Winterizing Boats

[Flatfish]

What do you folks do to "winterize"your boats?I'm wondering what do you do to keep the lower unit and engine from freezing should a cold spell hit.As it sits now she has already been prepared for the cold(by the folks at Browns Landing),but what do I need to do after we go out for a day?For what it's worth it is a Bayliner with an inboard and Mercruiser lower unit.
Thanks
Mark

[Jig-N-Bobberman]

Hey Flatfish, I have a 19' Bayliner Classic w/3.0L Merc. which uses fresh water cooling. Here's all I've done over the years and never had any problems. 1)Trim your motor up so the lower end drain plug becomes the lowest point of your motor and pointing down. Remove the plug enough to drain off any water that my have gotten in your lower unit. Reinstall the plug and top off with fress gear lube oil. 2) On the engine I pull the brass plug on the heat exchanger (running a platic zip tie in and out to help get the water out). With the plug is removed, crank the engine over just enough to blow out any excess water in the system (less than a minute). I leave the zip tie in and the plug removed all winter. Hope this helps. :tongue:

[Flatfish]

Thanks for the advice fellas.This will help a bunch.Been in Bend for a few years now.Driftboat only there.The motorboat belongs to Dad,so I gotta be double careful not to put anything in jeopardy on these winter sturg trips.New to Dad,so the kid needs to do this research so everyone is at ease.Hope to see ya out there soon .
Thanks
Mark

[Pilar]

Flatfish, in general you want to prevent freeze up. I need to know more about your motor to go into any detail. Here's two posibilities.

On antifreeze filled motors, you just drain the heat exchanger(s) (aka 'freshwater cooling') and exhaust manifolds. That's (3) brass pet***** on my little 4 banger. When they're done draining, shut them, so you don't forget and flood your boat next time you run it.

On the more common direct cooled motors, the block is full of whatever the boat last ran in. So you can have the marina fill the block with anti freeze. They run the motor and feed it in. Or you drain the water out of the block and manifolds. The second method, draining is only an emergency thing. It causes corrosion, even so thats better than busting the block when it freezes up.

Other things to do are change the outdrive oil, grease the u-joints and gimbal bearing and put in a new water pump. Cheap insurance of another year of trouble free boating.

Hope this helps.