Mercury 4-stroke 115hp Saltwater outboard

Post by **Wheresthefish** » December 9th, 2004, 10:30 pm

Hi,

Kind of new to offshore fishing. I have a 115 hp 4-stroke and was wondering if I need to be concerned about the below freezing nights? I plan on fishing every 3 weeks or so through the winter so I don't need to winterize but I was not sure about the freezing factor!

Don't want to learn the hard way.

Post by **tin can** » December 9th, 2004, 11:04 pm

The only thing I can think of that you need to do is lower the motor completely when you load the boat on the trailer. This gets all of the water out of the lower unit exhaust housing. If the motor is tilted and there is water in the lower unit exhaust housing, and it freezes, it can crack the housing.

Post by AJ » December 9th, 2004, 11:16 pm

Ditto what TC said

Post by **mjsigns** » December 9th, 2004, 11:28 pm

TC- I share the same concern....

In addition to letting the motor all the way down, would it help to turn it over to kick out the rest of any stagnant water?

Do I need to cover the engine with a blanket on those freezing nights ?

Post by **tin can** » December 10th, 2004, 6:51 am

If you covered it with a blanket, it would be a first.

Post by **wevans** » December 10th, 2004, 8:25 am

On the nights that it will be 20 or lower, I clamp my shoplight to the lower unit with a 100watt bulb in it "same thing we used ta do when we had a water pump for the house"

Post by **Wheresthefish** » December 10th, 2004, 11:02 am

Thanks for the help. I will do as recommended. Wish the wind would lay down, the grouper are waiting for me

Post by **mjsigns** » December 10th, 2004, 11:16 am

WTFish -You and me both

Post by **CSMarine** » December 16th, 2004, 5:39 pm

Or......you could take it off and bring it inside, like some scaredy cats do their depth finders.

yamatech · Post by **yamatech** » January 25th, 2005, 6:45 pm

What I do and also tell customers is trim the motor all the way down and crank it up dont let it run long what it does is blows all the water out of the head water jackets etc it wont hurt water pump

Post by **wevans** » January 25th, 2005, 6:53 pm

Wlcome aboard Yamatech

just how long is "not to long"?

anything over 10 seconds is to long to me

Post by RC » January 26th, 2005, 8:54 pm

I always trim my motor all the way down. Found out on a previous boat that leaving the trim up leaves the trim cylinders exposed and they can pit causing your trim cylinders to leak. When it is down they are protected.