De-winterize stern drive now??

[skydiver]

I have a 24-foot stern drive (I/O) that I keep on a trailer at my house. Lows for the coming nights at least are forecast to be in the 20s. I've never de-winterized this early in the season before but the weather this weekend looks too good for me to pass up for boating.
I'm looking for opinions on whether or not it's a bad idea to de-winterized this early. What I would do is keep light bulbs on in the bilge during the night (while on my trailer, not in the water) and I think that would keep temps warm enough that nothing will freeze and break.

 

[Myers]

Risky!!!!!!!

Risky!!!!!!!

Manifolds are about $600 when that light bulb burns out in the middle of the night, because of a cold freeze somewhere in the city that wasn't forecasted. There easy to change, I've done it, totally worth the risk of getting out early! Even if they back order them and you get going again sometime in July, the early trip would have been worth it. Enjoy, sleep tight!

 

[skydiver]

You have a new engine, so I can just borrow it, right?
After thinking about it more, I'd decided that what I could do is fire up the engine in a day or two, do the light(s) in the bilge until the weekend, boat the weekend, then when I get it back home it would not take much pink stuff to winterize it again since I have fresh water cooling (antifreeze in block and manifolds). But now my fishing buddy tells me he has to work this weekend and my wife is, well, a wimp when it comes to boating in the cold. So maybe a moot point.

 

[Myers]

I know you guys always got out in the C-Dory when there was still ice in the coves, take out his NR, it's got those nice outboards. Another idea I have entertained before, pull out the manifold drain plugs and pop off the hose on the other end to allow expansion if it did freeze. Also, leave the dog house lid off and set up a space heater next to it. Or play it safe and wait, especially since I can't go no one else should be allowed to go! HA!

 

[skydiver]

I don't think he will let me take out his NR without out him!
Another reason why I like outboards.

 

[jrogers]

One thought is if you do go and don't want to re-winterize, leave the salt water in the motor. This will give you 4 degrees of a buffer over fresh water. I use a small space heater if I don't stay in the water for early season.

 

[hoose35]

when you are done using the boat, why don't you just run rv antifreeze through it until it comes out the sterndrive exhaust? I have done this with my previous boat with a sterndrive and I used it most of the winter.

 

[Old John]

It's doubtful that it will get cold enough at night to freeze up hard enough to break anything.... but then again......??/John

 

[rmk4x4]

when you are done using the boat, why don't you just run rv antifreeze through it until it comes out the sterndrive exhaust? I have done this with my previous boat with a sterndrive and I used it most of the winter.

i have done this also i rigged up one of those blue 6 gallon water jugs with a valve and hose to hook the muffs up the the outdrive and run it till it is pink and also i fill it with fresh water in the summer and flush it out if there is no fresh water hook up to do so handy

 

[skydiver]

i have done this also i rigged up one of those blue 6 gallon water jugs with a valve and hose to hook the muffs up the the outdrive and run it till it is pink and also i fill it with fresh water in the summer and flush it out if there is no fresh water hook up to do so handy

Agree. Third post in this thread

 

[Myers]

I keep an eye on the puddles that freeze or don't freeze, they are good indicators of how much freezing is going on.