Re: Winterized 1988 Reinell 260 Mercruser
Yup, the little handle plugs are petcocks. I have 2 petcocks on each side. one on the block, and 1 facing straight down near the stern end of the exhaust manifold. I have two square drive plugs on the outside of the risers. Take all 6 completely out of the motor and probe in the holes with a coat hangar or something similar. Rust can load up in there and prevent drainage.
It's also smart to remove the battery and give it a light charge every month or so. If you can't do that at least remove the negative terminal to isolate it from the boat electrical system.
Pull the water cooling hoses off the thermostat housing and the power steering cooler. The power steering cooler is a little heat exchanger that's low on the port side of the motor.
There's a bigger hose on the starboard side of the engine water pump that has a low point in it. And there's a hose below the starboard exhaust manifold. All you do is loosen the clamp, slide the clamp back on the hose and then tighten the clamp enough so it stays with the hose. The starboard manifold hose, portside cooler hose and the big water pump hose will have water in them. When you remove them be prepared to block what water you can from pouring on your alternator and wiring. Boat electrics are intended to be in a wet environment, but it's still smart to keep them as dry as you can.
You should fill or empty your fuel tank. You can still do that after the winterizing is done. It might even be a little help to go to the gas station after winterizing. Shaking the water around after the it's been drained might get some out of a nook or crevice.
And you should have changed the stern drive lubricant, removed the sterndrive, and lubricated the drive joints and gimbal bearing.
Store the boat with the bow higher than the stern for drainage if water gets in.
Read the winterizing sticky at the top of the I/O forum for more details.
