Staff from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 78, 7th Division, 8th District, Eastern Region remind outboard motor boat enthusiasts to protect their vessels this winter by following these tips:

- Get to the front of your carburetors by removing the silencer-cover.

- Hook a hose to your water intake.

- Crank and let the engine warm-up, with the motor running at fast idle; increase speed slightly. {Be ready for this next step!}

- Disconnect the fuel line at the engine and spray a couple ounces of Fogging oil into each carburetor as the motor runs out of gas and stalls.

- Remove the spark plugs and spray some in each cylinder; turn the flywheel by hand a few times.

- Change the lower-unit lube and remove the propeller, grease the shaft and all other fitting and lube points.

- Spray a little corrosion preventative on the engine and BE SURE to leave your motor in a vertical or down position so water won't lay in there and freeze.

- Put your battery inside the shop and charge it now and then. As long as you're going that way, why not put your propeller on the shelf by the battery?

- Fill the fuel tank and add the proper amount of fuel stabilizer to it for the winter.

- Clean the motor and clean and wax the boat's above-deck surfaces.

- Don't forget the bottom while your at it! Your boat bottom will be quickest if it is perfectly smooth. Dirt and slime buildup will slow you down. Clean the bottom with a strong cleaner. Wet sand any tough bumps in the running surface with 400-600 grit paper. You don't need wax. (In fact it can, in some circumstances, slow you down.)

- Get a good quality cover for your boat that breathes.