Winter Questions

[Anger65]

This is the first winter with our "new" to us boat. It's a '95 Donzi Medallion 212 Merc 5.0lx/ Alpha One. We live just west of Sacramento. I just got done draining the water from the boat and have a couple "winterizing" questions.

I don't plan to keep it out of the water long as we like to go fish and just sit out at the lake. So it'll be the next month most likely and we'll get it running again by Feb.

-- Do I need to fog the engine for just that short of time? Or is it ok to just leave it drained?

-- Can I add, and if so, has anyone had good experience with any of the more modern elbow/ drain valves for the bottom of the exhaust manifolds? Right now, I just have to pull the hose off the bottom of the manifold, but I'm thinking the drain valves would be quick and simple if they are worth it.

-- Any other "extra" tips or tricks that are not found in the maintenance manual or common winterizing checklists?

I plan to replace all the hoses and belts as it seems like they definitely haven't been done in a while. And I'll change the oil, etc. when we get it running again in a month.

Merry Christmas/ Happy New Year!!

 

[achris]

Re: Winter Questions

Fogging oil=snake oil. For such a short time, just drain the block and manifolds (don't forget the big hose out of the water pump, that can also fill with water.

One of the items that is done normally for winter is to remove the drive. As well as being able to check the usual thing in the bellows, it allows the hoses between the drive and the engine to drain. I would suggest you remove the drive each time also.

As for fitting 'taps', do a search here, there was a picture of some very good taps (proper 1/4 turn) brass jobbies that seemed like a good thing...

Chris.....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Winter Questions

Unless you have sub freezing weather (32F or less) you don't need to winterize. I just looked at the lowest recorded temperature for Sacramento and it appears it has never been below 38 degrees.

 

[generator12]

Re: Winter Questions

This is the first winter with our "new" to us boat. It's a '95 Donzi Medallion 212 Merc 5.0lx/ Alpha One. We live just west of Sacramento. I just got done draining the water from the boat and have a couple "winterizing" questions.

I don't plan to keep it out of the water long as we like to go fish and just sit out at the lake. So it'll be the next month most likely and we'll get it running again by Feb.

-- Do I need to fog the engine for just that short of time? Or is it ok to just leave it drained?

-- Can I add, and if so, has anyone had good experience with any of the more modern elbow/ drain valves for the bottom of the exhaust manifolds? Right now, I just have to pull the hose off the bottom of the manifold, but I'm thinking the drain valves would be quick and simple if they are worth it.

-- Any other "extra" tips or tricks that are not found in the maintenance manual or common winterizing checklists?

I plan to replace all the hoses and belts as it seems like they definitely haven't been done in a while. And I'll change the oil, etc. when we get it running again in a month.

Merry Christmas/ Happy New Year!!

I don't understand the need to "WINTERIZE" when the boat won't see "winter". Three months of sitting in moderate temperatures won't harm an engine unless it's subjected to unusually bad conditions. (i.e., sitting uncovered in storms, salt water splashing over it, huge, fast and frequent temperature swings causing condensation, etc.)

You should be good as gold if it's covered or sheltered.

 

[CHARGER2]

Re: Winter Questions

Unless you have sub freezing weather (32F or less) you don't need to winterize. I just looked at the lowest recorded temperature for Sacramento and it appears it has never been below 38 degrees.

On that note, be sure to do all of the annual maintinence that is normally done durring winterizing/summerizing. Bellows inspection/replacement, filters, drive oil, etc...

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Winter Questions

This is the first winter with our "new" to us boat. It's a '95 Donzi Medallion 212 Merc 5.0lx/ Alpha

I plan to replace all the hoses and belts as it seems like they definitely haven't been done in a while. And I'll change the oil, etc. when we get it running again in a month.

Belts and hoses last a long time, If ya have a fat wallet and want the peace of mind, go for it. May not be necessary though. IMHO. My 86 still has the originals, I have read on here that many people run the originals a very long time...

 

[Anger65]

Re: Winter Questions

Unless you have sub freezing weather (32F or less) you don't need to winterize. I just looked at the lowest recorded temperature for Sacramento and it appears it has never been below 38 degrees.

First off, Merry Christmas everyone.

Now, thanks for all the replies. Nice to know the belts and hoses, etc will hold up for such a long time. Still probably replacing them... more for the peace of mind (less for the fat wallet).

As far as the record low in Sac being 38 degrees, it was 25 when we left the other morning, so it definitely gets cold enough. There was actually water frozen as it dripped down from the bilge drain plug, so I'm glad I got all that water out of the engine.

I won't bother fogging, and I just went through a full service on the out drive with new gimbal/bellows, etc. so hopefully that will be good for a while.

Thanks again for all the answers and if you have any other tips on winter projects, keep posting!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Winter Questions

First off, Nice to know the belts and hoses, etc will hold up for such a long time. Still probably replacing them... more for the peace of mind (less for the fat wallet).

My mechanic mentioned to me all the hoses/serpentine belt looked good but I went ahead and replaced just the belt and keep the old one on-board as a spare...just in case we or even someone else needs one.

Mark

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Winter Questions

Don't forget the battery, 3 months is plenty of time for it to go flat, which can shorten its life. Invest in a decent battery maintainer and either hook it up in the boat or remove the battery and hook up the maintainer in the garage or basement. If you have power where you keep the boat keep it hooked up all year.