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Member
Posts: 514
Location: Darboy USA | I'll be going on a fall fishing trip soon and the weather looks like it will be down in the mid to low 30's at night. I will be keeping my boat in the water at the dock every night, is there anything different I need to do when starting or running in those cold temps? Obviously the water temps will still be in the 50's, 60's so shouldn't have to worry about freezing in the lower unit or anything, but anything special that I need to do? I haven't run my motor much when the overnights have been that low so that's why I'm asking, too inexperienced to know much. Thanks for the info. |
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Member
Posts: 1991
| Best thing you can do is let it warm up properly to prevent cold seizure. When you accelerate to plane do it slowly give the engine time warm. What engine do you have? I have a temp gauge on my OPTI and always make sure its 120d at idle. and watch the temp when on plane. Thermostats do stick open or go bad so you may want to check them. |
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Member
Posts: 514
Location: Darboy USA | I have a 150 opti. Thanks for the tips. I'll make sure it warms properly, whats the normal amount of time, 5 minutes or so before accelerating? I won't be buzzing all over the place, just short 2-3 minute drives for the most part. |
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Member
Posts: 1991
| Great thing to add if you can is the Merc Monitor it has a temp reading. Yah when i go down to Red Wing in the spring and fall I start my big engine right away while I park the truck. Any engine doesn't like a slug of cold water, bad deal. Yah 5 min is cool, I do like the monitor I have found a couple of times while on plane in cold water my engine only at 90d do to a plugged stat, each head has one found debri stuck in them. Accelerate nice and easy gives the engine time to expand happily. |
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Member
Posts: 650
| Wow! great info!! |
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Member
Posts: 142
| The water acts as a heat source when the boat is in it. The lower part boat will take on the ambient temp of the water so you don't need to worry about freezing down low. Make sure the engine is tilted down into the "heat" ..the water.. at night.
Now...when you pull the boat out and head for home... amke sure all areas that can hold water in the boat and motors get drained...immediately after loading the boat. |
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Cold Weather Motor Question