Outboard and freeze warnings

[oliversdad]

I've been lucky enough to launch my boat and get in a great sail last weekend.The weather was beautiful,breezy and in the mid seventies.Being in New England,this weekend's forecast includes freeze warnings with temps possibly in the mid 20s at night.Should I remove my little Evinrude outboard or tilt it into the water to avoid any possibility of damage?It has been tilted up and dry for a week now.Has it drained sufficiently not to worry?Knowledgeable guidance requested.Thanks

 

[GeorgiaBII]

Love to help but freezing is a foreign concept down here... although I'd think if it's dry then freezing won't bother it at all.

 

[thinwater]

I haven't removed an outboard in 25 years, and it gets pleanty cold here. I certainly wouldn't worry over a spring frost.

 

[Rob19574]

tilt it down 1x to make sure any water in the head and exhaust housing drained but after that your fine. It takes a lot to freeze salt water but outboards don't really hold any water after they run.

 

[oliversdad]

tilt it down 1x to make sure any water in the head and exhaust housing drained but after that your fine. It takes a lot to freeze salt water but outboards don't really hold any water after they run.

I'm in fresh water but thank you.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I agree. A frost this time of year is not enough to freeze water in an engine block. Here in MN we launch in April and experience frost/freeze warnings until early May. I've never had a problem with my 9.9 4 stroke.

 

[Indysailor]

I take my motor home and store it at the end of my work bench in the winter, but I notice that many people just leave theirs on the boats, and most of these folks have been boating longer than I have. My guess is that an upright outboard with drain right out.
Still doesn't convince me to leave my motor on the boat in the Midwest all Winter, where the temps can reach well below 0 degrees(F)- I prefer to bring it home and service it each season.

 

[bffatcat]

motor freezing?

You didnt tell us how big or heavy the motor is. I would assume for 19 ft boat its under 10hp
If your worried about freezing just drain all the water out , run it out of gas than take it off and
secure it in the cabin until the middle of may after that you wont have any freeze worries

 

[oliversdad]

You didnt tell us how big or heavy the motor is. I would assume for 19 ft boat its under 10hp
If your worried about freezing just drain all the water out , run it out of gas than take it off and
secure it in the cabin until the middle of may after that you wont have any freeze worries

Thanks,that's great advise.It's a 4.5 evinrude.