Winter Drive Position

[The Dougler]

Does it matter if the drive is in the up position when I store it for the winter? FWIW the boat is going to be professionally shrink wrapped. It's a trailer boat so I don't think I'll be able to have the boat wrapped at it's final storage location, hence I'll have to leave the drive up so I can trailer it home. Is this a big deal?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Winter Drive Position

If you can't have it down I would just remove it. It is very easy and will give you a chance to align the motor and change impeller if needed.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winter Drive Position

Ayuh,... I store mine Down, or in the garage on the rack...

 

[Don S]

Re: Winter Drive Position

The biggest reason to keep the outdrive down is to keep the exhaust cavity from filling with water, freezing and cracking the lower housing. If you think a bunch of unknowing people voting on a poll is going to change that fact of life, then good luck.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Winter Drive Position

down!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winter Drive Position

i'll be removing my drive and storing it in the basement.

 

[John_S]

Re: Winter Drive Position

Basement

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Winter Drive Position

Keeping the outdrive in the up position is OK if you have drained all water from it and storing it inside ..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Winter Drive Position

Keeping the outdrive in the up position is OK if you have drained all water from it and storing it inside ..

You should always store in the down position, regardless if it is freezing or not.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winter Drive Position

You should always store in the down position, regardless if it is freezing or not.

WHY ???????

"You Should" isn't much of a reason.

Seems to me if someone has an opinion, they should at least back their statement up with WHY they said what they did.

Just saying up, down, basement, or you should, just doesn't cut it.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Winter Drive Position

removed!!

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Winter Drive Position

If you have to leave it up, Then you could have them ensure all the water is out of the drive, and have them cover the drive up with shrink wrap.

You'll just be doing bellows sooner is all.

 

[iop]

Re: Winter Drive Position

The biggest reason to keep the outdrive down is to keep the exhaust cavity from filling with water, freezing and cracking the lower housing. If you think a bunch of unknowing people voting on a poll is going to change that fact of life, then good luck.

Thats a good point Don... and prolly more important than my reason of keeping the bellows from getting streched out...

 

[cpt ron jc]

Re: Winter Drive Position

are y..... i keep mine down and cover so water and snow does not sit inside drive ,never had any problems,i have it serviced in spring,i have pulled out drive in the past no need to,the less i have to mess with that drive the better,i leave that task to my shop mech,if they mess something up they can make good for its worth it.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Winter Drive Position

Mine is always stored down so that water is not trapped if the garage enclosure leaks and gets trapped and frezzes but I also wrap the O/D with a trash bag for extra safety. I f your getting it shrink wrapped when it gets to it's final storage location just pull the cylinder pin and drop the O/D and let it sit on a block of wood!!!!! Just a thought.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Winter Drive Position

If your getting it shrink wrapped when it gets to it's final storage location just pull the cylinder pin and drop the O/D and let it sit on a block of wood!!!!! Just a thought.

Good thinking Fat Fanny

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winter Drive Position

Seems to me if someone has an opinion, they should at least back their statement up with WHY they said what they did.

fair enough...

as stated by others. up stretches out the bellows and it snows a fair amount around here. so if up, the exhaust cavity would fill with snow, eventually melt and refreeze. i don't want to take a chance of breaking my lower...

other reasons. with my drive off and in the basement. no one is likely have access to it to steal it. i also defer maint to a degree. usually end up doing my impeller in the middle of the winter. something boat oriented to do when it's snowing out.

on a side note. when i drive by the two boat stores around my area in dead winter. they have many boats stored outside. many with the drives up. uncovered... ?

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Winter Drive Position

I'm certainly no expert... curious to know if storing in the up position puts undue stress on the trim cylinder(s).

I always store in the down position.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Winter Drive Position

The question should have been:
Do you store your drive with bellows stretched out to the maximum, trimcylinder rods exposed to weather and wind, risk of water left in pockets or to be collected in the prop housing?

OR

Minimum stress on bellows, trimcylinders retracted and protected, drive completely drained without risk of collecting water in the prop housing.

Combined in an ad from the local workshop with the text:
Support your local mechanic, store the boat with the drive tilted to maximum!!

 

[The Dougler]

Re: Winter Drive Position

The biggest reason to keep the outdrive down is to keep the exhaust cavity from filling with water, freezing and cracking the lower housing. If you think a bunch of unknowing people voting on a poll is going to change that fact of life, then good luck.

WHY ???????

"You Should" isn't much of a reason.

Seems to me if someone has an opinion, they should at least back their statement up with WHY they said what they did.

Just saying up, down, basement, or you should, just doesn't cut it.

The major reason I posted this was to see don's view point. It's funny I read through the volvo manuals and they fail to mention that down is preferred in any part relating to winter storage. Looks like I'll have to find a mobile shrink wrap outfit instead of using the shop. Or is it feasible to remove the "pin" as another poster mentioned?