Cold Weather Advice for Motors

[wakina]

Looks like some cold low's coming in the next week or so. For those of us who have dumped our boats in already, what is everyone's opinion on the best way to keep the motors warm is we don't live close? Light bulb? Blanket?

Trying to not have to totally winterize the boat again. I have a Volvo 5.0FL I/O. I guess I could drain the manifold and block so that's fairly easy.

Any ideas?

Thank you!

If your boat is in the water I doubt very much that you have to worry about it. The water the boat is setting in is 40+ degrees and that temp will transfer into the motor well thru the hull. Heat rises and the motor box will retain enough of that heat that it will remain above freezing in an overnight situation. While the boat is in the water most Inboards and I/O' are at least partly below the exterior waterline surrounding at least part of the motor well with 40 degree temps. After looking at the next 15 days of highs and lows it appears that there will only be 4 days below freezing and only 2 of those are below 30 and they will be in the upper 20's. If I had my boat in the water I would not be the least bit concerned.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USOH0783:1:US