Running outboard during freezing temps?

[Mwilson18]

This may be a dumb question but I’ve been getting some work done on my outboard and I want to run it ASAP to be able to see how she sounds now. The only issue is I live in the northeast and most of our days fall down to the 20’s for another month or so. Would there be any issue in running my outboard with this freezing weather still around? The water should just drain out of the powerhead after use right?

 

[Texasmark]

Well sir I live in N. Texas and I have been out fishing when the guides on your rod would freeze due to the water picked up as the line was retrieved and the ambient temp. You just bang your rod on the side of the boat, set your Abu Garcia casting reel to fee spool and cast back out there. Engine just wants more gas and choke to get going and and wants choke more often when you stop to fish and are ready to restart. When coming out of the launch, just stop and tilt the engine vertical to let the water drain out, tilt it back up and enjoy the drive back home.

 

[Mwilson18]

Well sir I live in N. Texas and I have been out fishing when the guides on your rod would freeze due to the water picked up as the line was retrieved and the ambient temp. You just bang your rod on the side of the boat, set your Abu Garcia casting reel to fee spool and cast back out there. Engine just wants more gas and choke to get going and and wants choke more often when you stop to fish and are ready to restart. When coming out of the launch, just stop and tilt the engine vertical to let the water drain out, tilt it back up and enjoy the drive back home.

Sounds like fun haha thank you for the quick response

 

[JimS123]

I have been duck hunting when icicles were forming at the end of the peehole. When you take the boat out of the water, just tilt the engine down and the water will run out. Whatever is in the block will still be warm.

 

[Mwilson18]

Thanks for the advice

 

[Scott Danforth]

we used to need to cut ice with a chain saw to get the boat launched for opening weekend of perch fishing in Ishpeming. it was in the teens many times. you will be fine. pull the boat, make sure to tilt down. and flush your livewell lines with RV antifreeze (dont ask why I say this)

 

[Mwilson18]

we used to need to cut ice with a chain saw to get the boat launched for opening weekend of perch fishing in Ishpeming. it was in the teens many times. you will be fine. pull the boat, make sure to tilt down. and flush your livewell lines with RV antifreeze (dont ask why I say this)

Haha will do, thank you

 

[racerone]

Make sure there is no water in the gearcase oil.----Make sure gearcase cavity drain holes are clear and draining after use.----Rotate engine 1 or 2 turns to drain water pump.

 

[Texasmark]

I have been duck hunting when icicles were forming at the end of the peehole. When you take the boat out of the water, just tilt the engine down and the water will run out. Whatever is in the block will still be warm.

Mentioning duck hunting, dad had a friend from Honey Grove, Arkansas who regularly hunted the White River bottoms. I recall in some of his stories where he said that he chipped the paint on the bow of his boat running through surface ice while duck hunting. His engine was a 7.5 HP Martin with the Poppet Intake valves and would plane his little 14' boat with 2 guys, dekes, and hunting gear.

 

[racerone]

Those Martin motors were actually very good runners.---Well built smooth and quiet.----But they fell by the wayside as they were expensive.----No separate tank or gear shift.

 

[JimS123]

Mentioning duck hunting, dad had a friend from Honey Grove, Arkansas who regularly hunted the White River bottoms. I recall in some of his stories where he said that he chipped the paint on the bow of his boat running through surface ice while duck hunting. His engine was a 7.5 HP Martin with the Poppet Intake valves and would plane his little 14' boat with 2 guys, dekes, and hunting gear.

Mentioning Martins, I had a consecutive serial numbered pair of Martin 60s (7.2 HP). They were bought together by my FIL and Great Grandpa back in the late 1940's for use at the family cottage. Knowing them both, they must have been cheaper than Evinrudes and Mercurys since they were both pretty thrifty guys.

After Dad's passing my MIL gave both to me. They hadn't been run in over 30 years. Both fired right up after only a couple pulls. I traded one for a 1919 Rowboat Motor.

 

[Texasmark]

Those Martin motors were actually very good runners.---Well built smooth and quiet.----But they fell by the wayside as they were expensive.----No separate tank or gear shift.

Like some OMC engines of the day I guess you start them in gear and Reverse gear was a 180* swivel of the engine. I saw them on other boats running really well for the apparent HP but never got close to one. What did one do for fuel.......tank part of the engine proper like early OMCs....and I think the early Mercs...10 hp or less engines?????

On that fuel tank fill on top of the engine my grand dad had a 10 hp Johnson somewhere around a 1950s with no gear shift and fuel tank in the engine on a 16' wood planked skiff (Oakum sealed). I remember he carried a 5 gallon can of regular gas with 24:1 automotive engine oil premix.

Being out in the bay with the boat rocking and all and trying to get the tank filled from that can was a hazard operation. Also getting it done without your hands stinking like fuel when you were using live bait that you put on the hook by hand, made for some hygiene problems. But he survived it and caught lots of fish and let my sister and I land them once he hooked them. Then we would hightail it to the local small town newspaper and post the catch numbers so that his buddies could see how successful he was.

 

[racerone]

The Johnson 10 HP QD models came out in 1949.-----Remote pressure tank and full gearshift.----Earlier motor had the gravity feed tank and no gearshift.

 

[Texasmark]

The Johnson 10 HP QD models came out in 1949.-----Remote pressure tank and full gearshift.----Earlier motor had the gravity feed tank and no gearshift.

It was years later when I was an owner, that I learned of the reason for the 2 hoses and pump up primer on OMC tanks.

 

[racerone]

The pressure tanks were very good and reliable.-----You pump the primer to fill the carburetor with gas.----As soon as motor starts the crankcase compression is used to put pressure on the fuel.-----Fuel then flows to the carburetor.

 

[JimS123]

The pressure tanks were very good and reliable.-----You pump the primer to fill the carburetor with gas.----As soon as motor starts the crankcase compression is used to put pressure on the fuel.-----Fuel then flows to the carburetor.

Fuel pumps were added to 'Rudes in the late 1950's. Certainly, that was an improvement because maintaining a pressurized tank was no loner needed.

May poopoo the old tanks, but in fact they were quite reliable. As a matter of fact I regularly run one to this day. Obviously, the tank and hoses all need to be in good condition because an air leak will ruin your day. Complete gasket kits and ethanol resistant hoses are readily available. Also, if you are so inclined, a fuel pump upgrade is also available, and then you can run any tank with a single line hose.

 

[racerone]

Now we have cheap unreliable plastic fuel tanks.

 

[JimS123]

Now we have cheap unreliable plastic fuel tanks.

Notttttt Meeeeeee.....LOL.

Serviceable old metal tanks are readily available, and all the needed gaskets are cheap. As long as the inside isn't totally rusted any outside rust is easily fixed.