Johnson outboard winter precautions

[boatsonthebrain]

Hello all,

My first post on this forum. I recently purchased a 1990 Pursuit 2350 center console with a 1992 Johnson 225 outboard and am really enjoying the boat. However, despite the cold weather (<32 deg) arriving here in the Boston area this weekend, I'd like to avoid hauling it out as long as possible to get in a few more outings.

Is there anything I can do to prevent any residual water in the engine from freezing and thus damaging the engine? The OMC manual states the engine fully only drains when in the tilted-down (horizontal) position. Should I leave the motor tilted down in the saltwater and hope it drains completely or just haul the boat right away & wait for next season?

Thanks for any feedback,

Tim

 

[Bobby Autry]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions



Boatsonthebrain,

This is my suggestion. If it was my boat I would pull it out of the water and let all the water drain out of it and since it is in salt water flush it out with fresh water using the muffs really well and let the outboard drain until all the water is drained out of her before the freezing temperatures damage the water pump housing assembly.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

i agree time to pull it, flush it. change the lower unit oil, incase there is any water in it. i also suggest that during the season, if you can where dock, to use the muffs on it in the water. attach the muffs and hose, lower the engine, flush like on land, then raise the engine, and remove muffs. this is not as good as flushing on shore, but it is my belief that it will prolong the life of the engine.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Well I do the same thing as you Boatsonthebrain, I leave mine in until about January. At about the beginning of about December I start leaving the motors down in the water (saltwater). Remember when the air is 32 the water is still like 40 or 42, so your lower unit won't freeze, plus you'll drain all of the water out of your power head when freezing air temps come.

My engines are 2000's, so I have the flushing port on the back to flush, which I usually do before putting them back into the water. I have done what tashasdaddy said on my older engines, but if you didn't do it in the cold months, it probably wouldn't make a difference for a couple of weeks or a month. Not too much crap grows on my engines when they get left down, way less than it would in the summer, it's more of just a film in the winter, but it usually comes right off after I am underway for a bit.

 

[boatsonthebrain]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm heading out of town for a week & wanted to make sure I was doing everything possible to prevent engine damage. I wasn't able to fresh water flush the engine but I did tilt it down to promote drainage & ensure the lower unit is in the (warmer) water. The zincs are good so hopefully I won't see too much corrosion over the next couple of weeks.

Yesterday was great here in Boston, 71 deg. 8) Highs only in the 40's for the next week though...

Tim
Boston Harbor

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Guys he's not asking about winterizing.......
Anyway...not a problem...all the water drains. After shutdown engine heat gets rid of the rest. We leave our 20hp Marina workboat in all year (we have already had a couple freak 20 degree nights in Puget Sound). All the Sailboats have there motors on year round (and tilted up so the rain fills the lower parts-idiots). Go boating until the water ya BOAT ON freezes..

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Just wondering, at what temperature does salt water freeze?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Just a minor point -- you mentioned the water drains fully when the engine is "horizontal". The engine drains fully when it is "vertical". Obviously that's on dry land -- as it cannot drail fully with the lower unit in the water.

 

[boatsonthebrain]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Just a minor point -- you mentioned the water drains fully when the engine is "horizontal". The engine drains fully when it is "vertical". Obviously that's on dry land -- as it cannot drail fully with the lower unit in the water.

Silvertip: Thanks for the clarification. I must have been spatially challanged when I wrote the original post. In the tilted-down position the engine is certainly vertical, perpendicular to the surface of the water, etc.

 

[boatsonthebrain]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Just wondering, at what temperature does salt water freeze?

F_R: From the Office of Naval Research website:

"The freezing point of seawater is about 28.4°F (-2°C), instead of the 32°F (0°C) freezing point of ordinary water. Why do you think the freezing points are different? Right, because seawater has salt in it! As seawater increases 5 ppt in salinity, the freezing point decreases by 0.5°F"

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Johnson outboard winter precautions

Same reason ya toss salt on ice to melt it......so really ya should fill it (the motor) up with salt! Never freeze! Might corrode a touch though.......... :}