept, the motor is not used for months, warm or cold.
 
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Buster53

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 16, 2022
Messages
113
It would be nice if we heard back from the OP on this. What is his location? Does he leave the boat in or out of the water?
 
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