Find someone that is willing to teach you - build friendships with your
fellow boaters as at least one of them will know how and does the work on
his own motor. Alternativey pay to have it done.

From your news server I guess you are in Toronto - so you don't have to
worry about salt water.
The minimum work you should do is:
- wipe the motor down
- change the lower unit gear oil - (check your manual for the oil type and
screw locations)
- run the engine, disconnect the fuel line and time how long it takes to
stall out
(When you run the engine it must have water for the cooling
system
either by using a water earmuf or by hanging it into a
garbage pail full of water.)
- spray storage spray into the carborator just as it stalls out - spray lots
- once it has stopped, remove the spark plugs and spray the storage spray
into the cylinders, replace the plugs.
- Wipe the engine down.
- spray the upper unit with light oil before putting the hood back on.
- store the motor in an upright position, and cover it with an old sheet.


"n0sPaM" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
Although it is still summer time, I still would like to get some
information
on how to winterize my outboard since I am newbie to boating.

I have a Mercury 15 HP, 2 stroke. What do I have to do to prepare for
winter? Do I have to drain any water? how? Here I am in Canada, it's -20c
to -30c in winter. Last year I didn't drain the water out of a garden
host,
it was broken now. I am scared that would happen to my outboard. I read
the
manual and it didn't say anything about this.

What about Mini Kota trolling motor? any water to drain? Thanks for help.

Thanks.

Thanks dean,. What is plug holes? do you mean the holes that water comes
out (cooling system?)


"Dean" wrote in message
...

For the 2 stroke, just run it out of fuel, and then spray a bit of
fogging oil in the plug holes, turn it over for a few secconds, that
that's it. Make sure though, that when it is stored in the winter,
that it is in it's very downmost position. This is how the water
completely drains. If the leg is up at all, water can pool near the
propshaft, and freeze, and expand and break your drive case.

-Dean

--
http://ripperd2.dhs.org

Thanks.. can I just close the gas tank's vent when engine is running? I
think this will disconnect the fuel line too.. will it work?



"M Silver" wrote in message
...
Find someone that is willing to teach you - build friendships with your
fellow boaters as at least one of them will know how and does the work on
his own motor. Alternativey pay to have it done.

From your news server I guess you are in Toronto - so you don't have to
worry about salt water.
The minimum work you should do is:
- wipe the motor down
- change the lower unit gear oil - (check your manual for the oil type and
screw locations)
- run the engine, disconnect the fuel line and time how long it takes to
stall out
(When you run the engine it must have water for the
cooling
system
either by using a water earmuf or by hanging it into a
garbage pail full of water.)
- spray storage spray into the carborator just as it stalls out - spray
lots
- once it has stopped, remove the spark plugs and spray the storage spray
into the cylinders, replace the plugs.
- Wipe the engine down.
- spray the upper unit with light oil before putting the hood back on.
- store the motor in an upright position, and cover it with an old sheet.


"n0sPaM" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
Although it is still summer time, I still would like to get some
information
on how to winterize my outboard since I am newbie to boating.

I have a Mercury 15 HP, 2 stroke. What do I have to do to prepare for
winter? Do I have to drain any water? how? Here I am in Canada,
it's -20c
to -30c in winter. Last year I didn't drain the water out of a garden
host,
it was broken now. I am scared that would happen to my outboard. I read
the
manual and it didn't say anything about this.

What about Mini Kota trolling motor? any water to drain? Thanks for
help.

Thanks.

Just before you land the boat for the winter season, disconnect the fuel
line, and run it at idle until it stops; this empties the fuel system, while
a good supply of water is available for the water pump. No damage to
anything. DO NOT run the engine without a water supply! The water pump will
eat itself long before the fuel runs out. Closing the vent on your tank will
work, but might take an hour or two, with possible damage to the fuel pump
working so hard to overcome the vacuum created in the fuel tank as fuel is
removed. This will also lean out the fuel/air mixture ratio, and cause
possible overheating problems within the cylinders. Try it some time out on
the lake, and watch your fuel tank shrivel up to nothing...think we all have
forgotten to open the vent!
Many people remove the spark plugs after landing, raise the motor, and tip a
teaspoon of 2-stroke oil into the cylinders and crank it over a few times.
After, lower the motor and reinstall the plugs to keep a nice seal on the
system.
The motor being in the fully down position is key, as another mentioned, as
the cooling system is designed to drain fully this way, and eliminates the
possibility of remaining water freezing up in the lower unit.
Gas stabilizer is a good idea. I tend to try and run my tanks real low just
before landing, and the fresh fuel introduced in the spring is all that is
needed.

$.02


"M Silver" wrote in message
...
No you cannot just close the tank vent.
While this will cause the fuel to stop flowing, I have read that you do
not
want the pressure build up.
You are going to have to disconnect the tank anyway.
If you are reluctant to disconnect it because it doesn't work well or
leaks,
then you have an issue
that should be taken care of.

For winter storage you should also add some gas stabilizer to the tank.
The storage spray I refered to earlier is also known as fogging spray.


"n0sPaM" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...

Thanks.. can I just close the gas tank's vent when engine is running? I
think this will disconnect the fuel line too.. will it work?



"M Silver" wrote in message
...
Find someone that is willing to teach you - build friendships with
your
fellow boaters as at least one of them will know how and does the work
on
his own motor. Alternativey pay to have it done.

From your news server I guess you are in Toronto - so you don't have
to
worry about salt water.
The minimum work you should do is:
- wipe the motor down
- change the lower unit gear oil - (check your manual for the oil type
and
screw locations)
- run the engine, disconnect the fuel line and time how long it takes
to
stall out
(When you run the engine it must have water for the
cooling
system
either by using a water earmuf or by hanging it into a
garbage pail full of water.)
- spray storage spray into the carborator just as it stalls out -
spray
lots
- once it has stopped, remove the spark plugs and spray the storage
spray
into the cylinders, replace the plugs.
- Wipe the engine down.
- spray the upper unit with light oil before putting the hood back on.
- store the motor in an upright position, and cover it with an old
sheet.


"n0sPaM" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
Although it is still summer time, I still would like to get some
information
on how to winterize my outboard since I am newbie to boating.

I have a Mercury 15 HP, 2 stroke. What do I have to do to prepare
for
winter? Do I have to drain any water? how? Here I am in Canada,
it's -20c
to -30c in winter. Last year I didn't drain the water out of a
garden
host,
it was broken now. I am scared that would happen to my outboard. I
read
the
manual and it didn't say anything about this.

What about Mini Kota trolling motor? any water to drain? Thanks for
help.

Thanks.