Anybody in the south NOT winterize?

I'm in New Braunfels. I didn't winterize last year. There were some nights when I got nervous and would put a light in the doghouse. I've got the boat on the boat lift and don't plan to do anything to it this winter (as far as winterizing) unless it stays below freezing for over 24 hrs. Then I might have to take it for a spin to get it warmed up again. My wife won't let me bring it in the house.

Thanks fellas. That's kind of what I was thinking, but this is my first winter with my boat.

If temp's have been in the 60's on average and you have the hood closed, that engine is the "heater" when the temps drop in the 20's and it would have to stay in the 20's for a few days in order for the engine to drop to 20 degree's. On rare occasions if the power goes off the old light bulb trick under the hood may not work, but I've never experienced both power loss and temp's below 20 for more than a few hours below I20.

Same principle in the summer. Shut that monster 289 down after an evening skiing and you still feel the heat 12 hours later the next morning. The engine and hood are a great combination.

I still suggest you pull the rubber impeller just to keep it fresh, drains the majority of water and is easy to re-install.

It's also very easy to drain the block so a little bit of PM even when you ski on occasion shouldn't deter you from climbing in when it's cold outside.

Lake Wales Fl; They don't even sell antifreeze here! All those years in Ohio, I never knew what I was missing. Enjoy it year round, life is short!...john

Me and my roommate are thinking about just getting wetsuits and still getting to the lake 2 or 3 times a week. It rarely even gets below freezing here (I know last Christmas I was wearing shorts.)

What's the consensus on not winterizing and just running it through spring?

BTW, I am near Houston.