realy confused: please help

[Zack_McLeod]

I have a 25hp merc 2 stroke on a 14ft boat. I plan to use it at least 1-2 a month during the winter. I don't want to winterize it because I need to use it. The only place I can store it is in my car port. Are there any risks during the winter I should be aware of? Thanks

 

[Chief101]

Re: realy confused: please help

Outboards are self draining, keep it in the vertical or operating position and you shold be just fine...

 

[Scaaty]

Re: realy confused: please help

yep........do nothing, don't even take it off the boat

 

[MYTJC]

Re: realy confused: please help

what will happen if you keep the tongue trailer all the way down to the ground so water runs off the boat?? the motor leans forward a bit and i'm wondering if i should level out the trailer instead.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: realy confused: please help

I would prefer the boat stored very slightly bow high so that any water that does get into the boat can run out the drain (plug removed of course). But the ability to do that depends on how much motor skeg clearance you have. Bow down means captured water lays in the bilge.

 

[Laddies]

Re: realy confused: please help

Keep your eye on the gear lube that is is not contaminated with water to keep the lower unit from freezing and flood it out when taking it out of the water to get a little extra oil in the engine for protection

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: realy confused: please help

The mention of checking LU for water is good. Many components of "winterization" are just good maintenance ideas. <br /><br />I'm told fogging is good if the motor is going to sit for a while. Mine sat for about a dozen years w/o fogging and after rebuilding the carbs, it still turned up 145 lb. on the compression guage. Sitting w/o use for a few weeks or even months won't bother it. <br /><br />A good idea would be to always treat the gas with Stabil, just in case it might to sit several weeks without use.