Freezing nights, but still skiing ?

I know a guy who puts a light bulb under the oil pan, just like people do to keep their water pump for their house from freezing. With a car, which has a motor exposed to the elements more than an inboard, it takes several hours at 18 degrees to freeze a block.

shouldnt worry about it if it's just a couple hours a night that it's below freezing, needs to be up to 8-9 hrs i believe for any real damage to occur. But like others have said, drop a light bulb under your motorbox for some insurance if you'd like.

Nate

Running it for a quick second *might* not damage it, but it doesnt take long to fry an impeller. Theres really no advantage in doing so, as you wont remove an appreciable amount of water from your manifolds or block.

Like everyone else suggested, youre probably OK as long as you dont have several days of freezing temps in a row. Of course, it only takes a few minutes to drain the motor if it gives you peace of mind.

The dry start is only going to blow water out of the exhaust between the elbow and the exhaust flapper.

Just keep it in the water. The water will keep it warm.

Draining the whole engine is not possible, there are plenty of spots where water can pool.

Tim

Tim D wrote: The dry start is only going to blow water out of the exhaust between the elbow and the exhaust flapper.

And burn up the impeller

On super cold nights (in Texas, dipping into the 20s, I've stuck a monkey light under the engine cover and never had a problem.
Lately I've been wishing for it to cool off 30 degrees or so

OR is a great place to visit this time of year.

Yeh OR is nice this time of year. It's starting to get a little cool (snow on our mountain pa$$es forcasted for this weekend)days are still warm enought to ski with a shorty though.

Dude: Know what ya mean....90's every day...sunny....little afternoon rain and then humid. Boy its tough here in FLA!


john

Sept. 17th was our last day on the water for this season. I winterized the boat on the afternoon of the 18th, it was very sad it feels to early but the temps are getting cold (in the teens at night ).
Just want to make sure I did this right as this is my first Fall with the boat. I hooked water up to the pick up pump and ran the boat until it was at normal running temp. Then let it suck antifreeze until green was running out the tail pipes. I opened the block drain and made sure green was comming out of it too. Then I sucked R.V. antifreeze (pink stuff) into the bilge pump.
Took the battery out and that's it.
Is there any thing more I need to do?

Plain atifreeze will mix with water already in the engine. I use very little water mixture, then check the freezing point on that which comes out, but I run it/recycle until I get hot antifreeze.

Yeah, 16 years doing it wrong and no problems. I check the freezing point of that which comes out dumba$$. Now I'm starting to sound like you.

I usually just pour a bit of brandy in the fake-a-lake and run it for a few minutes. Then I pour a little brandy in me, then a little more in the boat. One for me, two for her.

79, that is a good question,the main component consists of Ethlene Glycol,this in itself will not freeze at any temp you guys have up there,we dont do any thing down here but drain,EVERYTHING,that has water in it,manifolds,coolers,risers etc. on the coast they fill the blocks w/anti freeze,but this is to slow down the rust monster,but he always wins.we only have fresh water this far up......... boat dr

79Nautique said I hope you mixed with water and did not use straight antifreeze. My post above was in response to that. Is there a reason to mix the antifreeze other than saving a few cents? I also want to make sure that as long as I ran the motor long enough to open the thermostat that antifreeze is everywhere it needs to be. Any thoughtsd out there?