Winterizing My Boat For The First Time

[tybouff]

Greetings all,

Like the title states, I am winterizing the boat for the first time. Is there a tried and true method for doing this? There is currently very little gas in the tank and the lower unit oil has not been changed since the beginning of this season. I have already coated all metal and vinyl inside the boat with vaseline and plan on storing it in a garage that will not get below freezing. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing My Boat For The First Time

I/O or O/B? The mechanical procedures are well documented. Do a search. Change all oils, fill the tank, stabilize the fuel and drain all water. Add anti-freeze to the block if in the North. In other words, follow the mfgr's reccs. in the owner's manual.

Vaseline? I would think that might do wonders on the upholstery. Personally, I use either lemon pledge or ArmorAll. I sure wouldn't want to sit on vaseline next summer.

 

[tybouff]

Re: Winterizing My Boat For The First Time

Thanks for the response, I have a Force 150 outboard but no owners manual for the boat or the engine. Thanks for the advice!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Winterizing My Boat For The First Time

Greetings all,

Like the title states, I am winterizing the boat for the first time. Is there a tried and true method for doing this? . . . I have already coated all metal and vinyl inside the boat with vaseline . . .

Now that is a new one . . . I'm not gonna ask what that is for

Anyway, yes there are several tried and true methods and you will have folks defend 'their' method to the death.

Objective is to: prevent damage to the engine, plumbing, hull and related parts that results from freezing.

Method #1 - remove all water from the engine, plumbing and hull.

Advantages - no guess work on 'did you get enough antifreeze in there', etc.
Disadvantages - did you find all the places where water resides? . . .potentially lots of things to disconnect & re-connect

Method #2 - run RV/Marine antifreeze through the engine and plumbing.

Advantages - nothing to disconnect/reconnect
Disadvantages - unable to tell if the antifreeze is in high enough concentration inside things like the engine block and the manifolds. Complexities of the thermostat being closed on the engine, etc.

Method #3 - hybrid approach. Run antifreeze and then drain major areas (engine block, manifolds, etc.)

Advantages - it is a 'best' of both methods
Disadvantages - still trying to think of any

So, I go with the #3 method.



Once that is done, you can move onto other projects, like making sure your snow blower works, etc.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing My Boat For The First Time

Now that is a new one . . . I'm not gonna ask what that is for


So, I go with the #3 method.



.

Its an outboard. Just tilt fully down and it'll self drain. No antifreeze needed.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing My Boat For The First Time

Thanks for the response, I have a Force 150 outboard but no owners manual for the boat or the engine. Thanks for the advice!

Buy an after market manual. IBoats sells them.