aq125a dewinterizing / quick winterizing, how fast

[ebko84]

new boat to me. im anxious to fire it up and check things out. i live in den. colorado. the spring days can get into the seventies. the nights can still get into the twenties. is there a easy or quick way to blow the water out of the system or do the anti freeze thing. i was reading the manual and it seems a bit involved.

also in my research for a boat. it seems that 17 to 19 foot boats were regularly equiped with 50hp to 125hp engines. the aq125 is basicalya 118hp. with normal loads, will this boat, 18.5 ft open bow, normal v, not deep v, everything being in good shape, be fairly zippy on the water? what kind of speed can i expect? thanks

 

[tbear1964]

Re: aq125a dewinterizing / quick winterizing, how fast

The 50-125 hp you've found might refer to outboards. The AQ125A is the smallest I/O for that year, and the rating varies with the reference material. Generally, 115 HP.

At 19 ft., I'd guess 30-35 MPH maximum, depending on load/prop/tabs, etc. I can do 35-38 with my 16', although I only do this about once a month to ensure WOT is possible and all is working correctly.

As far as De-Re Winterizing, a lot will depend on how much was done last Fall before layup, and how much is needed now. (and how much you REALLY plan on doing ) If the temps are only in the 20's overnight and you get a nice warm up the next day, I don't see much of a problem at all. It would take a few days of sub 32 deg. temps to freeze water. Removing the heat exchanger cap with the drive down will let some of the water flow out of the drive.

I'll admit I don't do everything. Having the Closed Cooling System is nice for quick "winterizing".

I'd tell ya what I do, but my butt doesn't need flaming from the purists.

Good luck and have fun. I'm firing up this weekend. I'm working on a garage setup for running it.

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: aq125a dewinterizing / quick winterizing, how fast

Once you have it de-winterized (as mentioned earlier, depending on what was done) and you are bouncing between testing it and trying to avoid subsequent freezing, this is what you should do:

when your done running her, disconnect the hose coming in through the transom from the outdrive and headed to the seawater pump, put that into a jug of antifreeze and run the boat BRIEFLY untill the water coming out of the exhaust is green, and then shut it off. Do NOT let it run dry! That will somewhat load the seawater system with antifreeze.

A slight PIA, but the alternative would be when your all done running it, assuming its on a trailer at that point, simply open the drain at the bottom of the exhaust manifold and at the bottom of the copper pipe running from the heat exchanger to the exhaust manifold and this would let the sea water side of the heat exchanger and the exhaust manifold drain down.(Open the strainer cap on the heat exchanger also to help facilitate this.) No water- no freezing, BUT, the rest of the seawater system before the heat exchanger could still freeze, so thats prolly the aforementioned flameworthy method.


Moving down the ladder of bad ideas, run the motor for exactly 10 seconds out of the water, and that will empty the sea water system,and then do the drain thing above, but some will tell you that you will toast your impeller this way and you just might!

HAW! hows that for something to flame! Yeeeha!!

 

[smokeeater1a10]

Re: aq125a dewinterizing / quick winterizing, how fast

I have this exact same motor. This is actually a real easy I/O to winterize. I'll tell you the steps that I do.
1- Test antifreeze in the reservior/heat exchanger
2-Completely fill the gas tank with STABILIZED fuel then I hook up the ears and run at idle speed till at operating temperature. This gets good clean fuel in the fuel system and the full tank will reduce condensation in the tank. Getting the engine to operating temperature will open the thermostat and get antifreeze into the block.
3-While the engine is running spary fogginf fluid into the air intake until the engine bogs down and stalls. Then pull the spark plugs and spray fogging fluid into the cylinders. Inspect and reinsert plugs.
4-Remove the drain plugs in the risers on the freshwater system.
5-Remove and inspect the impellar. If you don't know how long the impellar has been in then replace it. While the impellar is out I replace the housing cover and then put RV antifreeze into the freshwater system. I do this by using a pump submerged into a clean bucket of antifreeze. I then replace the impellar. You lose a little antifreeze but not much.
6-Change engine and outdrive oil.
7-Remove batteries and store indoors on a battery tender.
8-Before I cover up the boat for the winter I put in a box of fabric softener sheets. This keeps the mice from coming in a chewing up the upholstery.

I have done this on my boat for 7 years and have never had a problem. Once Spring time comes I inspect belts, check fluids and give a good visual on all wires and cables. Then I hook up the ears and start it up. for the most part this method will give you a turn key ready boat. I also live in an area where I may have a good stretch of warm weather nice enough to get out on the water and do some fishing but then it can get cold again. If I take the boat out and I worry about freeze conditions I just simply drain the risers on the freshwater system. Just make certain you get all the water out. Something else I do if its going to be cold for more than a day or two is I have a small electric heater with a thermostat that I can sit in the bilge and set at 60 degrees and then put the engine cover on. Just make sure you plug it in to an outlet with a GFI. Haven't had a fire yet and I've done this for quite some time now. I just check on it daily.

As far as speed, expect a top speed between 20-35mph. I have a 21' cuddy and I top out at 29mph.

 

[smokeeater1a10]

Re: aq125a dewinterizing / quick winterizing, how fast

I have this exact same motor. This is actually a real easy I/O to winterize. I'll tell you the steps that I do.
1- Test antifreeze in the reservior/heat exchanger
2-Completely fill the gas tank with STABILIZED fuel then I hook up the ears and run at idle speed till at operating temperature. This gets good clean fuel in the fuel system and the full tank will reduce condensation in the tank. Getting the engine to operating temperature will open the thermostat and get antifreeze into the block.
3-While the engine is running spary fogginf fluid into the air intake until the engine bogs down and stalls. Then pull the spark plugs and spray fogging fluid into the cylinders. Inspect and reinsert plugs.
4-Remove the drain plugs in the risers on the freshwater system.
5-Remove and inspect the impellar. If you don't know how long the impellar has been in then replace it. While the impellar is out I replace the housing cover and then put RV antifreeze into the freshwater system. I do this by using a pump submerged into a clean bucket of antifreeze. I then replace the impellar. You lose a little antifreeze but not much.
6-Change engine and outdrive oil.
7-Remove batteries and store indoors on a battery tender.
8-Before I cover up the boat for the winter I put in a box of fabric softener sheets. This keeps the mice from coming in a chewing up the upholstery.

I have done this on my boat for 7 years and have never had a problem. Once Spring time comes I inspect belts, check fluids and give a good visual on all wires and cables. Then I hook up the ears and start it up. for the most part this method will give you a turn key ready boat.