Outboards in Up Position Over Winter

[Doug from Anchorage]

One of the shrink wrap outfits at the Sportsman show said an outboard stored outside in the up position can trap rain and snow through the exhaust in the lower unit and split when frozen. Has anyone had this happen? I'm looking outside at my boat thinking "oh crap", but I have never had a problem with this before.

 

[zigzag]

I stored my in the up position this winter, but cover my prop because I was worried about that. I didn't last winter and have not had any problems to speak of.

 

[WinMag]

good question!

good question!

I don't know of anyone that has had this happen but I usually tie a trash bag around the lower unit and secure it w/ some duct tape. The theory sounds good but I wonder how common the problem is...

 

[Doug from Anchorage]

This Last Winter Will Tell

This Last Winter Will Tell

Me whether this has validity or not. With the percipitation and cold temps we had, I could not imagine a better trial. I'm wondering what to look for.

 

[Myers]

SALESMAN, first clue!

SALESMAN, first clue!

The SHRINKWRAP SALESMAN told you this??????????????
Rain and snow on an outboard that drains down? HA!

 

[dirtface]

I was told that by the dealer..

I was told that by the dealer..

when I bought my boat. I always store mine with motor all the way down. I aint taking any chances with a 15000 dollar motor. But let us know how your experiment works out.

 

[Myers]

Shrinkwrapper is paying off the dealer? ...Or what do I know I have an inboard. Good luck with that.

 

[skydiver]

One of the shrink wrap outfits at the Sportsman show said an outboard stored outside in the up position can trap rain and snow through the exhaust in the lower unit and split when frozen. Has anyone had this happen? I'm looking outside at my boat thinking "oh crap", but I have never had a problem with this before.

I have heard this can happen. Obviously it doesn't happen to everyone every time, but in the future I would not take the chance. I store my sterndrive in the down position because of the bellows, and the possibility of the outdrive collecting water and splitting is another reason.

 

[Doug from Anchorage]

Won't do it

Won't do it

Again. Never really gave it much thought. I always drain them down after the final run/rinse with the hose. For whatever reason, I put it in the up position before I pulled the batteries and never looked back. On visual inspection, it appears intact (no cracks or anyhting) but I really don't know what to look for.

 

[homer]

You should always store the drive down. This keeps the hyd. tilt rams in, and not exposed to the weather. You should also turn your steering whatever way retracts, to keep it less exposed to weather.

 

[sayak]

Yes, store down and turned

Yes, store down and turned

You should always store the drive down. This keeps the hyd. tilt rams in, and not exposed to the weather. You should also turn your steering whatever way retracts, to keep it less exposed to weather.

These are both good ideas.

Water can get into surface of seals, then freeze, expand, and compromise lower unit. The steering arm also can get water in it and rust as homer has noted.

I always store my motor tilted down and turned to prevent these things from happening. Don't need a shrink wrap- a tarp will do fine.

 

[T.R. Bauer]

Again. Never really gave it much thought. I always drain them down after the final run/rinse with the hose. For whatever reason, I put it in the up position before I pulled the batteries and never looked back. On visual inspection, it appears intact (no cracks or anyhting) but I really don't know what to look for.

Doug,

It is probably just fine. While what everyone has said can happen, it is very rare that it does happen. If you drove it home on the trailer in the down position, or if it sat in the down position for any amount of time, the water drained out of it. If not, well it is extremely likely that it evaporated long before the first real freeze. Also, you really are not going to get any large amounts of water in her from rain and snow. But with that said, I still stored mine down before we built the monster garage as it is just good policy and I am not taking any chances. The only ones I have heard of freezing are the guys that lifted them out of the water when it got cold and they cracked the head because in the up position the water does not have a way out; or at least so they say...... Have a good one.

Tim

 

[Cresent Hills]

Possible

Possible

Shrinkwrapper is paying off the dealer? ...Or what do I know I have an inboard. Good luck with that.

Myers

What does a shrink wrap salesman stand to gain from this comment or advice? You think he makes more money? Does the marine dealer make more money by telling you to store your lower unit in the down position?

You mention that you have a inboard, so obviously you are not intimately familiar with the operation of a outboard lower unit. If the lower unit is stored in the raised position the cooling system can not fully drain and dry, and if rain or snow melt enters the thru prop exhaust it will sit in the exhaust cavity of the lower unit and can and will freeze and expand and crack the aluminum housing. Not to mention the excessive wear and tear on the seals and plastic parts in the lower unit.

So do as you wish.... but exercising judgement like that will eventually put you face to face with a salesman to buy parts, and it is obviously you have a dislike or distrust of salesman.

*&%t and water run down hill, therefore I will be keeping my motors stored in the lowered position for the best possible drainage.

Tom

 

[Myers]

Crescent Hills,
Obviously I don't know much about outboards, obviously you assumed I distrust or dislike salesmen, obviously I was joking on the second post about the dealer and shrinkwrapper being in on it together. And the first post about the shrinkwrapper trying to sell shrinkwrap idea was my mistake, I actually thought that sounded way out there. After reading all these replys about this subject I learned something new about outboards. You must sell snowmachines or something, sorry if my post annoyed you.

 

[akjeff]

Rare! But it could happen and if it does it would be expensive. Not only that, waiting on a new lower unit may cost you a trip or two. Better safe than sorry. To get my boat stored bow up, with the outboard tilted full down, I must removed my lower unit.

 

[Sierra Hotel]

I store mine with the motors up, but with prop covers on to keep the snow/rain/ash out . . . and engine covers to keep them looking purty . . .

 

[Todo]

Happened to Me

Happened to Me

My Yamaha 115 developed a miss one year.It would only do this at idle.Under power it ran no problem.Brought it to The Boat Shop,and after much troubleshooting and research,it was decided that the head was cracked due to the motor being stored in the tilt position over the winter,trapping water inside,freezing and cracking.Now,I bought this used and don't recall storing it like that,but I could have. Instead of putting more money into an older outboard, I went ahead and repowered with a Honda 150