Winterize Tohatsu 50hp 4-stroke on boatport . . .

[BuckyBuoy]

Hey boaters,

My 1995 Lund Explorer Dlx pretty much stays on an EZ Dock boatport year round. The Tohatsu 50hp 4-stroke motor is locked down at about a 45 degree angle to keep the bottom unit out of the brackish water. But that prevents me from doing a simple winterization by dropping the motor to vertical and letting it drain, as if it was on a trailer. In the past, I’ve let pink antifreeze flow through muffs, while the engine is running, until it comes out of the bottom unit holes. And pouring some antifreeze into the upward facing prop bearing.

The motor has a fresh-water flush port to rinse out saltwater. I’m considering using a low PSI of compressed air to blow any remaing water out of the engine. Tohatsu tech says it’ll suffice as long as I pour antifreeze into the prop bearing.

We’ve got some cold overnights coming up here in Coastal Carolina with temps as low as 26F, and I wanted to get your thoughts. If would make my life a whole lot easier if I don’t have to hang over the stern while maneuvering those muffs in place in order to run antifreeze through the motor (I’m a ’seasoned citizen’).

Thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

tilted up wont clear rain water either, which can freeze in the exhaust cavity . I would find a way to raise the boat so the motor can be down all the way

 

[BuckyBuoy]

tilted up wont clear rain water either, which can freeze in the exhaust cavity . I would find a way to raise the boat so the motor can be down all the way

Thanks, Scott, for your reply.
The exhaust is through the prop. Apparently, that’s why the Tohatsu Tech told me to make sure I pour the antifreeze directly into the opening, to protect the bearing.
I wish I had opted for a traditional lift, but my wife wanted a lower profile situation so as to not impact the view from the creekside porch. There is no way to elevate it on the boatport.
Thanks, again.

 

[airshot]

Why not pull the boat and put on a trailer thru the winter ? Gotta get that motor hanging straight down !!

 

[MattFL]

I'm a FL native and we don't winterize here (i.e. I have no winter experience) so with that in mind: since it has a flush port, can you use a small pump to pump antifreeze into the flush port while it's tilted 45 degrees? If you turn the motor vertical after fresh water flushing, the top part will drain, only the bottom will be contaminated by the brackish water. So when you tilt 45 degrees after flushing, the top will be empty of water. BUT if you pump antifreeze into the flush port while it's tilted, I would expect that to get antifreeze everywhere the water normally runs, including the lower unit and exhaust, and anything remaining in the top half would be antifreeze.

 

[airshot]

I'm a FL native and we don't winterize here (i.e. I have no winter experience) so with that in mind: since it has a flush port, can you use a small pump to pump antifreeze into the flush port while it's tilted 45 degrees? If you turn the motor vertical after fresh water flushing, the top part will drain, only the bottom will be contaminated by the brackish water. So when you tilt 45 degrees after flushing, the top will be empty of water. BUT if you pump antifreeze into the flush port while it's tilted, I would expect that to get antifreeze everywhere the water normally runs, including the lower unit and exhaust, and anything remaining in the top half would be antifreeze.

Just how much of a gambler are you ??

 

[MattFL]

Just how much of a gambler are you ??

Which part is the gamble?

 

[airshot]

Which part is the gamble?

With that leg tilted up, water will trap in there and freeze if you get a cold night. Antifreeze will dilute after a while and loose its effectiveness.