Carolina... any need to do anything for winter?

[convergent]

I have a fish and ski with 200hp outboard that I keep inside an unheated garage in Raleigh, NC. I intend to do "occasional" fishing with it through the winter, but I'm sure there will be some weeks that are too cold to go. I say occasional which to me would mean probably several times a month vs. the several times a week (and sometimes several times a day) that I've been taking it out through the summer. So if we get a cold spell and I don't run it for a week or two, am I at risk of anything bad happening? I keep an onboard charger connected all the time so I would guess that will generate some heat in the bilge area, and the motor is left down, so in theory should be drained after use.

So I'm not thinking it would be necessary to add Stabil, do fogging, antifreeze and such. Will this be OK?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Carolina... any need to do anything for winter?

change lower unit oil.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Carolina... any need to do anything for winter?

You don't need to do anything much (you said you were leaving the motor down). Stabilize the fuel. Take it out and run it if you get some pretty days.

One thing to watch, though, is any accumulated water in a through-hull. A boat was lost here last winter, and 2 guys had incredible luck of sinking next to a marine patrol. Their 21' had been on a trailer, the sea **** fittings were holding water, froze and cracked (we think), and the boat flooded and sank when they stopped to fish, 6 miles out in 40 degree temps. But that's not likely to be an issue; I just had to give you something to worry about, since you don't have those issues in Raleigh.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Carolina... any need to do anything for winter?

Add the Stabil Marine to your fuel tank, run the motor to circulate through the system, you should be fine over the winter. I'm in Greenville, S.C. and we run the boat some all year around, so never really "winterize". I do drain the carbs a few time a year and that keeps them clean and clear, keep the battery charged up in the garage, always ready to go! Good Luck!

 

[convergent]

Re: Carolina... any need to do anything for winter?

Haha, yes I need something to worry about. I just moved back down south after 20 years in Upstate NY, so I did my time in the great white north!