Do outboads self drain of water?

[NealB]

With another cold period coming up, and the tender's outboard now outside, is there a risk of damage from freezing water?

Or does an outboard self drain sufficently for this not to be a problem?

If it makes any difference, my engine is a 3hp Tohatsu 2 stroke?

Thanks.

 

[Boathook]

I think that they are self draining as my malta was left on board (& the boat was out of the water) over the winter with no visible problem so far .........
Each time I use the malta and lift it out of the water it takes a few minutes for tyhe water to stop draining. Are we going to get freezing weather in the south?

 

[NealB]

The BBC 5 day forecast for London Bridge is showning 0 degrees on Sunday night. Very cold from Saturday.

 

[steve_l]

Both of mine (4hp Mariner & 50hp Johnson) survive winter with only self draining.
Coldest last year was -36C...

-steve-

 

[NealB]

Thanks for that emphatic empirical evidence.

If London gets to -36 this weekend, then I guess I'll have to start believing in MMGW.

 

[Moonshiners]

Outboards do self drain, although if it is getting down to freezing and it's at home, i'd still put it in the garage/shed with an old blanket over it just incase there's some water left between the pump. But only for teh sake of it, if it can't be moved or you don't have anywhere suitable to put it i wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Allan]

I found sometime ago that if I lay my 4hp Johnson on one side, after it has drained, a further ammount of water comes out. I don't think it is enough to cause damage and I wonder if it means less cooling or could cause an airlock when the motor is restarted. I now only do this when the motor is likely to be subject to freezing or when I can't flush out seawater.
Allan

 

[jerryat]

Hi Neal,

I agree with the others here re 'self-draining'. However in addition, I always hold the 'Stop' button in, and pull the engine over a few times to ensure that any water trapped in the pump is expelled.

Never had any problems. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[NealB]

Thanks Jerry.

Now why on earth didn't I think of that very obvious bit of commonsense (please, no need to answer that one Jerry!)?

 

[simonfraser]

mine have been on the boat for the last ? 10 years, essex, never had a problem.

 

[Lakesailor]

I asked a guy I knew who had a fleet of canal hire boats about outboards and freezing weather. He said he'd never had any problems with his Hondas.
But warned against taking them off the stern and putting them in the cockpit.
Think about it.
My cockpit used to get thick with frost, but the outside of the boat didn't.