Bozeman Bob

The 470 heat exchanger has 2 drain plugs on the bottom 1 is for fresh water and 1 for the closed system. To winterize that block all you do is pull the fresh water plug, if it drains green you have the wrong one. If you have a P/S heat exchanger pull the plug on the bottom of that and your done. With a fresh water cooled block all you do is pull the drain plug or [ plugs if a V6 or V8 ] on the side of the block ,located just above the oil pan usually in the center. Then on the bottom of each exhaust manifold remove that plug. Many Exhaust manifold risers also have a drain plug on the side near the bottom of riser. That's it, a few plugs ,no antifreeze and your done

While I understand the theory behind the rust and "lubrication" of water pump etc. I put that in the long term storage layup. Not in the 5-6 month layup that we do. I had a power steering exchanger crack one year and all I did was remove exchanger and add a few feet of hose that I laid on the bottom of boat, never had a issue with doing that.

Air doesn't freeze. I always take off all water plugs on engine/transmission, manifolds, power steering and blow air into them [ including wash down pump and fresh water in the cabin system ]. I don't bother with antifreeze or RV ,never had a issue. Good to hear you had a spare ready to go.

Depends on where you dock it and what you have for engines. Generally speaking a I/O s outdrive will conduct the water temp into the block and MAYBE keep it from freezing. If a closed system not that big of a deal. If at dock with electric you can put a small heater or 100 watt light bulb in the doghouse with or without a timer. 2 stroke outboard,no problem,4 stroke may have a thermostat that traps water in the block, which can freeze unless drained. Straight inboard, raw water cooled, good idea to heat it ,closed system will keep the block from cracking but you have exhaust manifolds to worry about , heat may be needed there as well. Many variables including a hard freeze vs just hitting 30-32 at night. I go in late March, early April depending on long range forecast.

FYI its a Long shaft and IMHO that sells from 2-600 ,depending on gas tank ? how much $ is required to fix tiller, wiring, along with the compression numbers and how quick you want to move it.

Can't really tell from the picture if the storage compartment has a divider/support brace made out of pressure treated lumber. If so, that is a not to be used with aluminum. Other than that it looks great !

I have towed 15-20 boats in my lifetime back to port, including Canadian waters to the US side. Maximum distance was about 8 miles from Point Abino to the Buffalo Harbor, so I know all about towing and am not worried about Karma because I have paid forward and have been lucky and smart enough not to need a tow myself. When you have Sea Tow available in your area I would suggest getting insurance or run with two motors. The more that comes to light the more I see why the Doc was not towed to port in a "timely" fashion. I also believe that any boat out there that heard a real distress call would stop what there doing and help ,including me.. This was not the case and as I expected I am taking some heat for my replies. Again I wish him luck in finding volunteers.

Sorry but many of us have one or two days a week to fish and if it wasn't for that we probably wouldn't even be on the lake. They have private towing service on most of the southern shore. Now the OP says he was basically in the Harbor and was calling for help after motoring to that point and he expected people to drop what they were doing and escort him another 100 yards into the harbor. Like I said if it was a actual emergency I know the response would of been different. Were ok that you don't live in NY.

^ While I agree with you to a degree, there was no immediate danger in his case, he was not taking on water.. I am sure he could of waited until 3 pm or so when most charters are done.There are paid professionals in the area that handle these incidents and if no one uses them they go away. Sea Tow was founded because the USCG has better things to do than tow people back to port ,but if was a emergency situation they would of stepped in and handled it. Unfortunately in this day and age there is the legal [suing] ramifications added to this topic. The boat your towing cleat pulls out and slingshots back to your boat and hits either the person your towing or a person that went out with you, seriously injuring them. on your boat or vise versa, hitting the guy in the boat being towed. Who is paying for that impending lawsuit. The towed boat ,sinks, hits a log, reef, flips over etc. Now the guy decides it was your fault and you have to PAY for a lawyer to defend any of this. I know I am sounding like a hard ass but this stuff happens all the time. If the OP had kept the point that he had to pay for a tow out of it he might of gotten a better response in his request for volunteers. Which no one has done so far. I wish him luck in that endeavor.

A basic set of hand tools on board goes a long way as well. Every steering system can be disconnected at the Rudder-Outdrive or Outboard motor and then steered by hand at a slow speed. Where there's a will there's a way ,if somewhat prepared.