To Drain Or Not To Drain

[simpleur2]

To drain or not to drain, that is the question. Wether it is better to drain you block after you flush, or leave the block full of water. I live in an area where I don't have to worry about freezing. I use the boat in salt water and flush with salt away after each use. I fish seasonally so it can sit a couple of months with no use. I know this will probably be a subject of opinion but someone may have proof one being better than the other.
Thanks

 

[Buster53]

My opinion, a lot more rust will develope when you drain. Leave the water in

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you flush with salt away, keep flushing when the solution runs out so you have pure tap water in the block

Salt away without salt is almost as corrosive as salt

However if you turn off the solution and keep flushing, you are good to go as long as you are in Southern Florida or Southern California......

Because everywhere else, the temp has dropped below freezing

 

[cyclops222]

A lot of motors will have new blocks this spring.
Too lazy to do a simple draining.

 

[Buster53]

A lot of motors will have new blocks this spring.
Too lazy to do a simple draining.

Sounds like the OP keeps his boat in the water. If that is the case, it would have to be really cold for a couple of days before any damage would happen. I’m in VA and while I always winterize, we have had a couple recent winters where I probably would have been safe not winterizing since my boat was in the water.

 

[cyclops222]

Mine is put into dry storage after drain & oil changes every September 15. By a marina. My old body and Arthritic fingers are too pained.

 

[Donald0039]

FWC solves most of the problems. Just pull a few hoses and the blue plastic drain plugs. Ten minutes tops.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Yep I drain, pull the thermostat and suck up antifreeze to pickle and prevent rust.Super easy, ounce of prevention because who knows it could snow in the gulf states.

 

[BRICH1260]

I think some of you are misreading the question. This is not a winterization question but a question of leaving a block with or without salt away in the block while in storage. Since I do not boat in salt and am not familiar with salt away, I will defer to those that do.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I think some of you are misreading the question. This is not a winterization question but a question of leaving a block with or without salt away in the block while in storage. Since I do not boat in salt and am not familiar with salt away, I will defer to those that do.

Same concept, the motor is not used for months, warm or cold.

 

[Buster53]

It would be nice if we heard back from the OP on this. What is his location? Does he leave the boat in or out of the water?