Winterizing

[jg440]

New boater here with a 72 Schuster (tahiti) boat, with I believe the original rebuilt Mercruiser engine 3.0 140hp and Pre Alpha outdrive. The boat has ran fine all season (went out about 8 times). Liveing in Northern Cali it never gets below 40 degrees. Do in really need to winterize? Can I just put fuel stabelizer in? At the beginning of the season I did an oil change and last month I did an outdrive oil change.<br /><br />The only issue I have with the boat is that if its sits for over 2 weeks it takes a little bit to start up. Otherwise it allways starts up without issue.<br /><br /><br />Second Question, the boat came with a spare engine and outdrive I would like to try to rebuild both. What do you think the costs would be. How can I tell if it is worth redoing? Any good books<br /><br /><br />Thanks

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Winterizing

"It never gets below 40 degrees"<br /><br />If you have 100% confidence in this statement, you do not need to drain the blocks. If you have one night that hits 31 degrees this winter, then your block will crack and you'll be dipping into that extra engine next spring....roll the dice as you see fit.<br /><br />Oil changes are best done at the end of the season, not the beginning. Otherwise your used oil may have some gas, water, and mostly used up detergents that have the potential to sit all winter and goober up the inside of your motor. Or it may be perfectly fine. Again you roll the dice.<br /><br />It's also the perfect time to do ALL the annual maintenance things...change outdrive oil, remove the outdrive to check the gimbal bearing, ujoints, engine alignment, and bellows, grease prop shaft and drive shaft splines, clean/change fuel filters & separators, the list goes on. Or you can skip all that an hope it all works again in spring.<br /><br />If you want a good book to help you with everything from proper winterization to rebuilding your extra parts, get a Mercruiser service manual. If you want an average book for less cash, get a Seloc manual. If you want a poor book that answers a few questions slightly better than a roll of toilet paper, get a Clymer manual.<br /><br />And if you just want to learn miscellaneous stuff, keep lurking here on Iboats...it's a wealth of knowledge.<br /><br />Welcome!

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winterizing

Originally posted by craze1cars:<br /> "It never gets below 40 degrees"<br /><br />If you have 100% confidence in this statement, you do not need to drain the blocks. If you have one night that hits 31 degrees this winter, then your block will crack and you'll be dipping into that extra engine next spring....roll the dice as you see fit.<br />

I don't mean to be argumentative, but isn't that stretching things a bit? I would think it would take more than just a few hours of just below freezing temps one night to crack a block. I once asked the head mechanic of a very reputable and popular marine service dealer in Sacramento, CA if people winterize in the area and he just laughed and said "no need to and no one does it".

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Winterizing

Mr. Bob....You are dead wrong...As a young man I lived in Reno...It freezes there at times....Roll the dice if you will...But.....That one time will cost you an engine....Take the time to familiarize yourself with the procedure of draining your set-up & you won't have to worry....When you get it down it will take less than ten minutes & you will sleep better....Trust me... ... ...JK

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Winterizing

.. dead wrong. As a young man I lived in Reno..<br /><br />And living in the mountains would have what to do with northern Calefornia, Sacremento, and 40 degrees? Might be a little foolish to bet that it wouldn't freeze for several hours, but "dead wrong" is just a little strong.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Winterizing

"Old Curmudgeon"...One time...Even in Placierville...I lived there too...One good freeze & it is OVER....Would you risk it? It is too easy a procedure to not do it....Forgive me for erring on the side of caution....IMHO...JK