i need some ideas..please help

[minocqa]

hi<br />for the first time since i have had my boat i didnt get it winertized..what happened was i got sick and was in the hospital (heart problems) my boat is 270 miles from home at our cabin anyway we went up there in late december to do i what we could they already had over 24 inches of snow <br /><br />so there was bascially nothing i could do the boat was buried. the top was frozen and i was affraid to take it off for fera i might tear it.<br />i need ideas on what to do as soon as the snow melts

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

First! Don't scare yourself over this. Being outside is not a bad thing. The engine , as long as it is not wrapped, such as in plastic, does not undergo any extremes in temperature changes. I would say the worst thing would be to have water in the gearcase, which could cause a freeze break. The oils used today are a pretty good rust inhibitor. My guess is that your engine will be fine. Old gas in the carbs might be a problem, so you might want to tend to that with a carb cleaning.

 

[funpilot]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

R. Johnson is correct, but even a freeze break is unlikely, unless you have a whole slew of water in the LU. Next time this happens (god forbid) call a neighbor (or the local marina) over in Minocqa and ask them to pick up and winterize your boat.<br /><br />This spring, drain the lower unit and put in fresh oil. Drain the carbs (and remove the float bowls if you can) to clean out the gunk. Add stabilizer to any fuel in the tank and/or use a hand rotary pump to remove as much fuel as possible if it is a built in tank. Put in new gas, and start it up on the muffs.<br /><br />If your boat battery was pretty charged up, it will be perfectly happy wintering in the boat, as long as there isn't a slow discharge somewhere flatting it out. A fully charged battery loves cold storage.<br /><br />Good luck<br />fp

 

[minocqa]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

Thank you so much for your help. <br />i have been so worried about this.<br />i was going to post this earlier but was afraid it may be bad news. <br />thanks again<br />Don

 

[marinemech]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

you don't mention year or horse power<br />but it will probably be okay<br />if vro equipped check oil tank for water before operating motor<br />its a good idea to run 50:1 thur motor to be sure oil system is working<br />also be sure engine is pumping water on start up

 

[minocqa]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

its a 1976 70 hp johnson<br />i bought it new in 1976 its has been a very good motor...i have always winertized it until this happened

 

[minocqa]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

hello Funpilot<br />you suggested draining the carburetors<br />and remove the float bowls is there a drain plug on them. or do i need to remove the carbuertors to do this or is there a plug<br />thanks<br />Don

 

[funpilot]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

I'm sorry I'm coming back to this late, Don. I checked into the hospital with a Pulmonary Embolism. It hurt like heck. If it doesn't kill you, you'll just wish it did...<br /><br />On a 70 hp I think you can plan on removing the fuel lines and draining the carbs if they feed from the low point, or you might be able to remove the screw plug that covers the high speed orifice plug and the orifice plug. Otherwise you will remove the carbs, as the float bowls have four screws which hold them in place. It is entirely possible that your carbs aren't gunked up, but not likely. I've seen carbs on oxygenated fuels develop problems in as little as three months.<br /><br />If it were my boat, I would probably try starting it with fresh fuel in the gas tank, hoping that the carbs are functioning. If it doesn't start, but turns over and has spark, I would clean the fuel pump and the carbs. If you go this route, take pictures, get some gasket kits, and don't mix and match parts between carbs. If you need help with that, let me know. Try me at funpilot15 at the hotmail place.<br /><br />Good luck to you!<br /><br />fp

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: i need some ideas..please help

If your boat was running okay in 2004,just run it in 2005.BUT watch it run.Idle okay not running hot?Use it.Those old tough motors and us old tough guys do get breaks.While its good to anticipate problems,also identify them.Then deal with them as needed.<br /><br />DHP<br /><br />Good Luck,I think you are doing okay !