Do I need to winterize???

[amad]

I have a 1996 Sea Ray 175 with 3.0 Mercruiser. If I add Stabil to fuel and keep it in a garage that never gets below 50 degrees, is there any need to winterize the boat?

 

[ihaveabrownboat]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Any chance power will go out and you'll lose the heat when it's cold?

 

[amad]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Even if power goes out, it would take a loooong time to get below freezing in the garage. Never happened before.

 

[kmarine]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

When do you change your oil, allong with outdrive oil? Otherwise on a 3.0 all you need to do to drain the block is remove two drain plugs and probe for sand blockage with a piece of wire. You may also want to drain the cooling water supply hose. A few minutes could save you big time in the event of an ice storm.

 

[ihaveabrownboat]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Never happened before.

That's what the guy said when the condom broke.

 

[amad]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

When do you change your oil, allong with outdrive oil? Otherwise on a 3.0 all you need to do to drain the block is remove two drain plugs and probe for sand blockage with a piece of wire. You may also want to drain the cooling water supply hose. A few minutes could save you big time in the event of an ice storm.

I thought I would change oil and outdrive oil in early spring. If I winterized and kept boat outside, is there no more than draining the 2 plugs and supply hose? What about water in bottom of outdrive? What about fogging...whatever that is. I've heard people say something about that.

 

[kmarine]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Foging is simply spraying oil down the carburator with engine running and the outdrive will drain the water out when left in the down position. The reason the manufacturers recomend changing oil before storage is to rule out moisture in the oil and outdrive oil. Allong with corossive acids which are a byproduct of engine combustion. Perhapse someone could send you a link on the procedure for your engine. there are other posts with the procedure available in this forrum.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

ice storm of `92. 12 weeks without power.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

You live in an area where layup periods are quite short. There is no need to "fog" the engine although it doesn't hurt. Fogging Oil is sprayed into the carb with the engine running at idle and then quickly shut off. If you do not use a fuel system treatment you are advised to do so. Stabil, SeaFoam, and dozen other products are available. Add it to the fuel and run the engine long enough to get the treated fuel into the entire fuel system. You should use those products year-around, or at least every other tank of fuel.

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Winterizing is more than just draining the block and fogging the engine, it's also the time the yearly maintenance is performed, and things like the bellows and drive gear lubes changed and checked to be sure there is no water in them while sitting all winter.

 

[amad]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

If I was going to take it in to the dealer before next season to have it serviced (oil changed, lubed, other things checked over, low idle looked at, etc), would you suggest doing it now and leaving it covered outside, doing it now and leaving it in the garage, or leaving it in the garage and doing that in early spring?

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Service and winterize it now and store it where every you want. Then have the idle problem checked when getting ready for the new season.

Have a look at items 5 and 6 here http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

If you winterize in the Fall and store it in the garage year round your boat will last a lifetime. (provied you do all the other maintenance too)

 

[southkogs]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Hey amad: I'm a little west of you. You guys tend to see more snow than us, and it gets a little colder over there. Other than that, because we can generally boat year 'round for "winterizing" I really just drain my block and drive of water. I do my maintenance in the early spring, but I'm checking my Outdrive lube all the time. You may just want to make sure you don't have any water in your drive lubes.

Mine stays in an attached garage as well, and we rarely see water freeze in our garage even in January and February.

 

[amad]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

I think I have decided to keep the boat outside and not in the garage. Keeping it in the garage takes up way too much space and I would have to keep one of my motorcycles and one of my cars outside. So I guess I will have it winterized now. Maybe next winter I will know enough to winterize it myself. I would try this year but I need to get the idle speed looked at and also have the impeller changed. Keeping it outside under a good cover should be okay shouldn't it?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Do I need to winterize???

Here in TN it should be fine winterized under a cover. Shrink wrap would be nice for some added protection, but not essential.