Winterize or?

[Mark]

I plan on fishing for whitefish in the Grand Traverse Bays this fall/winter in my little boat with a 15 hp/ 4 stroke Yamaha. I will probably get out 5 times or so until freeze up, usually in February. In past years I just took the motor (old 6hp Evinrude) off the boat and brought it into a heated garage and had no problems. The Yamaha is new and I don't want to damage it. Does anyone forsee any problems doing this or should I winterize it and just use the 6 hp? The days I would be fishing would be warmer than 32 degrees.

[Dv8oR]

There are lots here that fish with outboards year round.

32 degrees isnt' what your worried about its the hard 20 degree freeze your worried about.

If you make sure to drain your motor when your done (and confident that your lower unit seals are in ok shape i.e. no milky 90 weight) you won't have a problem, just make sure the water is out of the motor.

I had a 1973 65 horse Evinrude that I did this with and never once "winterized" it. Gave me trouble free operation for many years!

T