I've heard of people leaving their transom bracket on after leaving the lake, then it freezing and busting their waterpump housing. So lower the motor and fire it up for just a second. Bow up to get all the water drained from the bilge area.

Cranking your boat without a water supply is not something I would recommend. It can burn up your water pump pretty quick. They say within seconds but Im not sure. Just know it cant be good. Just lower it all the way down and let it drain. And like what was said before, watch keeping the bow down, your boat cant drain.

NO never start the motor without water running through it..Not good advice

also make sure your batteries are charged

If its going to freeze hard for a few days pull the water hose off the back of your water pressure Gauage.

This^^^^^^^^^

Definately do not do this. This is bad advise even if it is a few seconds not smart.

DO NOT start your motor without water running through it! Like what was said before, tilt your motor down and let it drain.

I have stored my boats outside for the last 45 years. I raise the tongue as far up as i can and lower the motor. Open the live well switches and make sure they drain. Also it would be a great time to change your lower unit oil. I f you start to drain and see water or yellow oil stop until you can have the lower unit resealed. You don't want to leave the lower unit empty or low on oil as it will rust. Just my experience. I also use the boat threw out the winter.

Sound advise from what sounds like the voice of experience..

Hey LMOkie
I don't know how you Okies do it, but heres what I would do if I was you. Every time it snows have the Mrs go build a igloo around the the carport. You want to have plenty of firewood so you can keep a bonfire going in the igloo, in Texas the snow will melt(even faster with fire). So this process with the igloo has to be redone every snow storm. This will keep your Champion in good working order(may PO the Mrs as its alot of work), but hey- it will be worth it if it keeps your boat warm. That or Your tight ARSE can take your winnings from last year and have D Wilson build you a nice Garage(Thats How us Cornhuskers would do it).

Delvec, better yet, why don't you pull your Legend out of your garage and let me keep my Champion in your garage for a couple of months! After all, what are friends for?

I put my breathable boat cover on the boat with a water proof tarp.
http://www.tarpsplus.com/?gclid=CJve26XEkrQCFSWoPAodYxcAXA
These guys sell 20' tarps for a really great price. I keep one of the moisture absorbing thing from Walmart in the boat.
Change oil in Lower Unit, it will not freeze(change plug oring/gaskets every time)
Leave the charger plug in.
I only did this last year, used my shop vac to suck all the moisture out of the live wells. Nothing came out....so I stopped that.

That or I could pull that 3/4 ton truck out and let you pull next to the Legend, but who said we were Friends.

Good point!