www.iFourWinns.com

This is a hard question to answer, since there is really no way to know exactly where it cracked. You can keep running it, check the oil, remove the oil cap and look inside the valve cover for milky deposits. If you see none, I might just dug out those cracks a bit and fill them with JB Weld or a similar epoxy filler. People have done it and run engines that froze for years.

I had a bad overheat last year and thought the engine was for sure done. But I did a compression test and it was the same as 3 years ago. I ran it on the hose, no water in the oil. Ran it in the bay numerous times, no overheating or water in the oil. So far do good.
In your case I'd figure on always draining it heated garage or not.
I winterize mine about a week or 2 after it comes out in Oct because you get busy and the weather can change fast.
Next time get an outboard...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

If you don't have water in your oil and no signs of overheating, you probably dodged a bullet... marine-tex that crack and run it till it quits. Also, winterize next time. I'm sure the super cold winter we had caught a lot of folks by surprise. Everyone around here found out real quick this spring which mechanics were actually doing what they charged for and which ones cut corners...

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Jack
2005 268 Vista - Sold

2001 Silverton 35C 8.1L Crusaders

Dang... my very first boat (A 19' Larson cuddy) had a cracked block, and the 3.0l engine too. It cracked in the same exact spot too, except my cracks were much more severe.

With that being said, I marine-texed the cracks and was able to continue boating. The 3.0l is a solid, reliable, rugged little 4-cylinder. I overheated that boat, detonated a spark plug somehow, drove it around with a patched up cracked block - and the thing NEVER skipped a beat.

With cracks that minor, definitely patch it up. Oh, and ALWAYS at least drain the block and manifolds even if its in indoor storage. Lesson learned, could've been much more expensive.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

PS speaking of cracks, I thought for sure my exhaust manifolds cracked....why...well after the boat overheated and died 50 yards from a private beach...while waiting for Tow Boat US, I took out the IR temp gun I keep on board and measured how hot they were. 375* F that's right, 375. When I got the boat home I filled em up with acetone (a good test for leaks because it has less surface tension than water) and NO cracks, no leaks.
Gotta love old school cast iron....

From that little incident I would up replacing the exhaust flappers (vaporized lol) and changed the water tube gaskets in the drive as a precaution. And like I said, check that little hose...from the transom mount...to the p/s cooler...every season.....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II