Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

[bassmantweed]

With the warm winter we have been having, i want to get a jump start on getting my boat back in the water. i am thinking about having my boat (19.5 stingray) re-commissioned and installing one of theses:

http://www.xtremeheaters.com/buy/spec/XHEAT



Do I need to do anything to the out-drive or will it drain and be safe from freezing? I think i remember outboard motors drain and there is no risk of freezing but i am not sure with my set up?

 

[Philster]

Re: Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

So how's that thing running when the power goes out?

If you want to use your I/O during times when their are still hard freezes ahead, you need to drain the engine/exhaust. Just put the drive all the way down.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

That is a 110V electric heater that will be useless unless you have an extension cord. You are better to get a heater that uses the hot water from your engine. HeaterCraft makes the most popular ones.
You then need to consider how to avoid freezing the coolant if you store your boat in freezing temperatures.

No electric heater, even a 12V one, is useful in a small boat while you are operating.

Installing a heater, like that, for the engine compartment should protect most problems. You don't need much heat but you want to also stop wind from blowing through the vents on very cold days.

 

[bassmantweed]

Re: Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

So how's that thing running when the power goes out?

If you want to use your I/O during times when their are still hard freezes ahead, you need to drain the engine/exhaust. Just put the drive all the way down.

Just so I am 100% clear - are these two different things - "drain the engine/exhaust AND put the drive all the way down." or is this one thing and draining the engine/exhaust is accomplished by putting the drive all the way down?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

With the warm winter we have been having, i want to get a jump start on getting my boat back in the water. i am thinking about having my boat (19.5 stingray) re-commissioned and installing one of theses:

http://www.xtremeheaters.com/buy/spec/XHEAT

View attachment 134262

Do I need to do anything to the out-drive or will it drain and be safe from freezing? I think i remember outboard motors drain and there is no risk of freezing but i am not sure with my set up?

Ayuh,... So long as the drive is lowered, it'll drain itself....

Yer motor only has 2, rather easy drains to get too...
Draining it, will also insure It don't freeze....
Ok, 3 points, 'cause I'd pull the Big hose off the circulating water pump too,... it hides maybe another quart...

As noted, an electric heater is a False sense of security...

 

[bassmantweed]

Re: Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

That is a 110V electric heater that will be useless unless you have an extension cord. You are better to get a heater that uses the hot water from your engine. HeaterCraft makes the most popular ones.
You then need to consider how to avoid freezing the coolant if you store your boat in freezing temperatures.

No electric heater, even a 12V one, is useful in a small boat while you are operating.

I should have been more clear - this is for storage not for use while under way. I store my boat in my unheated garage..... i think it would work to keep my engine block warm - i am just concerned with my out-drive and lower unit

 

[Philster]

Re: Boat compartment heaters with Mercruiser 3.0 sterndrive - what about out-drive?

the suggested route is:

>drain the engine/exhaust as Bond-O explains.
>lower the drive

use of heater:

Heaters and electric can fail. Air won't freeze.

Depends on where you live: it is possible to have a nasty winter storm in March and lose power for days. If you can get into the boat in such a condition (ice storm, lost power) and drain it, then the heater might be a viable option. If I did that one year, while I was stuck away on business, I'd have lost my engine to what I just described (well, my ol' I/O engine anyway).