Fortunately, we boaters vacationing on Alabama Beaches don’t have to go to the extremes that folks up north do when they prepare for winter.
In the cold climates, folks have to suck up RV antifreeze into the outboard or outdrive water intakes to ensure the motors don’t have any water left to freeze in the engine block.
All I’ve ever done is tilt the outboard completely down and let all the water drain out.
Most of the outboard motors sold these days are of the four-stroke variety, which is essentially like the engine in your car. It needs a regular oil change to get the maximum performance and durability. The recommended oil change interval, determined by the hours of running time, is determined by the manufacturer.
Check your owner’s manual for the proper way to drain the old oil out of the engine without getting it everywhere. Change the oil filter and then refill the engine with the proper oil. Most manufacturers make oils for specific applications, but the owner’s manual may provide alternatives. Whatever you do, buy quality oil. Outboard engines may be similar to car engines, but outboards run at significantly higher RPMs than car engines.
Replace the fuel filter if it’s more than a year old. Look for the fuel/water separating filter that filters down to 10-microns.