What if I..........

[boaterntexas]

What if I plan to use my boat for hunting through out this winter, what should I do. the boat is a 17.5 foot fiberglass hull, with 1976 115 hp merc on it. I live in North East texas and we rarely see the temp drop below 20 degrees f. our average temp here suring the coldest winters are probly 38 or 45. how every we do have some really cold night ocasionly we may even get below 10 once or twice

 

[tmac58star]

Re: What if I..........

Hey Boatern,<br />Used to live/hunt in your area. Make it a regular thing to flush/drain the motor after each outing...including pulling the lower unit plug to check for or drain any water. After that, and after the motor cools down, wrap it with an insulating cover if you can't put in the garage. Keep it wrapped like an outside faucet, to keep it from freezing on those occasionally cold nights.

 

[Kenny Bush]

Re: What if I..........

Hey B-n-T, I have several mercs in the Texoma area and all I do is drop the engines down when I am done using them, to let the water drain out of them. As stated by Timster, there is a little black plastic screw/plug(Next to the top lower unit oil plug) that drains water out of the water pump. I quite messing with that black screw about 10 years ago and have had no problems. That is about the only winterizing information needed for mercs in North Texas......<br />If your boat is in the water in Texas, it will never freeze. The warmer water will keep it from freezing. Also store those motors tilted DOWN.... You do not want rainwater to fill up your propshaft area, freeze, and possibly crack the lower unit housing.

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: What if I..........

THANKS good call onthe rain water, would have never thought of that