Outboard sailboat motor not hauled out

[wgtzer]

I live in Cincinnati Ohio and have owned a Catalina 25 sailboat for 2 years. Each year I have hauled the sailboat out, kept the Johnson 9.9 motor in my garage, and had a seasonal service performed on the motor in the Spring. This year I am leaving the boat in the water and hope to occasionally sail it on warm winter days. What should I be worrying about? What winterizing can I do? Thanks for your help!

 

[plywoody]

Re: Outboard sailboat motor not hauled out

Depends on how much you are going to really use it, I suppose. I would definitely add stabilizer to the gas, at a minimum.<br />And then, if in the dead of winter it is going to sit a couple of months, I think I'd remove it from the boat, fog it, do the winterizing stuff generally, and put it in the garage until the weather warms a bit in early spring. It's not that heavy a motor.<br /><br />And I would make sure if you do leave it on the boat in the winter, does the boat have a bracket that you can raise the motor out of the water, and still leave the motor in the down position? If not, you are asking for trouble, IMO.<br /><br />John

 

[sloopy]

Re: Outboard sailboat motor not hauled out

add stabalizer<br />anf change the lower unit oil L)

 

[boatneck]

Re: Outboard sailboat motor not hauled out

wgtzer, <br />I have a '81 Hunter 25 (keelboat) with a Johnson 9.9 hp which I have left in the water for the past three winters. All I have done is change lower unit gear oil, and make sure that the motor is out of the water. I have a motor bracket which allows the outboard motor to be pulled clear of the water. I, too, enjoy sailing during the winter months when it isn't too cold. Because of the salt water, the engine is flushed after each use.