Boat care quesitons

[nightvision]

Hi all,
A couple questions from a newbie about general boat care/maintance. I have a 2005 Searay 180 sport that's stored in a garage which temp will not get below 40 degrees. I boat exclusively in freshwater. I don't winterize the boat because because I use it every two months. The longest the boat will sit is three months. I do use fuel stablizer when I know It will sit for three months.

a. The ramp I use is a little muddy. Is it necessary to flush my out drive to get the muddy water out when I get home?

b. I heard that when putting a boat in storage one should losen the bow strap. Why?

c. Let say my boat will sit for three months without use. Should I drain the engine block of the fresh water? My concern is rust forming in the manifold and risers. Is it necessary for me take her out and start her up (on muffs)to get things running and lubricated for 5 or 10 mintues (reach temp 170 degrees)?
Also, is it necessary for me to fog the carberator if the boat is sitting only for three months?

Any other advises would be great appreciated. THanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat care quesitons

use fuel stabilizer on every fill up, yes it is better to flush, wheather fresh or salt water, before putting up. loosening the straps take tension off everything. fogging not necessary, you are not going to stop cast iron from rusting. make sure the temp doesn't freeze.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Boat care quesitons

i agree with td. use the stabil, flush the engine with the hose at home. i do that after every run anyways. loosen the tie downs so theres no tension, but don't forget that it's loose when ya hook her back up for towing. only thing i'd add would be to not drain the block and manifold. the way i read about that is that it's the air contacting the wet surface that promotes the rustys. if the water is left in, it don't let the air get to it to start the rustys. take that witha grain of salt though. if yer heater in the garage goes south where it's stored at. and it gets to the freeze mark. ya need to be hustlein on down to the boat to get the water out of it asap. the freeze damage will be worse than any rustys ya get from drainin it. as for the foggin. i'm ambivilant. boats like lub i think. and it does sit for 3 months at a time. don't seem like a real bad idea to fog it to me. it don't take that long to do.guess i'd probably believe td before me on that one though. .....as for startin it up. i'd not do that unless i was headin to the lake. my notion on that being that yer just promotine condensation inside the engine by just startin it up and warmin it up to be shut down and be stored again....that's my 2 cent worth i guess.... good luck in yer decisions........

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat care quesitons

also, store with the outdrive all the way down. if boating in salt water, flush with salt away.

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