winter maintenance in Florida?

[jackrabbit66]

19' Seasport dual console / trailered & covered
Tohatsu 120hp 2 stroke outboard / tilt down

I live in North West Florida where the temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Because of this i don't do much winterization on my boat. Because I can still get out on the water some days I simply start the engine once a month and let it run for about 5 minutes to get the engine up to running temp & I make sure the steering rod is lubricated. Is this going to cause any problems for my battery or outboard? Is it necessary to give the battery a trickle charge? At what temp should I be concerned about damage to the outboard?

Thanks!

 

[ondarvr]

If you are doing normal maintenance there is no temperature where you would see any damage to the outboard. In FL just do normal maintenance and go boating.

 

[Scott Danforth]

+1 on the annual maintenance and go boating.

the temp you need to worry about your outboard will never be felt in Florida unless there is some cataclysmic event.

 

[Sea Rider]

Starting an OB periodically and flushing it afterwords if was not started on muffs is a good procedure in warn weather, never winterize mine as are used all year round...

Happy Boating

 

[Chris1956]

Don't forget to do the "normal" maintenance stuff. Flush the block with fresh water, change the gear oil, grease the zerc fittings, top off the PTT fluid, etc.

​