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.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if the lift doesnt go high enough to get the leg out of the water when the motor is straight down, either remove the boat from the lift, or the motor from the boat.

or the lower can bust like this.

 

[racerone]

Drill 2 wee drain holes so rainwater cannot collect in the lower unit exhaust cavity.

 

[MattFL]

Drill 2 wee drain holes so rainwater cannot collect in the lower unit exhaust cavity.

You would have to be very careful about location, the front part is gearbox full of gears and oil.

if the lift doesnt go high enough to get the leg out of the water when the motor is straight down, either remove the boat from the lift, or the motor from the boat.

or the lower can bust like this.

Ouch! Coming from the south where it doesn't freeze; my initial thought was the open end would be plenty of room for the water to expand as it freezes.. but I guess it expands in all directions even when one direction has no resistance!?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ouch! Coming from the south where it doesn't freeze; my initial thought was the open end would be plenty of room for the water to expand as it freezes.. but I guess it expands in all directions even when one direction has no resistance!?

It still freezes here in Florida. have had frost in Myakka the last few mornings . There will be a bunch of freeze busted lower units and motors this year.

If water freezes in the bird baths, it freezes in the outdrive cavity

 

[MattFL]

I'm south of you (Palm Beach Gardens) and can't remember the last time I saw frost here. We had some light frost on the grass back in the late 80's/early 90's, but I don't remember any since then. I've never seen anything freeze damaged here. It's interesting that you see it where you are, I didn't think that was far enough north.

 

[Scott Danforth]

last winter we had 2 nights in the 20's. expecting about a dozen this year.

 

[airshot]

With all these so called global warming issues, who knows what temps the future will bring, so why gamble ??