Operating in sub-freezing conditions

[durk187]

I am taking my boat on a hunting trip this weekend, operating it in sub freezing conditions. Lows 10-30 overnight. I am going to be using it primairly in the early morining 4-5am (duck hunting) when the temp is the lowest. My worry isnt while running but while hunting, and storage between ramp and the next days trip. <br /><br />What are the main concerns I have to worry about? <br />Will the motor have enough time to drain before freezing takes place? What can I do to pervent problems? I have no heated storage durring this trip. All sugestions welcome.<br /><br />Thank you <br />DC

 

[alcan]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Hi Duckcommander I also duck hunt. I've hunted when temps were as low as 3 degrees fahrenheit. I have never had a problem. Just be sure you leave the motor down so it will drain. I know, why was'nt the lake frozen? I hunt a lot of salt water. Also were I live it dose'nt stay cold long enough to freeze over many larger lakes.

 

[durk187]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Thanks Alcan<br /><br />I figure it is a lot easier to troll 2 miles in a boat breaking ice than wading with all the equ. breaking ice with your knees. It sure will make for a much more enjoyable morning.<br /><br />Dc

 

[ob]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

duckcommander,make sure your thermostat is in good working order and your battery is well charged.An extra fully charged battery would be "caddilac".

 

[durk187]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Maybe I should mention it is a 1966 18hp evinrude<br /><br />OB thanks fot the tip, I know I dont have a battery(pull start)so I have that going for me. I dont even think I have a thermostat(other than the one in my electric socks) <br />DC

 

[alcan]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Duckcommander if you never been on the ice in a boat before be carefull. It's real scary. Even a real thin sheet of ice that you really can't see could be dangerous. Sometimes there are sheets floating around with open areas in between. You'll be going along lickty split and hit the ice it could flip your boat,or punch a hole in it.

 

[durk187]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Where im going its a public use area in North-Western Missouri. All about 4'-12' deep marsh with channels cut. I dont plan to do any high speed manuvers, just troll out to the hunting spot breaking ice with the bow at trolling speeds. I have herd of a few nightmares of people hitting ice on plane though , scarry stuff. Thanks for the concern but my top speed is going to be about 4mph.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Keep the outboard in the water while hunting. Tilting it up into ambient temps will freeze any water in it, especially the water pump impeller area.<br /><br />For overnight storage, let the motor down and let it drain. If it doesn't have a thermostat you can blow compressed air (low psi or huff and puff) through the pee hole hose. Some outboards will have a water drain plug at the block and at the lower unit. You could also creat a simple and mobile winterizing system using a bucket and a hose to run glycol (anti-freeze) through the motor (don't use extended life coolants...they can eat rubber impellers and seals. You could use RV water system anti-freeze, its better for the environment). Run the engine in the bucket of anti-freeze and hook a hose from the pee hole back to the bucket. Flush the water until colored stuff is coming out.<br /><br />When you start back up the next morning, gently turn the engine over and the prop (ignition off) to free the water pump impeller.<br /><br />

 

[dtucker]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

This the same "Duck Commander" Phil Robertson?

 

[trollhole]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Hey Duckcommander. I thought you would like this one. Happened to me a few years back. I learned my leason about ice. Ice Hunting <br />

 

[durk187]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

LoL Trollhole <br /><br />Dtucker hes my idle

 

[Scoop]

Re: Operating in sub-freezing conditions

Duckcommander, I just posted a couple pages from my 57 7.5HP Evirude manual. It has a paragraph in the lower right hand corner describing what to do. Sorry, I cannot highlight and post because it is scanned in without OCR.<br /><br /> 57 Fleetwin page 10_11