Winterizing
 

Hey guys! Glad to be part of the family! I have a new to me 1983 Scarab 377. What is the easiest way to winterize? What special tequniques does everyone use?

1. Call John (BUP here on OSO) Boats Unlimited in Dallas 817-658-7721
2. This search from forum
https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...earchid=973622

Congrats on the new to you boat.

Or this is most likely all you would need. Local and a good price.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/bp...746502469.html

https://www.campingworld.com/air-dry...BoCm3cQAvD_BwE
I'm using this in the bilge same purpose less expensive

thanks for the info! looks like the link isn't going thru but I'll scroll thru the web site

If your wanting to just add a bilge heater then sure that works.
If you actually want to winterize as in changing oil, filters, drain water and such, would need to know what motors and drives you have, open or closed cool. Also assuming they will be 1987 models

Yes, a full winterize needs to be done. I have twin Mercruiser 454's with what I think are pre-alpha drives since its a 1983. Its a raw water intake from the bottom of the boat so I'm guessing that is a open cool? Not sure about the oil and filters on it. I know that this is no where as easy and my ski boat to winterize as I don't have the full access to the engines since they are below the rear seat. LOL

Ok, then warm the motors up, changed the oil and filters.
After filter and oil chage fire it up and spay some fogging oil down the carb and shut down the motor

The number one must do is "Drain all of the water out before you start to use AF"
Failure to get all the water out first is taking a chance

1 plug on each side of the block
1 plug on each exhaust manifold
1 plug on the power steering cooler
Suck out all water from sea strainers it they are their, if not no issue
disconnect bottom hose on engine water circulating pump (item 19)

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/.../31800/938/150

Once all the water is out, your winterized. Now if you want to use AF for additional protection go for it


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...63ba2937f8.jpg

draining the system/ filling with Anti Freeze is fool proof should the power go out.

Even if you are under the window for freezing up when the power is restored, I have seen household circuit breakers pop from the demand of everything suddenly starting up at once = no more heat in this application of you are using a bilge heater..... our boats stored in a heated shop are winterized and filled - much cheaper winterizing than replacing.

The easiest way is to pay someone to do it for you
So far as the best, that is the hard part and in most cases each need to figure it out how. I have to law across and upside down across the motor to get at 2 of my drains, and having a intake plenum helps. With carbs that's going to be an issue

To get to the engine drain plugs in a side by side w/offshore race mounts is no easy task.........I'd also pay someone to do this!

See Post # 2 (quoted above), see line 1.

NO
The only thing your good for now is cracked blocks come spring. Sucking in AF ONLY WORKS if (THE BIG IF) you drain everything first

Right now you just wasted AF

Thermostats do not stay open, they open long enough to exchange some water and they close again.

As an example, If the thermostat once opened stayed open then you could remove the thermostat and it would run just as hot.. The thermostat is there to keep it at 140 degrees (as example). Most of the water will always go out the exhaust because the stat only opens for very short periods to exchange enough to cool it down from slightly above 140 to just at 140.

I'll shut up and just wish you luck

Agree with all, but he is only in Dallas, Tx He should put in a good Bilge Heater seal up the vents cover it up and all should be good. How many hard freeze days do they get?

I once did the test to warm up on water, then use AF till it was coming out of the exhaust and shut the engine off.

I then removed the 2 plugs on each side of the block and MAN there was so much water left I could not believe how much !

same with the drain plug close to fuel cooler lower in front of engine. So I always warm the engines up on water, then drain everywhere I can, the start up on AF.

Off course in Dallas it is not like my place where it gets down as low as -35 F, so bilge heater might work, but....

but... I'd rather winterize it in case!

Good luck this winter!

Not too many hard freezes here but anytime its below 32, I get nervous. Sounds like you guys all agree that I need to go back and drain the blocks...so I have a weekend project ahead of me.