I bought my first inboard about a month ago. It is starting to get into the low 40's at night here and I got to wondering about when I need to winterize my boat. I plan on using it until mid to late November. What steps do I need to take to prepare it for sub 32 deg nights?

Just pull the plugs on the block on the cold nights until your ready to fully winterize

I refuse to winterize! I throw a nice fuzzy blanket over the block and call it good, ofcourse this is Norcal and we dont have the worst weather but we usually get a month or so of freezing temps a year.

I always wait until it gets down below freezing for the 1st time

Always a tough call. Hate to put it away and then have a few nice days. Also hate to wait too long...if ya know what I mean.... <BR> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/630849.jpg" alt="Upload">

Move to California or Florida and you never have to

I don't think you need to worry. It's going to take more than just a night @ 32F to freeze and cause damage. I don't think that you can pull the frost plugs, can you? At least the engines I have worked on these are brass, pressure fitted plugs.... not ones that can be taken in/out? <BR> <BR>I've heard a good rule of thumb is that if you can leave a gallon bucket of water overnight and not have it freeze solid, you don't have to worry about your boat engine. I personally never winterize mine until it's waaay too late and the winterizing process almost causes you to lose fingers to frost bite.

I think the "plugs" being referenced are the water drain plugs in the engine / manifold. Mine has a plug in each side.

I usually do mine at the end of November

Richard is right you can throw a blanket over the engine or use a heat lamp or bulb it would take alot more than One night to do damage. if anything would freeze it would be your heater core ballast pumps just pulling your block drains and exhaust manifold drains will not protect you from damage. you have trans coolers,fresh water pump,shower,heater,three ballast pumps malibu has six ballast pumps. mercruiser has a fuel cooler.