Where do you store your small outboard?

[dtg]

I purchased a boat about 3 months ago with a 15hp outboard. I just had the motor "winterized" and purchased an outdoor place for that boat.

How many just leave their outboard attached to the boat and who takes the motor off and stores it inside? Do you wrap the prop or do anything special to the outboard if storing outside?

Of course it would be easier to just leave it on the boat because I don't have anything to put the motor on to store it inside.

[wecker20]

If you had the motor winterized, you should be good to go. I've never covered my motor but now that you mention it, mice could make a home in there. If you have a transom saver, use it after you've drained all water out of the block/pump.

[waterfoul]

Other than fogging the carbs, what is there to winterizing an outboard? I've always just run some "stabilized" fuel thru it, put it in the all the way down position to let the water out, covered it, and stuck it behind the garage. Been doing that with this boat for 10 years. Starts right up every spring.

Oh, take the battery (batteries) out of course.

[wally-eye]

Nothing to do with winterizing however if you purchased a spot at a commercial lot/storage area I would without a doubt remove the motor and store it at home. A motor that size would not be hard for one or two guys to steal. Not trying to jinx ya just have to think of those things nowdays. All the crooks aren't locked up.....:confused:

[Jason Adam]

If you had the motor winterized, you should be good to go. I've never covered my motor but now that you mention it, mice could make a home in there. If you have a transom saver, use it after you've drained all water out of the block/pump.

Usually thise transom savers are designed to be used while towing in with the motor in the up "trailering" position, and are designed to minimize the road bumps impact on the transom. Since the boat will not be bouncing around in storage, I would leave the motor in the full down position to rest assured everyting is draining as besit it can. There shouldnt be any stress on your transom or trim cylinders(if equipt) in this posiition.

[dtg]

Nothing to do with winterizing however if you purchased a spot at a commercial lot/storage area I would without a doubt remove the motor and store it at home. A motor that size would not be hard for one or two guys to steal. Not trying to jinx ya just have to think of those things nowdays. All the crooks aren't locked up.....:confused:

The lot I've rented is tucked away so good, that in 4 years of living in the area, I had no idea it was even there. he also has card reader entrance/exit and cameras set up. Everybodies card identifies who is coming and who's going. I'm not that concerned of theft. i was more concerned with the freezing effects of winter.

Thanks for your help and I think I'll leave it on, because then I'd have to buy a hand truck and bolt a board onto it to mount the motor. More time and money that I don't want to spend.

[waterfoul]

Yup, outboards "almost" winterize themselves.... nice thing about outboards!!

[malainse]

Thanks for your help and I think I'll leave it on, because then I'd have to buy a hand truck and bolt a board onto it to mount the motor. More time and money that I don't want to spend.


A 15hp should be no problem, Just get a saw horse and mount it to that and put it in the corner of the basement...Good to go...No need to winterize and will not be stolen......

Or do like I do fish year round, park the boat in the garage and make the wife park outside.. :yikes: But last Dec. during a snow storm I came home and she had the boat hooked up and said lets go fishing.... :D Yes that is why I married her a month ago, and no her sister is not available ;)

[RichP]

You guys don't change out your gear lube to see if there's any water in there? You wouldn't want that to freeze and expand if there is.

[waterfoul]

You guys don't change out your gear lube to see if there's any water in there? You wouldn't want that to freeze and expand if there is.

That is one thing I do before putting it away... peace of mind and you won't have to do it in the spring!

[tdejong302]

You want to change the lower end lube, unhook the gas line run the motor until all gas is out of it. I store mine in the basement. Throw an old piece of rug on the floor and set the motor on it. Put your marine batteries on the rug too. Don't store them on concrete store them on top of the rug. This will keep your motor clean and safe;) you wont have to worry about anything.

[Ed Michrina]

I store it in the basement also. normal lower lub change/ stable in gas and run dry, fog at the end. I store my up-right. if It is a 4 stroke there are only 2 ways to store it up- right and laying flat with the prop facing the ground. read your owners man. If stored in the wrong position oil leaking can damage the motor.

[Houghton laker]

Easy to make a stand for them out of 2 X 4's....I'm lucky...one of the few with keys to the heated police impound :D Have boat engine in there all winter...and a few other assorted goods!! :lol:

[greg123]

have an old motor that always spent winters indoors. one year wife decided it needed to go to shed and didnt tell me. i found it the next spring and yes the lower unit froze and cracked. was able to get it welded and still useable. since then always change lube every fall just in case. oh yes still married.

Greg

[jighead]

I always stored my motors outside on a sawhorse too. Always drain and refill the lower unit as mentioned above. Top off, stabilize the fuel, and leave it in your garage. Never store the gas tank indoors!