OT: Is winterization of an outboard necessary in this case?
I use my boat year round. From March until October, it is used for fishing
and recreation. From October through end of January, it is used for
waterfowl hunting. I also try to get out fishing in February if things are
not iced over. What I love about this boat is that it has been very
versatile. For hunting, it is excellent; for fishing it is decent, but the
aluminum does get hot in the summer; and it can pull a water skier or tuber
fairly well. I think the latter embarrasses my family, but they still enjoy
being out there. It is a 17' Tracker Grizzly with a 60 HP Mercury 2 cycle
outboard.Here is my question: Because this boat is used all year long (it never
really sits for more than two weeks without being used), is there anything
extra that needs to be done for winterization? Here are the typical things
that I do to it:
- Change the lower unit oil twice a year (April and October)
- Spark plugs changed as needed
- Electrical connections checked once per year for corrosion
- Wheel bearing grease changed every spring
- Replace impellor every two years (mainly because this boat is used three
times as much as the average owner)
- Make sure the water drains out of the outboard when taking out of the
water
(mainly because I use in cold temperatures for duck hunting)
- Add some extra oil to the gas in very cold weather even though it is an
oil injected motor.
- Keep the lower portion of the outboard submerged in water at all times
during cold weather when in use
- I have never added stabil to the gas because it never sits very long
without use. The gas tank is only six gallons so it always gets filled or
topped off before I go out. I have only ever experienced one type of problem with this motor and perhaps
someone can give me an idea of what it could be. When it has either rained
the night before and dropped below freezing overnight, or when I have been
out in the boat during freezing rain and sleet conditions, the motor seems
to be running way too rich at idle. It is almost like the choke is
partially closed -- maybe frozen? When running at higher speeds, the boat
runs fine, but seems to consume quite a bit of gas in this situation. After
running at high speeds, the problem may disappear at idle or it still could
be present. This has only happened a couple of times. It definitely seems
related to having rain and then the temperatures dropping below freezing.
When it is cold and dry out, no problems at all. When it is above freezing
and wet, no problems either. Thanks,
Jeff |
Jeff
Jan 17
2005
|
