Guys, sorry if this has been answered, but my dumb phone and search didn't come up with anything.
Here is the question:

I'm up at Lake Texoma and planning to put a new to me boat w/outboard in the slip today. There is going to be a mild freeze(28F). I have seen many boats in slips during winter, motor up/ down. Seems there is no rhyme or reason. I have read that folks lift the motor out of the water and run a few seconds to force the water out but that's about it. I want no freeze damage. Any suggestions? And thanks and please forgive my like of iPhone savvy.

Leaving it in the water protects it from freezing better than if you raised it.

The motor will drain to the water level without you doing anything to it.

Thanks!

I would strongly advise against running it out of water a few seconds to get the water out.

I have had my Mercury almost 30 years and all I do in the winter is trim down to drain water. Once the water is drained I trim it back up and put the transom saver on. I leave it this way until I use it again. Never had a problem. I had a neighbor that said he had a problem with his Johnson doing this. I just think he did not drain it right.

Thanks, everyone!