Winterize in Florida?

[MH9371B]

I live in Tampa, FL and this is my first winter as a boat owner. I notice all the topics on winterization and am wondering if this is necessary since my boat will see probably 1 or 2 days of freezing weather?

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

It only takes 1 good freeze to crack the block if water was left in the engine.<br />As far as the oil changes, gear lube changes, filter changes, pulling the drive etc., that is just a good time to do all those particular maintenance items anyway. If you are going to not use the boat for till summer it would be a good idea. The fogging of the engine would also be good for long periods of sitting, especially in humid areas.

 

[BillP]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

The chances of a freeze around Tampa Bay lasting long enough to freeze and bust a block are about as rare as snow is in Tampa. Even less chance if the boat is kept in the water there. I live across the state from Tampa on the same freeze line...been here since 1956 and never had a problem with boat motors freezing.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

I'm with BillP on this one. I was born in Tampa and we did have snow there my senior year in High School (Winter of 76/77) - even closed down the interstate for awhile! (I didn't know that bridges froze first ). Anyway, even on those rare occurances you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

Unless you are going to take the boat out during the winter, it might help to think of it as "storing the boat for a long period".<br /><br />Up here in frigid Atlanta I like to take this time to do all that yearly maintenance (oil, oil filter, water/gas separator, fogging, gas stabilizer, cover, dry out, repack wheel bearings, etc.<br /><br />If you are going to do all that, draining the water is so small a part of it why not just do it and not have any worries?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

Even if you take the element of freezing out of the equation,the rest of the winterizing should still be done for the period of inactivity.Your motor still needs the internals protected and fluids changed and F/W seperator changed etc..I would only skip the fogging if you are planning on letting the motor run a few times per month.Charlie

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

So to summarize:<br /><br />Is he planning on using tha boat over the winter?<br /> If not: why not winterize as part of needed maintenance.<br /> If so: probably good time for maintenance anyways.<br /> need to run boat regularly if he doesn't winterize.<br /> almost no risk of freezing if boat is in the water.<br /> <br /><br />Question for you year round boaters. If your boat isn't winterized, stored out of the water, and you do get a rare freezing episode, would you add a little 'insurance' by maybe putting something like a heating pad in the engine compartment during the cold spell?

 

[trog100]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

with this "winterization" thing there does seem a lot of confusion as to what really needs doing to protect your boat against the ravages of winter and general once yearly servicing..<br /><br />okay it might be "convenient" for some to do it all at once.. ie.. when your boat is taken out of the water and before its put to sleep till the next season starts..<br /><br />to me the only real winter thing is the freezing thing.. and there is onr hell of a diffrence tween alaska and florida..<br /><br />fogging.. well thats just a long term storage thing and has very little to do with winter..<br /><br />oil and filter changes also have very little to do with winter and could just as well be done at the beginning of summer as at the end of it.. okay it might be (minutely) better to have nice clean oil sat in your engine and drive than used oil.. but again it aint of super importance and certainly aint in the same league as the freezing thing.. again a more long term storage than "winter" thing..<br /><br />my boat stays in the water over winter and my biggy once yearly service thing gets done when it suits me best in the middle of summer.. i have the boat lifted out of the water.. placed on stands and the weather is nice for me to work on it.. <br /><br />as for winter.. well i just make sure the boat dosnt freeze up.. i run it (approximately) once a week so i dont have to fog.. i place an oil-filled radiator in the boat to protect it against freezing.. this gets set to come on overnight if i think the weather is gonna get cold enough.. mostly it dosnt..<br /><br />but then again i dont live in alaska or florida.. and my boat is kept in fresh water.. salt is a nasty thing except for putting on my dinner.. he he.. and a lot of folks tell me i shoulnt even do that.. he he.. <br /><br /><br />trog100

 

[BillP]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

There is no "winterizing" in florida because of year round boating weather. If you store the motor outside more than a few months it needs corrosion prevention no matter what season it is...we have 90+% humidity most of the time.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Winterize in Florida?

Was not mentioned that I can see, but seems to me that if the boat was used in salt water, wouldn't you want to drain it if storing? Asking mostly out of curiosity.