Cold weather question

[sjm32157]

We just bought our boat this year. 20 foot cuddy with a Mercruiser 4.3lx and it runs great. We live in western Pa and use the boat on the Allegheny river. We usually get some nice weather (and autumn leaves) until mid to late October and would like to use the boat until then. We start getting frost late September. I store the boat outside and I was wondering at what temperature I should worry about freezing the engine block, manifolds, & outdrive. I could drain the manifolds and engine after each use but at what point should I consider winterizing and storing? Any advice or ideas appreciated.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Cold weather question

Water freezes at 32 degrees. When it gets below that...you need to worry.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Cold weather question

My boat, also outside, has weathered many a 27 deg nite. Assuming that the days are considerably warmer, it takes a fair amount of time for the exhaust manifolds and block to give up their retained 'heat'. The water in the engine will never achieve 32 deg when the steel and iron containing it has not achieved that temperature yet. That and the fact that those low temperatures are only encountered for a short time during the nite.

Now, if you put hour after hour of slightly sub freezing temps together, all bets are off. All that the block and mani's have to do is to is to achieve freezing temps themselves and you are done.

In such cases as I described above, a 20-40 watt lite left on under the engine cover would more than keep that steel above 32 deg. You could put the light on a timer so it only burned during the appropriate hours. If you have reliable electric power, I would not drain down in those fall months that you want to use the boat.

Just be sure that you leave the outdrive down so that water will not freeze in the impeller housing.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Cold weather question

Winterize it when you are finished with it for the season.
Otherwise just drain the water out of it.

I could drain the manifolds and engine after each use but at what point should I consider winterizing and storing? Any advice or ideas appreciated.