Winterizing for boats in the water-opinions

[Speakrdude]

Just wanted to get a feel for what the rest of you people do to winterize (or not) your boats that stay in the water in the states that get temps below freezing. Here in Arkansas, we have 4 seasons. It can get down to the negative numbers some times. My questions are, how do you stop the flow of water from an I/O that gets its water from the stern-drive? Will it freeze if its below the waterline? (I've heard both) The engines are (half) fresh water cooled, and I have drain valves on the manifolds, but if you cant shut off the flow of incoming water from the drive, the heat exchanger and manifolds will create a siphon, if you leave them open.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Winterizing for boats in the water-opinions

The method we do here in KY is remove the hose going from the drive to the raw water pump. Keep the hose up higher then the water line and many put a short piece of PVC pipe placed in the hose and re-clamped. From there the engine is winterized then a 1/2 gallon or so of RV antifreeze down the hose going to the drive and were done. If the water freezes solid need to put a water mover under the boat

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Winterizing for boats in the water-opinions

Unfortunately, these are Alpha drives, but If I get down there I could do the same with hose from the gimble before it enters the pwr steering/oil cooler...

 

[alldodge]

Re: Winterizing for boats in the water-opinions

Unfortunately, these are Alpha drives, but If I get down there I could do the same with hose from the gimble before it enters the pwr steering/oil cooler...

Since I haven't done an alpha I thought I would ask around and the method is the same. They as you mentioned remove the hose coming from the drive. Then either drain or push out as much water from the hose as possiable, then they either pump or pour in the AF until full. some then leave the hose disconnected and raised, others put the hose back on where it was taken off.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Winterizing for boats in the water-opinions

Just to add an additional thought. Some that put the hose back on also have placed a valve in line and closed it off. The reason is if the impeller allows even a little bit of water to seep by, over time it can fill the block back up with water. Personally I like tying the hose up above the water line.