It still freezes here in Florida. have had frost in Myakka the last few mornings . There will be a bunch of freeze busted lower units and motors this year.
If water freezes in the bird baths, it freezes in the outdrive cavity
if the lift doesnt go high enough to get the leg out of the water when the motor is straight down, either remove the boat from the lift, or the motor from the boat.
or the lower can bust like this.