Sterndrive winterization

jimrockireland

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 8, 2013
Messages
141
I have a SEI106 sterndrive and a MCM228 engine. I live in New Hampshire and store my boat in my unheated garage during winter. What are the pros and cons of leaving the sterndrive mounted on the boat during winter? I usually remove the drive during winter and store it upright in my basement. If left on the boat should it be in the down position?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
47,296
generally you want to pull the drive every year for the annual maintenance

however yes, store it down.

you still need to do all the winterizing maintenance
 

JASinIL2006

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
5,524
If you?re leaving the drive on the boat, you need to do winter maintenance on the drive before the weather gets cold. If you store the drive in the basement, you can do it later when it?s nasty outside. I like saving work on the drive for the winter when I?m longing for boating weather.

Wither way, winterization of the engine still has to be done before cold weather sets in.
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,286
Leave the drive down and fill the thin pipes off the thermostat with antifreeze until it overflows out the drive....all good.....unless you are in the green peace core 🙈
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,286
And make sure you either change the drive oil or check for water.
 
Top