Did I "summerize" too soon?

[magillacuddy]

I just got my boat out of storage and summerized it (I ran the engine on the muffs so I could change the drive oil and the motor oil). Now I see it is going to get down to the low 30's high 20's the next two nights (with temps in the mid 50's during the day). Am I in trouble here, or will a few cold nights not make a difference? Should I run the engine at some point during the day to warm it up?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

I doubt it will make any difference.

 

[CAVU V]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

Happened to me last week, I just put it in the water for those 2 nights. The temp of the water keep the engines and water system from freezing.

 

[magillacuddy]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

I doubt it will make any difference.

Hope not. I see other boats starting to come out (it looked like there were a few people on the lake last week).
I never have taken it out this early, but I have been trying to learn and do more of the maintenence myself (with my father-in-law's help), and it was this weekend, or pay someone to do it in a few weeks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

Am I in trouble here, or will a few cold nights not make a difference? Should I run the engine at some point during the day to warm it up?

Ayuh,.. Of course you're running a Risk of Freezing,...

Drain All the Water Out,... Then it'll still be ready to Go, but Safe from Freezing...

 

[Lou C]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

I had the same issue, in that I am getting the boat ready and installed a new impeller in the drive, re-installed the drive and wanted to start it but heard it was going down to the mid 20s Monday night so I decided to wait until next weekend to start er up. So instead I settled for installing a new JBL Marine sound system (CD player in the old one died) with Sirius Satellite radio, makes working on the boat fun with good tunes to listen to!
This time of the year is always iffy, you can still have a couple of freezing nights, and the forecast can only tell you up to a point how cold it will actually be.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

i agree w/bondo. drain the water out of it. better safe than sorry.

draining the water out of it is what i see referred to as an extended season in the mercruiser service manual. i summarized yesterday. went to the lake. had an 'interesting time'. came home and discovered that the weather man has changed his mind. in a couple days i'm looking at 27* or so for overnight temps. i just drained the water from it. took me 20 min. start to finish. including getting the cover off, engine hatch open, my bucket and my wrench and drain hole probe. then put it all back to sleep w/cover and all.

it just aint that hard to drain em. better safe than sorry... oh, i said that...

 

[superpop]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

I went to Lowes and purchased 4 ball valves and a few elbows for my motor and now it takes me less than a minute to drain the motor and manifolds. It is super easy and I can still get a coat hanger through the valve to check for blockage. Flip four handles and watch the water drain then put the boat away. I wish they would do this from the factory as it would make the job so much easier for folks with limited mechanical abilities.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

i like yer ball valve idea sp. mostly for the capability to prob them. i'm gonna have to look into this at the hardware store. time wise. i don't think i will gain much more than a min. it don't take me long to locate my 12mm wrench for my aftermarket manifold drain plug. my block has a petcock which i ain't never liked as it can't be probed. i know i'm drained by volume. i'd rather probe it though. and you ball valve does sound quick and easy and fills the need for the capabilityto probe the hole....

 

[magillacuddy]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

Yup. I just drained it. I have a 'single point' draining system, so it took me all of 5 minutes to do (and an hour looking at the manual, looking on the internet, posting here, ect).
Thanks for the responses.

 

[magillacuddy]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

Here is a vid of the engine firing for the first time of the season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm_DpnYDumw

Ahhhh, the smell of Spring (fogging agent buring off)

 

[woosterken]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

????? how does pushing down on the port side fender make it start? LOL

woosterken

 

[magillacuddy]

Re: Did I "summerize" too soon?

????? how does pushing down on the port side fender make it start? LOL

Ha. I don't know, but if I am in the water and can't start the boat, I'll have to remember to send the wife out to the trailer and have her jump up and down on that same fender a bit to get it started