Need Advice for Winter Use

[sandiegofisher]

Just moved to N.W. Arkansas from San Diego, CA. and have a Alumacraft Crappie S/S w/40 hp Evinrude outboard. I plan to leave it in the water in a covered slip on Beaver Lake during the winter and fish during the warmer days (50 deg. or above). Is there anything I should be aware of as far as cold weather use. The lake rarely freezes but air temps can get below 0 deg. for several days/nights at a time. What are your recommendations to keep motor healthy and running during the winter months in my area?<br />Thanks for your insight.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Need Advice for Winter Use

The motor should usually be kept in the down position so rain is not collected and frozen at the prop.If you are in a covered slip I guess you can keep the motor up and pour a little nontox AF in the prop shaft.Charlie

 

[sandiegofisher]

Re: Need Advice for Winter Use

Slip is open on sides and covered on top. Shop suggested always adding a Fuel Stabilizer to the fuel. Will keep the motor tilted down (prop in water) but have concerns about water left in the power head or water jackets. Does water usually drain sufficiantly when motor is in down position and in water? Not sure what nontox AF is Charlie.<br /><br />Thanks for the reply.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Need Advice for Winter Use

sandiego I use my boat year-round, we get a few days of zero-degree and lots of hard freezes at night, the boat stays on the trailer at an outdoor storage yard, and my entire winterization progam consists of keeping the batteries & electronics in the garage (which I do anyway to discourage theft) and tilting the motor full down for a few minutes after every use to let the powerhead drain before trailering home. Yours will be fine.<br /><br />I also change the gear oil yearly before the first freeze to make sure there's no water in it - you won't have a problem with it submerged but of course you probably change the oil anyway.<br /><br />I bet crazy charlie is talkin about nontoxic antifreeze, would that be something like vodka?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Need Advice for Winter Use

We have run into December here on the St Lawrence.Scott at chinewalkers place has a picture of his boat in the water in winter.We keep our motor down.No worries about the powerhead draining.Many hard freezes lots of heavy skim ice.Huge ice chunks on motor from splash when docked in freezing weather.Always lots of hot water to thaw out the lower unit before starting when hard frozen.Chipping ice off steering before being able to steer.Breaking up ice in the bilge of the open utility before bailing.Lots of fun.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Need Advice for Winter Use

HUM???? fishing in the winter, this gives me an idea of what to do on those dark and dreary days