Lowering Your Engines?

[JGH]

I've heard where some people keep their lower units in the water when the air temperure drops below a certain level. Does anyone do this? Is it really necessary?

[fmoore]

I trailer my boat so take this FWIW, but my understanding is that the water is above freezing and the air may be below. If the air is below freezing and there is water in the lower unit, you could obviously have some problems in the lower unit. If you leave it in the water, it won't freeze.

[fmw]

If you are at a full service marina, it is likely that they may have gone around and lowered your engine for you if they have deemed it necessary. I think that is probably standard practice, but you might want to give your marina a call.

[CaptSuperfly]

In a slip, it's more about draining the engine block than the lower unit... since if you put the lower unit in the water, it will obviously not drain... but it also will not freeze.

On the trailer, with the motor down the lower unit should drain too. Also, if it's on a trailer, do yourself a favor and pull the plug and let the boat drain... make sure the boat is not holding water anywhere.

[Lov2Fish]

A good rule is that if you trailer below freezing, and the wind chill on way to ramp will be even colder, let lower unit soak in water as long as possible before starting, the salt water should melt any ice on water pump impeller!

[JGH]

Thanks very much for the advice. My rig is still in the slip and I have now put the lower unit in the water. There were a couple sub-freezing nights before I did that, so I hope I don't already have a problem.

[FirstCast]

Lov2Fish gave you the right info. What we really have to worry about is the possibility of ice forming on the impeller. I leave my motor down once it gets below freezing. If you forget and leave it up, just let it soak several minutes before starting it up & you'll be fine.

You shouldn't have a problem just because you left it up - only if it was frozen and you started it right up - in which case you'd already know you had a problem.

[browndog]

Another consideration is rain water. There are area where water can get trapped in a trimmed up motor. Should the temps drop below freezing after the rain it could be very bad news.