Best way to winterize when you have low water pick-up on the drive?
 

I usually take my boat in for winterizing. This year I decided to start doing it myself but can't find a decent flush muff for the low water pick-up on my drive. I want something that sealed tight to the drive so I can draw the antifreeze from a 5 gallon bucket rigged with hose.

Should I just disconnect the hose from my sea strainer and attach my 5 gallon bucket there?

I bought a boot rite from merc that goes over the LWP. $75 but worth it so you dont have to screw around.

You can go right to the sea strainer. Just remember to blow air into the line that goes to the drive. Also dump some antifreeze into that line (to the drive) just in case. If you want a muff, I've got a brand new Merc one that I never used for sale! PM me if you are interested!

Dave

Rubber maid tub.

I already have a tub for a half barrel :ernaehrung004: that the drive fits in. But I'd use way too much anti-freeze that way. Looking for a direct connect method to the drive low water pick-up.

also was wondering if we take the plug out of the block disconnect the 2 lines to sea pump and blow out. Tried to get my end torks out of my CMI exhaust but they would not come out. Are we safe if the pink stuff comes out of the exhaust we used 6 gallons per side? Also do peope leave the pink juice in all winter? Thanks in advance Jeff

careful if you are running thermostats, be sure engine is up to temp -- thermos are open. You might see anti freeze come out the tail pipes and still have 100% water in the block otherwise.
It is always good to pull the drain plugs from everywhere in order to allow flushing of any sand or crud that has gotten stuck in the water jackets over the year too.

Put a T in the kine going to your strainer. Then run the line up to where you can get at it easily. hook up a 5 gal. bucket and you are good to go.You can get a fancy or as simple as you want to. Have a hose attachment permently installed or just cap the T and you are all set for next year.

You do need to warm the engine up before hooking the bucket up. Just have a garden hose on the fitting, when warm remove and hook up the bucket.

Good point,

When I help my friend winterize his (non heat exchange motors) we remove the t-stats, then pump in the anti freeze. Come Spring, re-install the t-stats. If the t-stats remain in the warm motor, never can trust if they stay open when pumping in cold anti-freeze. Better safe than sorry.