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Can freezing hurt my outboard

joe117

New member
I have a 4stroke 8hp electric

I have a 4stroke 8hp electric start Yamaha that I use to move a hunting blind boat in winter.
The boat stays in the water during the hunting season...Nov to Jan.

I don't want to leave the motor down in the water so I bring it up to full tilt up.
I'm wondering if this could allow trapped water to freeze and ruin the motor.

Would the water pump freeze and break if the water around the impeller was frozen?

Would the pump be damaged if I tried to start the motor with water frozen in the pump?
 
"Yes, to most of your question

"Yes, to most of your questions Joe.

If the water doesn't freeze you are way better off leaving the lower unit under water - won't hurt anything as long it's in the water.

Even if you occasionally get a surface skim of ice say no more than an inch or so thick, you would still be fine leaving the motor "in the water". Anytime you expect a significant freeze you really should haul it out and let it drain.

Tilting it can trap water which will freeze and a busted impeller could be the least of your worries. Water trapped in the bottom of the exhaust housing can expand and crack the case (many dollars to correct that problem)."
 
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