Overwintering in a richmond marina?
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salmonkiller01
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Leave mine tilted up in the winter at the marina. Never an issue yet. I keep a heater in the cabin to remove moisture. Just plugged her in today to keep moisture away
What make motor? I've got a 350 sc merc
Max123
Well-Known Member
Every motor should be left tilted down if stored out of the water. When your motor is down the engine will gravity drain all water out of it. If you leave the motor up, it wont drain and will collect in the prop exhaust housing and can then freeze - cracking the lower unit. This has been explicitly stated in every outboard owners manual I've ever owned.
Max123
Well-Known Member
I may have misread your original post - storage on land or storage in the water? I was responding to out of water storage.
If on land, definitely down. If in the water, people typically store it up (to prevent fouling) until weather approaches freezing temperatures and then tilt it down into the water for anything below 0C. Our climate is generally so moderate (and Richmond is definitely on the warmer side in terms of lower mainland temps) that really this is only Dec-Feb.
If on land, definitely down. If in the water, people typically store it up (to prevent fouling) until weather approaches freezing temperatures and then tilt it down into the water for anything below 0C. Our climate is generally so moderate (and Richmond is definitely on the warmer side in terms of lower mainland temps) that really this is only Dec-Feb.
CBsqrd
Well-Known Member
I usually tilt the motor down if there is going to be stretch of -5° C or lower for a couple days or -10° or lower for any one night. Same goes for running RV antifreeze through the fresh water system. Never had a problem.
The ocean acts as a big heat sink and will keep things in contact with it above freezing even if there is an extended cold snap.
The ocean acts as a big heat sink and will keep things in contact with it above freezing even if there is an extended cold snap.
pescador
Well-Known Member
Interesting, but what happens to salt water that’s sitting in the impellers and other parts of the leg?
CBsqrd
Well-Known Member
Doesn’t freeze. The ocean stays above freezing and when you tilt the leg down it allows the stored heat to transfer into the leg.
And even if it does feeeze, I’m sure that the outboard manufacturers have thought of this and designed the systems accordingly so that it doesn’t result in catastrophic failure. Lots of places on the ocean that get colder temps than the BC coast where boats are used year round.
Also, I flush my engines with fresh water after each use so any water in there should be. Fresh or brackish.
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