Safe to use outboard later in season?

[hohlraum]

Just got our boat a month or so ago and we'd like to continue using it as late into the season as possible (St. Louis, Missouri). I should be OK as long as I take off the transom saver and store the OB in a vertical position for thorough draining between weekends correct? We only use it in fresh water. I was hoping to get to continue using it until the end of October. Thanks!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

Absolutely. As long as it's stored down to drain.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

As long as the water isn't frozen, no problem

One of the biggest advantages of outboards is the fact that they basically don't need to be winterized, just make sure the water drains as mentioned.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

That isn't entirely true. Every outboard I have ever owned that had a shaft seal more than a couple years old, leaked some water past the seal. When draining the lower, some water always comes out. I had a buddy who called saying he pulled the drain plug and *nothing* came out. It was the first night with freezing temps. We heated it up with a propane torch and out came ALOT of water. Draining the coolant passages isn't always 100% effective at protecting the OB from freezing. I'd at least pull the plug once before freezing weather to make sure you don't have a badly leaking seal or some other fault allowing water into the lower unit...

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

That isn't entirely true. Every outboard I have ever owned that had a shaft seal more than a couple years old, leaked some water past the seal. When draining the lower, some water always comes out. I had a buddy who called saying he pulled the drain plug and *nothing* came out. It was the first night with freezing temps. We heated it up with a propane torch and out came ALOT of water. Draining the coolant passages isn't always 100% effective at protecting the OB from freezing. I'd at least pull the plug once before freezing weather to make sure you don't have a badly leaking seal or some other fault allowing water into the lower unit...

I'd say this is the exception rather than the rule. I'm 45 and have owned 6 boats with outboards over my life. Have always lived in the North and have never winterized my OB's. I'm not saying this is the right way to do it. I'm just saying it's worked for me and I have never had an issue. Of course like others have said, stored in the down position. Oh yeah, and I always have a can of SeaFoam in the gas.

Edited to add. I do change my lower unit oil before putting my motor to bed for the winter.


See you on the lake


Joe

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

Typical winterization for an O/B includes changing the lower unit oil. The reason you do this is to ensure it does not have water in it, which can freeze and crack the lower unit. Pressue test your lower and ensure you don't have any leaks. If it checks out then you're definitely good to go. I know people around here (NJ) that fish year round on the ocean with outboards.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

although I don't recommend trying it, a lower unit with a little water mixed in can freeze without issue. Ice expansion is only a problem when you try to stop it from expanding. (hoses, sealed containers, etc...) If you have some water in the lower unit, it can freeze solid and will just push a little air pressure out the same hole the water got in through.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

hohlraum, To avoid the possibility of water freezing int he gearcase, I would recommend you drain it and refill it before the first freeze. If no water comes out, the gearcase doesn't leak and you may use it w/o worry, after temps hit the freezing mark.

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

I have never had an issue with my outboards either. I did "winterize" them. I used to change out the oil in the lower unit, run some gas through them with fuel stabilizer in it, pull the plugs and a few drops of oil in each cylinder. In the spring they would start right up.

Had temps regularly down -30F. Never had any freezing issues. But motor was also stored upright.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

Call me obsessive, but I always spray some fogging oil in the carbs and cylinders... and I run it till it runs out of gas... and change the oil...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

This thread has veered off topic. The OP asked if they could continue to use their outboard powered boat into the cooler weather.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

I have run mine when it was 19 degrees out and it ran fine, had to choke the pee out of it to start it but once it was warm it ran like normal.

The only thing I would worry about is that your lower doesn't have any water in it but even that wouldn't be a problem until you got it on the trailer since the water won't be frozen.

So no, it won't hurt your engine at all to run it when it is cold out.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

I have run mine when it was 19 degrees out and it ran fine, had to choke the pee out of it to start it but once it was warm it ran like normal.

I'd avoid wide open throttle at 19 degrees! Most outboard carbs don't adjust for temperature. The air at 19 degrees is ALOT more dense than at 80 degrees, and you could easily melt down an engine from running it lean at cold temps.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

^ I suppose it depends on what you mean by "a lot". The difference in absolute temperature is about 10%, so the density difference will be the same, approximately equivalent to a 1000 m (3000 ft) change in elevation. The motor will probably also need some choke to stay running until it warms up, so the air being drawn into the carb by the time the choke is fully off will probably be somewhat above ambient temperature.

My dad's outboard lives in the lake all winter and is regularly run at WOT at near or sub-freezing temperatures without issue. Only thing that stops him is ice too thick to break with a tinny.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

At 19 degrees full throttle was never even considered, even with the camper top and heater it was COLD!!!!!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

At 19 degrees full throttle was never even considered, even with the camper top and heater it was COLD!!!!!!

Ya reckon???

Most people that don't boat in cold weather don't realize how much colder it is out on the water.

I run my outboard all winter and it does get down in the teens here in 'Bama, but I don't take the boat out until it warms up to 25*F... but that's not because of anything with the boat, just too cold for ME!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

Most people that don't boat in cold weather don't realize how much colder it is out on the water.

Yes they do, that's why they don't boat in colder weather

 

[gyrenebill]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

In Eastern Washington state, I fish the Snake and Columbia rivers in the fall and winter for steelhead and salmon when the temperature gets down to 20? air temp and 34? water temp with no problem. I always run out the motors (65 hp and 7 1/2 hp troller) after I trailer the boat at end of day. I fish all the way into late January-early February and haven't had any problems. Just be careful that you are outputting cooling water before taking off WOT, the engine block could be sub-freezing and freeze incoming water. If you don't see the output, let it run 30-45 seconds, shut it off and let it set a few minutes; then try again. I have had to do this a couple of times on my 65 hp Merc, but after 1-2 "warm-ups" I get good flow. Only happens when the air temp is below 20? and I have trailered it 120 miles to get to the river!
Never too far to go for steelhead!

 

[dlngr]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

Nobody asked how far the OP is trailering. When it's really cold,i think I would lower the motor at the ramp for about 5 minutes,to make sure it drains before the transom saver goes on. If it's cold enough,any water in the engine is going to freeze on the way home-if it's more than a few minutes ride. Too late by then to remove the transom saver.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Safe to use outboard later in season?

94 days and counting down.