Winterizing outboards in the water

mdolesh

Active Member
Dec 18, 2019
431
Edgewater, MD
Boat Info
370 Venture 2013
Twin 300 L6 Verados

- Previous boat: 290 Sundancer 2006
Engines
...
Is it possible to winterize an outboard in a wet slip? If so, what's the process? If not, how can I keep a boat in the Chesapeake Bay area in the water year-round? I have read mixed things about tilting up and tilting down depending on the air/sea temp. Marina has bubblers. Thanks!
 
Outboards. I have twin 300 Verados.
 
If you're keeping the boat in the water with bubblers for the Winter you must keep the outboard in the down position so the water will drain out of the engine.
 
You can winterize the engine and change the engine oil - same procedure as it would be on land. But you obviously won't be able to change the gear oil. Engine oil and gear oil should both be changed once a year (or more depending on use).
 
I don't know much about outboard winterization. I always brought my dinghy motor home in the winter. Even with them down, will there still be raw water in them from the last time they were run? I assume yes.
 
I just changed engine oil, gear oil, water pumps, air filters, etc. I just cant find any instructions on winterizing that arent done on land. Does lowering the motor into the water actually drain the water from the engine? Here is what the manual says:

1. Stabilize fuel.
2. Remove plugs and spray with storage seal rust inhibitor.
3. Drain and refill gearcase lubricant (done).
4. Store in an upright/vertical position to allow water to drain out of the outboard.

Doesnt say anything about antifreeze... And I am curious how the water, or how much water, will drain out when I tilt them down into the water.
 
Last edited:
Well, you answered your own question about whether or not the water drains with your #4! And, so did Chip in his response :)

But, yes, that is correct. Obviously it won't drain out of the gearcase that is in the water - but as long as the bubbler does it's thing and the water doesn't freeze, you're good.

No, you wouldn't use any AF since it will just drain back out. AF is for inboard engines.

Use the flush adapter and flush fresh water through the powerhead, though. Add Salt Terminator, or similar, as an "extra"
 
Thanks guys! I was thinking the same thing..if the water around it doesnt freeze then neither will water in the engine. My learning curve on outboards is still getting started.
 
if the water around it doesnt freeze then neither will water in the engine.
There won't be any water in the engine, though, regardless. Unlike an inboard or car engine, the engine is turned vertical so everything drains.
 
Oh! Ok I didn’t know that. Thank you!
 
I just watched a video on the 370 having never heard of one before...wow, I am impressed, great boat.
Thanks! I had never heard of it either and stumbled across it looking for a 370DA. The boat didnt sell well and was perhaps ahead of its time in 2013 with outboards. They only made 83 of them from 2013-2015. SeaRay propped the boat with 15p propellors and there were a lot of early complaints about it being underpowered and not able to get on plane with a full load out. Most of the current owners have gone to a 13p prop and the boat performs great. We love the boat and it checked almost all the boxes for the next boat after our 290DA.
 
Under powered. Can i say this? Can I? SR dealers typically order boats with the smallest engines SR offers to get people into a boat cheap as possible. Now before you say i am a bayliner owner bad mouthing SR, step back. On my 6th SR, never owned any other brand. My first 268 came with a 5.7 Alpha1. Horribly underpowered. With 4 people and gear it was a fight to keep it on plane.
Then got same boat with 7.4 what a difference. Now i have a 250 with 7.4 bravo 1. Bitch pops on plane and rocks, even though a 7.4 sucks fuel like a hooker thru a gargen hose.
Point is, yes, SR/dealer will put the smallest engine possible to sell a boat cheaper to get someone into it.
The standard engine on most SR is underpowered.
 
Under powered. Can i say this? Can I? SR dealers typically order boats with the smallest engines SR offers to get people into a boat cheap as possible. Now before you say i am a bayliner owner bad mouthing SR, step back. On my 6th SR, never owned any other brand. My first 268 came with a 5.7 Alpha1. Horribly underpowered. With 4 people and gear it was a fight to keep it on plane.
Then got same boat with 7.4 what a difference. Now i have a 250 with 7.4 bravo 1. Bitch pops on plane and rocks, even though a 7.4 sucks fuel like a hooker thru a gargen hose.
Point is, yes, SR/dealer will put the smallest engine possible to sell a boat cheaper to get someone into it.
The standard engine on most SR is underpowered.
I think in 2013 the largest outboard available from Mercury was the 300 Verado. There wasnt an option to upgrade to a larger motor through the factory at least. Now they have the 350, 400, etc, and the 600 beast. A guy on the 370 Venture thread swapped the 300's for 400's and was very pleased. At some point a repower will need to be done and its good to have options, but as she sits there is plenty of power and gets on plane quickly. No complaints.
 
Thanks! I had never heard of it either and stumbled across it looking for a 370DA. The boat didnt sell well and was perhaps ahead of its time in 2013 with outboards. They only made 83 of them from 2013-2015. SeaRay propped the boat with 15p propellors and there were a lot of early complaints about it being underpowered and not able to get on plane with a full load out. Most of the current owners have gone to a 13p prop and the boat performs great. We love the boat and it checked almost all the boxes for the next boat after our 290DA.

If not ahead of its time it was certainly a leader into the outboards on larger boats. I followed the model closely when it was first being released and was impressed that the out boards were shielded and built into the boat design (you would barely know it was outboard driven looking at it) and that the mid cabin was absolutely great for a boat of it's size. Unfortunately like many early models testing waters it never became a big production model. However outboards certainly have taken center stage on new larger boats.

-Kevin
 
On the bright side, at least I don't have to winterize these OBs :eek:

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