This is my first year owning my first boat (a 2008 185 Sport) and I believe I have made some mistakes in storage. First of all I have the stern drive in the up position and apparently that is incorrect. I will rectify that. Also, I neglected to cover the propeller and housing and I believe there may be moisture collected in there. Temperatures have gotten extremely low and we have had a significant amount of snow (in the northwest). What are the chances that I really messed up the lower part of my drive unit?? And should I heat the bottom unit and make sure any collected water is out?
Newbie Storage Mistakes
- Thread starter Lloyd185
- Start date
You keep the outdrive lowered to prevent the bellows from taking a "set" and to keep water from accumulating in the prop.....I doubt you have did any damage. Also make sure the boat is well covered,stored bow high,and the plug is out.
- Oct 4, 2006
- 2,344
- Boat Info
- 2006 300DA Sundancer
- Engines
- 350 Mags / Bravo III
If you are storing outdoors and have a stainless steel prop, consider taking it off before a thief does it for you. They are an easy target and don't take long to remove.
On Holiday
New Member
Hard to keep the bow high and have enough room to lower the outdrive. I keep my boat bow low so the stern can be as high as possible to allow enough room for the outdrive to be as low as possible. I do keep my boat stored inside a non heated garage.
Bow low will accumulate water in the boat if there are any leaks at all in your cover...bad Idea. Bow high allows any possible entering water to exit out the drain at the bottom of the transom....hence "plug out".
govols019
Member
If the boat is kept inside an enclosed garage there is not much chance of water accumulating in it. I have to keep my bow down in order to get the outdrive as low as possible.
rondds
Well-Known Member
- Oct 3, 2006
- 8,859
- Boat Info
- 2001 380DA
- Engines
- Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
If you keep the boat on a trailer in the garage, you probably should jack up the trailer and block it so the tires don't get square. If you block it high enough you can keep the drive down and set the bow higher than the stern.
If you ran antifreeze through the engine at winterization, you shouldnt have to worry abt water in the drive causing damage. It won't freeze.
If you ran antifreeze through the engine at winterization, you shouldnt have to worry abt water in the drive causing damage. It won't freeze.
govols019
Member
With my wife's parking skills I'd just as soon not have my boat up on blocks while in the garage.:grin:
I've never had my tires go square on any boat I've ever owned. Maybe because I move the boat a few times over the winter to clean the garage.:huh:
I've never had my tires go square on any boat I've ever owned. Maybe because I move the boat a few times over the winter to clean the garage.:huh:
