Winterizing - How many blue water drain plugs?

[bordo380]

Hey guys. It's my first winterize on my boat. It's sat in a garage with a light in the bilge its entire life. It's 1998 with the 350.
I've asked this question in another thread so sorry for the double post.

I just put the boat up in covered storage for the winter and wanted to make sure I got all the drains. I pulled 5 and saw somewhere that there was 6. Did I miss one?

Thank you.
I'm trying to find a manual online with an engine schematic but can't find the correct year.

[tchancey]

Mine's a 2001 6.2 liter engine, but it is a Mercruiser with the blue plugs so it's probably close to what you have.

Here's a video I posted last year showing where the plugs are in mine. I'll bet the locations are pretty close in yours.

Good luck!

[bordo380]

Great video and killer boat. Thank you. I hope I have that one under the belt. It's pretty easy to get to with a direct drive. Did you pull the hose coming out of the impeller housing?

[Bryan]

I have an '03 direct drive with the merc 350 MAG MPI tow sports... I've got 4 blue plugs: 2 at raw water intake pump, starboard lower side... 1 at a big grey ball looking thing (don't know proper name or purpose really) on lower port side... And 1 on top, dead center... I've also got 2 hoses, one on each side, that plug into the block below the exhaust manifolds. These have quick connect fittings on them that just unplug with a little squeeze and pull. Don't know exactly what motor you have without seeing the flame arrestor cover, as there are a few different variations of the merc 350. Find out your exact motor and google that motors service manual... I have the tow sports model with the black plastic cover with red stickers... Here's a link to my manual and a pic of my model sticker on the side of my flame arrestor. If you match my motor this manual will work for you too...

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/owner/gas/86419701.pdf

[tchancey]

Great video and killer boat. Thank you. I hope I have that one under the belt. It's pretty easy to get to with a direct drive. Did you pull the hose coming out of the impeller housing?

The only hose I pulled in the engine compartment was the one on the port side. My camera angle wasn't great & it was tight so you probably couldn't get a good look. I believe that's going to the transmission cooler. I think the water in the hose to the impeller is drained via a blue plug.

Reading your question made me wonder if I remembered that hose again this year. Gotta' take a trip out to the storage lot now!

[bordo380]

That makes 2 of us. Thanks for the help.

[bordo380]

Bryan here is my motor. I've seen that grey ball canister thing in other pictures. I need to look a little harder to see if I have it. I'll prob pull some hoses now too.

[Bryan]

Here is a link to the manual for your motor.. I would save it somewhere for future reference, tons of useful info. It looks like you don't have the gray ball(water distribution housing per my manual)... Anyways, there's a step by step winter storage section in this manual.. Just follow the steps and you should be good to go.

http://download.brunswick-marine.com...oard/50865.pdf

[bordo380]

Bryan! My hero. That rocks. This is exactly what I wanted. Thank you!!!!!

[Patrick805]

what kind of damage can happen if boat hasnt been winterized and we have had freeze?

[Bryan]

Water left in the engine block can freeze and crack it..

[ericinmich]

what kind of damage can happen if boat hasnt been winterized and we have had freeze?

About a 5K repair bill...

[lee]

what kind of damage can happen if boat hasnt been winterized and we have had freeze?

How cold and for how long?