Could one safely run a sterndrive out of the water by placing the drive in a large container of water (like a big garbage can)? If so, would the water just have to cover the water intake ports on the lower part of the sterndrive?


I know the muffs and hose setup would work better, but if a continuous supply of water is not available, that will not work.

Better be a very large tank... Buy a 55 gal bucket and run a hose with some silicone from the bottom or make a screw in part for the bung and turn it on it's side... Putt muffs on the end of that hose and let the drum sit in the back of the truck. This should allow enough pressure from gravity to feed it. Just a thought and way I have seen people winterize before

If there's electric a sump pump with muffs will work just winterized mine today with using one in antifreeze in a cut in half 55 gallon drum sitting under the drive to catch most of the antifreeze

I dont think hes winterizing. Yes you can run it like that but the more water in the bucket the better. Once it goes to low..... impeller time!

I'm assuming the exhaust water will dump back into the bucket for a continuous supply. Then just limited by the raising temp of the water. I'd think that would make for a long run time before that's an issue??

large kiddie pool might work?

I have used the storage bins you get at walmart before, you will need to raise it high enough to cover intakes on drive, also the force of water will make the bin deform so I tied a rope to the sides (made small holes to go through) and tied to top of drive. You will need to keep the hose going to replinish the water lost in exhaust, most will not go back into container. Reason I did it this way was we were tuning motor, and reving higher than our hose could keep up with supply. I think you will be surprised how big a drum/bucket it will take, the drives are longer than you realize.

How about disconnecting the hose from the drive at the inside of the transom assembly that feeds the raw water pump and wedging the garden hose in that? Plenty of water to the impeller at that point. At least it will be for idle anyway.

I messed with running boat outta water at higher RPMs once using a large rubbermaid container. I ran two garden hoses to it and was able to hold RPMs up like 3 grand no problem. (was doing some ignition stuff)

It worked for me