Oh No! Another Winterization Question

I know, I know, another winterization question, I'm sorry. Let me start by saying that this site is fantastic. I've never had a need to post until now, I always just found someone else who had already asked what I needed to know or was wondering, but I'm not having luck with this one. I've studied the manual, forums, and the guides and it's one, stupid thing that has me stumped. Here it goes:

I have an '87 SN2001 (new to me this spring). The boat is an absolute MONSTER; I’m completely in love with it. I did a very careful job winterizing it - as hard as I'm trying to find a heated garage, I haven't yet had an luck. I live in the Northeast and it gets pretty cold. Enough background, here's my problem:

I'm not sure where the transmission cooler drain plug is. I don't see any pics showing explicitly where it is (probably because it's so obvious). I'm figuring it’s the plug looking thing on top (see attached pic), but I can't get the darn thing to budge. I've cranked on it pretty hard, but before I kill myself on it, I want to make sure I'm concentrating my efforts in the right place. So here are my questions:

Where is the trans cooler drain plug?
What is the allen headed plug-looking thing on top and how to I remove it if it’s stuck pretty good (appears to have been painted over)?
What is the smaller plug-looking thing next to the larger one? This appears to me to be stripped.




Any and all help it appreciated. I try very hard not to post something if I can find the answer elsewhere, but this one's got me stumped (and the weather's gettin' cold!).

Thanks in advance.

Another newbie,

Paul

I have an 87 as well. On the previous post the top photo depicts the position of my transmission oil cooler. Looking at the photo you posted, follow that transmission fluid line and it will lead right to your transmission cooler. Good luck.

1987 Ski Nautique

M3Fan wrote: If your cooler is mounted vertically, just pull the lower hose and it will drain out, if there's anything in there.

    FYI, I used to do that and found out it seems to eventually pull the solder joint apart at that end from trying to get the hose off. I now use the plug.

                                    Jeff...

I drained my 82 2001 last night.Yep ,first thing my water pick up hose pa$$es through after it enters the boat.The block drains look the same but a bit larger.They all came loose super easy ,but I might leave my manifold plugs alone & just pour in antifreeze through the hose.Dan

Hollywood wrote: Pull your manifold plugs, get all that crap out of there.

I'm with Hollywood on this one. Once I found the manifold plugs and got 'em out, I was surpised at the crap that came out (and how much better I felt knowing it is now clean).

79nautique wrote: If your getting a lot of scale and chunks coming out of the ex manifolds then you need to keep an eye on them

Not so much scale, just dirt and crud, and really just on one side. I did run it in relatively shallow water several times this summer. I also run it in brackish water, so I usually run fresh water through after I pull it out. Now that I know where all the plugs are, I a$$ume it would be even wiser to pull the block and manifold drains and flush everything on a regular basis.

Thanks for the feedback, anything else?

79, I always get a lot of rust when I pull my manifold drain plugs. I put the quick drain valves on last year and obviously they didn't drain this fall due to being plugged with rust and crap. You said that if a person keeps getting crud or rust in the manifolds you were in big trouble. Mine has always been this way. Am I in deep crap or what? I do have evidence of leaky gaskets on my risers (the gasket between the exhaust manifold and the "riser"). I am just becoming aware that there is an important gasket in there and probably needs to be replaced every few years. I didn't know this until August.

But what is the potential problems inside there? What major damage is going to occur? If I am seeing evidence of rust when I pull the plugs, do I need to buy new risers or what? Guess I need to start budgeting for that huh?

Thanks for the advise!

Mine have to be the cast iron. Always rusty.