Here, according to the current important issue of Boating, are some seasonal slip-ups to avoid:

Jumping the gun.
Don’t let a few warm-weather days entice you to put all the plugs back in your stern drive, hook up the garden hose, and fire up the motor. If the weather turns back to frigid when the engine block is full of water, it can freeze and crack the block.

Forgetting the fluids.
Warm up the engine and replace the heavier, winter-weight oil with a product such as 25W-40, which is designed for warmer months. Then do the same with the lower unit on [Read more...]