California winter: use it or store it?

[rw99]

Hey, all... my lake is lowered in the off-season, so I gotta pull my new Glastron 205 (4.3 L EFI Penta I/O) off the lift and into a storage space. I'd like to use it over the "winter" months, but it'd be pretty infrequent... perhaps the boat might not get used for 7 - 8 weeks in a row.

The question is this: how much does one need to use this type of boat/motor/drive to keep it happy? I'd like to fish off it from Oct. - May, and avoid the cost of winterizing. The boat will be kept in a storage unit... temps will usually be in the 35F - 65F range.

I have a battery charger/float conditioner onboard for my cranking and 2x trolling batteries... but the storage shed has no electrical connection. How often would I need to give the batteries an overnight bump? Or would running the motor for ~1 hr when I'm fishing be sufficient to keep the batteries happy?

I'd sure appreciate any wisdom you might have. Three batteries are a hassle to unhook and cart back-and-forth every time you want to use the boat... when all I need is an extension cord and a wall socket...


Rich

 

[rw99]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

Maybe if I simplify: does anyone run their boat roughly once a month year-round without using a battery charger?

 

[soaringhiggy]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

yes; not a problem for the battery as long as there are no parasitic drains on the charge and battery is in good shape.

The more pressing question is how do you propose to ensure that you don't freeze if there is a cold snap?

 

[jmarty10]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

If you dont drain the battery you should be just fine. Not starting for a month at a time should not "kill" the battery. I would also stabil your gas especially if she will sit longer than a month or two. May want to do an oil and lube change. Also, 35 degrees is getting close. You may want to talk to the folks on the engine forum about procedures for draining the block to prepare for the possibility of a short freeze. Ive read alot of the posts on this topic and there is no consensus if a night at 28-29 degrees will crack a block.

 

[rw99]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

Good points. Makes me think I should just winterize it and pull the batteries

And no electrical connection for a block heater, either.

 

[blifsey]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

If your daytime temps are 40+ you would probably be fine just draining the block/manifolds and being sure to leave drive down so it will drain. Takes about 15 mins to remove plugs and make sure all water flows out. You might need to poke small nail into drain hole if piece of rust/crude stops flow. We've had our boat (Glastron 205 also ) since 2002 and I've used it like you describe some but not as much as I'd like to. Do you have fish/ski version? If so, keeping trolling motor batteries charged might be biggest issue.

 

[xeddog]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

You didn't say what part of California you are in, but I have not winterized my boat in the 20+ years I have had it. I am in northern California inland from San Francisco about 60-70 miles. We rarely have freezes here and when we do it is only like 28-30. I just drain the block and manifolds whenever I bring the boat back in from it's run. I probably shouldn't say this because now I'm sure to have a problem this winter.

Since you said you will be keeping the boat in a storage facility, I am going to assume that this is an indoor facility. If that is the case, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. If it is open, then it would depend on where you are. As long as the temps don't get below 35 as you stated, you should be fine.

As far as batteries go, I have put on a couple of those cheapie Harbor Freight 1.5 Watt solar panels (one for each battery) and they seem to do an ok job of keeping the batteries up. Not great, but ok. The boat has always had enough juice to start even after sitting 4 months or longer.

Wayne

 

[rw99]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

You didn't say what part of California you are in, but I have not winterized my boat in the 20+ years I have had it. I am in northern California inland from San Francisco about 60-70 miles. We rarely have freezes here and when we do it is only like 28-30. I just drain the block and manifolds whenever I bring the boat back in from it's run. I probably shouldn't say this because now I'm sure to have a problem this winter.

Since you said you will be keeping the boat in a storage facility, I am going to assume that this is an indoor facility. If that is the case, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. If it is open, then it would depend on where you are. As long as the temps don't get below 35 as you stated, you should be fine.

As far as batteries go, I have put on a couple of those cheapie Harbor Freight 1.5 Watt solar panels (one for each battery) and they seem to do an ok job of keeping the batteries up. Not great, but ok. The boat has always had enough juice to start even after sitting 4 months or longer.

Wayne

Hey, Wayne... thanks for the info. I'm in the bay area and my "home lake" is Tulloch Reservoir in Copperopolis (Hwy. 4 on the way to Angel's Camp). Altitude is only 500' there, so while temps do get down to freezing from time to time it's only dangerous to exposed pipes, etc.

Your idea for the solar panels is fantastic; I'm going to talk to the storage place and see if they'll let me put a couple on the roof of my unit. Good thinking!

Rich

 

[xeddog]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

Rich - I guess Oakley is still in the Bay Area. Kinda hard to tell since it is so different than San Francisco/Oakland in any way you can name. Weather, politics, population, revenue, what ever. I was trying to get up to New Melones or Don Pedro last week but didn't make it. Maybe next week.

In all sincerity, what do you like about Tulloch? I have never been there (yet) but might go in the next few months. From looking at Google Earth, it looks like it would be similar to New Melones in geography, just smaller and developed with residential properties along the eastern side. Do you have one of those properties there?

Wayne

 

[BigB9000]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

Maybe if I simplify: does anyone run their boat roughly once a month year-round without using a battery charger?

Me. Both my boat and jetski

jetski sits for 6 months out of the year, it'll need 6 hours of charging before its good to go.

Boat, never seen a battery charger.

2 years and counting on batterys!

(I have never winterized)

 

[fishrdan]

Re: California winter: use it or store it?

I'm in Las Vegas and never do a complete winterize since I use my boat all year long. But, if it's getting freezing temps outside I'll drain the block and manifold. If I'm towing through freezing temps, I'll drain the block and manifold. I think a couple hours on the road with sub freezing temps (constant air cold moving around the engine) could cause damage, I'm not taking any chances. In the last couple years I've heard of several people who have had freeze damage out here, cracked manifolds, and I don't want to be one of them. Many people don't winterize out here in the desert, I didn't for the longest time.....

If the boat is only going to sit for a month the batteries should be OK, but at 2-3 months I would look at keeping them charged up. Batteries loose charge just sitting unused (I've heard 1% per day, though that seems excessive to me) so at the end of a couple months the batteries could be pretty well discharged. Sure, you will most likely be able to charge them back up, but your batteries won't last as long as if they were maintained properly.