www.iFourWinns.com

So I am a little over worried about the boat freezing. The long range forecast is showing that the next 2 days should be the last freezing days of the month. It is calling for lows of 23 tonight and 24 tomorrow night. After that lows are supposed to be upper 30's and lower 40's. I decided to see how the shop is doing holding heat at night. I took a small tupperware bowl and put about a half inch of water in it and set it on the swimdeck of the boat. If it does not freeze is that a good enough indicator that I should be safe? I will be checking it at 5:30 before sunrize so I should be out there at the coldest part of the night. The boat is currently winterized and itching to get out this weekend when it is supposed to be in the 70's. What do you guuys think?

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

If its winterized (properly), then how low the temp gets is of no concern. If you have ran it this season (even just on the hose), then you probably need to be slightly concerned. To be safe, I would toss a drop light in the bilge area to be on the safe side. It will generate just enough heat to stay safe at those temps. May also consider an electric blanket wrapped around the drive unit.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

It is still currently winterized. The reason I am doing this is I am thinking about splashing it this weekend and it is possible to still get nights in the 20's into June. I am do the water test to see if it freezes in the shop at those tempatures before the boat is dewinterized. If it doesn't freeze in an open container I am assuming it wouldn't freeze in the block in the future if it got cold. What is everyones opinion?

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

My opinion is that you should move to Texas. 20 degree nights in June is insanity.

If the water in the container does not freeze you are probaby fine. It's good to know how to drain the engine anyway, and it only takes about 10 minutes to be on the safe side. There are 2 drains in the engine block, one on each exhaust manifold, and there are 3 drains on the pivot housing of the transom assembly. There is also a drain on the power steering cooler, but what I do is disconnect the hose that comes from the cooler (mounted on the rear of the engine) to the the thermo housing, and point it down in the bilge, that drains the hose and the cooler as well if you jack the front of the boat down a little. I also remove the big hose on the front of the engine, that goes from the thermo housing to the water pump, that one holds a lot of water.

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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

Thanks Lou and I agree I need to learn to drain it anyway just in case. The forcast for the rest of the month is for lows in the upper 30's low 40's after the next two nights. May it is typically around 35 for a low the first few weeks.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

With the number of teachers being laid off here I may have too. The funniest experience was watching the fourth of july fireworks and it started snowing. Nothing on the ground, but snow in the air.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

The bowl of water isn't a bad ideda, ,but think I 'd invest in one of those edigital thermometers that records hi/lo temps.

I wonder if one of those dipstick oil heaters wouldn't be a bad idea? Probably draining the water is the best idea.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Its that global warming thingy!!

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

lol its snowing again today. I think the boat is staying in the shop for a few more weeks.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Still torn about taking the boat out this weekend. It is supposed to be 80 for a high. Problem is 3 days later it is supposed to drop back down with highs in the 50's and lows in the 20's. I decided to go look at last years tempatures to find out when the last night of freezing weather was and it is June 12th, 2008. Of course day time highs were in the 70's. I guess my question is, since I am going to run the risk of subfreezing tempatures being possible through May, do I dewinterize and then drain the block if it looks like tempatures will be getting cold? I have no power in the shop and wont until later this summer. Also what about the outdrive? How do I just lower the drive and hope it drains well enough? I guess I am just concerned about not getting all of the water out. Thoughts and ideas?

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

When day time highs are that high - remember that the boat heats up (including the engine block). Dipping down under freezing for a short couple of hours won't be enough time to freeze the block. The water won't freeze.

Kind of like an insulated mug.

Enjoy the boat. We're past the point of major concern in the Pacific Northwest.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Thats what I am thinking. All though it was 18 the other night for about 5 hours. It tends to warm up quick on the east side. I am thinking since I need to know how to drain the block anyway that i will enjoy and drain it if it gets to cold.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

I agree in that a few hrs under 32 will not make the water freeze to the point where it expands and breaks things, but still I'd practice draining the block (a brass plug on each side) manifolds (some have brass plugs some have rubber caps) remove the big hose on the front of the engine (lots of water will gush out) and the water intake hose from the transom at the thermo housing (point it down in the bilge). Finally since you have a Cobra, there are 3 water drains on the pivot housing (the part of the transom that the drive is bolted to with the 3 nuts on each side, you have to trim it up to see there are 2 on one side and 1 on the other). The drain screws look just like the screws for the drain and fill of the drive oil. When I take em out a little water does dribble out, and if it froze it would crack the pivot housing. Just learn how to do this and you have no need to fear the weather.
Honestly next time I am getting an outboard, just put the motor down and no worries, plus no constant headache with antifouling that doesn't last the season in salt water.

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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

Thanks again Lou. This summer I am going to finish the shop and it will be insulated and heated so that I don't have to worry about this again.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"