prop in water for winter?

I have a 50HP outboard merc 2 cylinder motor on my pontoon. This year, for the first time, we have decided to winter it on our lift. I have done the winterization for years, but always stored it out of the water. So, I winterized the motor, kept it trimmed down for storage, pulled the battery, covered the motor and boat with tarps, and raised it up as high as it would go on the lift. Everything seemed fine and the motor/prop was completely out of the water. Now, my problem/concern: We have had quite a bit of rain & the lake is up. Now the prop is 2/3 underwater. It will likely go down long before the lake freezes over, but if it doesn't, will it damage the prop to freeze partially under ice? I really hate the thought of completely uncovering it, re-installing the battery just so I can trim it up a bit. Plus, then it wouldn't be in the best position for storage.

Re: prop in water for winter?

I'm assuming your lift is in a channel or protected water off the main body of water? I'd be concerned about leaving my lift in the water over the winter. I always take mine out, but it's on the main body of water and could be damaged by ice flows in the spring. I would think that if the prop is mostly underwater and the water freezes it could do damage.

What lake are you on?

Re: prop in water for winter?

Assuming 1980Coronado's points don't make you reconsider, you will have other issues... Indiana can have some decent winters, how much ice do you get on that lake? If you leave the motor up, it will freeze with water in it. Bad news! If you drop it down, the ice will either rip it off, or drop during the winter and still leave parts of your lower unit water passages frozen.

Either way, i'd highly reconsider not storing it there if at all possible. The ONLY way I'd consider it is the outboard could be dropped all the way down and still remain dry as of now, and no chance of ice getting to that level during the winter.

Re: prop in water for winter?

Ice at about 32 F expands forever. Good by lower unit. That water pickup opening & exhaust passage will be toast next spring.

Pull it out of the water somehow. DEFINATELY tilt the drive to DRAIN OUT ANY water in there. Early freeze. POOOFFF

Re: prop in water for winter?

We live on Geist, in central Indiana. We are way off the main body, in a cove. Our dock is about 4 1/2 feet deep, normally. The dam is an overflow dam, that's why I know it will go back down. Most of our neighbors leave their boats on lifts all winter. And, the lake will completely freeze over, thick enough to walk on.

Re: prop in water for winter?

just go pull the lower unit off, spray inside upper w some lithium grease and wrap the opening.... problem solved..... next spring, install a new impeller and put it back together

just a thought

Re: prop in water for winter?

If it were me I would undo the 4 bolts that hold the motor on and take the 15 minutes to disconnect the cables and electronics then bring the motor inside. We pull the 50hp off my dads pontoon so that it fits in the garage better. Really simple and 2 guys can easily lift a 50 off.

Re: prop in water for winter?

My 50hp has a relief valve so I can tilt it without the battery.

I see many motors tilted all winter. You could put a plastic bag on the lower end if you were worried about water freezing in there.

If it's just one of the prop blades that's in the water that shouldn't be a problem.

Re: prop in water for winter?

marc c said:

My 50hp has a relief valve so I can tilt it without the battery.

I see many motors tilted all winter. You could put a plastic bag on the lower end if you were worried about water freezing in there.

If it's just one of the prop blades that's in the water that shouldn't be a problem.

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Sure are a lot of if's involved in all the responses. That would make me think twice for sure. I think I'd see if I couldn't make sure I had all the water out and then tilt it up and double bag it with a couple of hefty garbage bags and an ample amount of duct tape wraps. If you leave it down and the water doesn't (another if) subside, a good wind will move that ice and if the boat is secured to the lift the moving ice might just rip that motor right off.

Re: prop in water for winter?

you may want to check, some places have laws requiring docks and lifts are pulled for winter. either way, I wouldnt leave the boat or lift in the water. This winter will be another cold/snowy/long winter.

ice and a good wind storm and your looking at damage. then you have to explain to the insurance company why you didnt pull the boat or lift for winter.

Re: prop in water for winter?

Good insurance point about a act of God ? Lets not blame him for everything bad. The Devil made me do it !! That sounds better.:facepalm:

Re: prop in water for winter?

oldjeep said:

If it were me I would undo the 4 bolts that hold the motor on and take the 15 minutes to disconnect the cables and electronics then bring the motor inside. We pull the 50hp off my dads pontoon so that it fits in the garage better. Really simple and 2 guys can easily lift a 50 off.

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I don't think I would be removing an engine while the boat is sitting on a lift, too easy to drop it in the water. Bottom line is the OP doesn't want to do the extra work to take the lift and boat out of the water...and he needs to take the boat out to remove the motor IMO. Being on Geist reservoir, he probably can't store the boat near the house due to association restrictions (I'm speculating), so he and the neighbors save on boat storage by just leaving them on the lifts. Not something I would do, but hey it's his choice.

Re: prop in water for winter?

Definitely don't leave it in the water to freeze. If the ice shifts, it will rip it off the transom. If the water drops after it freezes, it will rip it off the transom. If water freezes in the lower unit, it will bust. One of those if's are bound to happen. I agree with the take it off. Since you still have time, can you motor to a ramp, pull the motor, drop on a small kicker, motor back to the ramp, then just pull the kicker? If you were closer, I'd be glad to loan you a small motor to run it back to the lift with. I'm sure someone around has one you could borrow.

Re: prop in water for winter?

1980Coronado said:

I don't think I would be removing an engine while the boat is sitting on a lift, too easy to drop it in the water. Bottom line is the OP doesn't want to do the extra work to take the lift and boat out of the water...and he needs to take the boat out to remove the motor IMO. Being on Geist reservoir, he probably can't store the boat near the house due to association restrictions (I'm speculating), so he and the neighbors save on boat storage by just leaving them on the lifts. Not something I would do, but hey it's his choice.

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Guess it depends on the depth, we swapped the motor on the pontoon with it in 2-3 feet of water with no issues - but my dad and I are both 6ft tall and don't have any trouble picking up the motor alone.

Re: prop in water for winter?

oldjeep said:

Guess it depends on the depth, we swapped the motor on the pontoon with it in 2-3 feet of water with no issues - but my dad and I are both 6ft tall and don't have any trouble picking up the motor alone.

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I take it you were in the water lifting the motor off....not trying to do it while on the boat? If that's the case...he's normally in 4-5' of water, and the reservoir is up right now due to the rain we've had....doubt he want's to get into chest deep 50 deg water, considering he doesn't want to take the boat off the lift for the winter. Again, I'm speculating.

Here's a scenario....we continue to get rain in November and December, just enough to keep the level high. Then we get a cold snap and it freezes back in the shallows and coves. The water will still continue to drain over the dam such that there is nothing under the ice anymore. The engine is now partially frozen into unsupported ice and it warms up just enough that the ice caves in....what fails first? The prop, the transom, the mount....don't know the answer and that's why I would never consider leaving my boat on a lift, in the water, as a suitable winter storage solution. I pay $240 to store my Coronado for the winter, a prop is over $400...easy decision.