Outboards and the cold weather

[irishc]

I would like to keep my boat in the water for the rest of the month... Other than keeping the engine (outboard) in the down position what other precautions should I take to make sure it is ok in these temps? Any suggestions would be apprechiated.

[Gerry Zagorski]

That's about all you can do other than make sure you keep your battery charge topped off and be sure to let the engine warm up a bit before you bring it up to running RPMS.

[fishfetchr]

yup-keeping the battery charged as stated above is key- run it about once a week when not used, also go in and out of gear to keep moving parts functioning.

Mario

[irishc]

Thanks guys

[Capt. Debbie]

Curious. It is a 2 or 4 stroke?

The crankcase full of oil (like your car) adds a factor or two. But for sitting idle, all of the above is good advice.

We keep a twin O/B tow boat in all year. Unless the upper part of the Shrewsbury ( buoy#5) ices up.

Other issues to do with through hulls, bilge pumps, etc. Anything with water in it, when it gets cold enough, will freeze, expand and possibly break what contains it. Very bad for a through hull when a hose above it freezes, pops, and then thaws. You go to the bottom. :(