Winterized boat depression

[walt-oxie1]

Re: Winterized boat depression

I wish I could winterize mine. I work out of all 4 boats year round, commercial fishing. I have been out in the winter chasing mullet and had their eyes freeze over before I could get them out of the net. When I clam, I fill a 5 gallon bucket with water to throw clams in. I made a pull with my rake, went to throw the first clam in the bucket and it bounced out, the water had frozen in the bucket. I am usually out during the night when the fish are running. When they are not, I am out clamming or oystering during the day. Yes, salt water does freeze. Neoprene is your friend.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Winterized boat depression

A lot of you are holding out until deep into the end of the year. That kind of surprises me. Aren't any of you concerned about freezing temps at night? Am I being overly paranoid? I haven't changed the oil yet, so maybe I'll have to re-evaluate my winterization plans and drag it out from around the side of the house for another trip or two? It doesn't take long to put the water drain plugs and the battery back in

I run an outboard. No worries about freezing temps. No reason to remove the batteries either. Good to go at a moments notice

Back when I had an I/O I didn't worry about the temps until the night time temps dipped way below 32. A night of in the upper 20?s is not going to crack a block. Usually just drained the block when I got back from fishing. Hung a light bulb in the dog house if I had any concern.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Winterized boat depression

It's a pain because my other hobby is motorcycling, so both will be done around the same time.

See there's your problem....you need a winter time hobby Mine is model trains. I put the boat away and head down to the basement. A couple of big train shows in October help me to switch gears. Gotta have something to blow money on all year round! (My wife once said "why can't you just collect stamps!?")

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Winterized boat depression

I will be winterizing her early this season too, Normally I wouldn't do it until Nov. but this season ended early for me. I usually work on her over the winter too in a garage but wo't be able to this year so Not sure how I am going to handle it this year. Over the winter I would buy things on the net one at a time or just do the things that need to be done, but with out a garage this year I guess I'll just mope around.

 

[bj2455]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Winterized the boat this past weekend. Brought tears to our eyes to see it put away for the next 6 months but we got lots of pictures to remind us of the great summer we had on the boat. All put away for the winter but everything is preped so all we have to do is wash it down in spring. The first boat weve owned together. Has rekindled our relationship and we have another common interest we both take satisfaction in sharing together.

This forum has been great help in taking care of the maintenance the boat required. Fortunately its a one time cost but I bought all the tools needed to do it all myself. Was lots of fun learning and has paid off with reliability on the water. Its old but in incredible shape! Im now the neighborhood 'mechanic' for everybody that has a boat. Thanks to everyone for the terrific information posted.

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Winterized boat depression

A lot of you are holding out until deep into the end of the year. That kind of surprises me. Aren't any of you concerned about freezing temps at night? Am I being overly paranoid? I haven't changed the oil yet, so maybe I'll have to re-evaluate my winterization plans and drag it out from around the side of the house for another trip or two? It doesn't take long to put the water drain plugs and the battery back in

When it looks like it may dip down at night I drain the block and exhaust and throw a trouble light in the bilge to prolong my season.

 

[rbh]

Re: Winterized boat depression

We have one more trip planned for canadian thanks giving weekend, two nights/three days and a turkey on the bbq plus all the fixens, hope it doesnt snow this year
rob

 

[rucaradio]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Here in Northeast Ohio we've still got a few (and I use that term liberally) weeks of boating/fishing left. Watersports are pretty out of the question for the rest of the year, but I am planning on some weekend fishing here and there. I'll probably be winterizing in the next few weeks as the overnight temps finally begin to dip into the 30's.

The offseason won't be too terrible for me. I've got a ton of stuff around the house I've neglected because of my weekend boating. I've also got a whole laundry list of improvements I want to make over the colder months on my boat to get it primed for next season.

-Trailer repaint/repair/LED light upgrade/winch replacement
-Vinyl replacement (gunwhale covers)
-Installing an electric anchor
-Rewiring the dash and replacing gauges.
-Replacing seawater system seals
-Getting a better fish/depth finder
-Finally getting around to replacing my cuddy cabin french doors
-Building a swim platform.

I figure I've got enough on my plate to occupy at least 5 months, and since the boat will be laid up in my driveway, I've got no excuses not to work on it (well, except for maybe money).

 

[jkust]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Desummerize the snowmobiles. Always helps me.

x2 here

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: Winterized boat depression

i sit in my boat out in the garage a few times over the winter, just imagining that i was on the water. thats how i cope..........just kidding, in the off season i like to do small repairs, upgrades, etc. mostly tinkering on weekends. since i keep it in the garage its a lot easier to do work on it, than be freezing cold outside. This winter's biggest project is to replace the wood in the motor cover ..........oh what fun!, wishing i had a little bit newer boat that has no wood anywhere!!!!!!!!

 

[superbenk]

Re: Winterized boat depression

i sit in my boat out in the garage a few times over the winter, just imagining that i was on the water. thats how i cope..........just kidding, in the off season i like to do small repairs, upgrades, etc. mostly tinkering on weekends. since i keep it in the garage its a lot easier to do work on it, than be freezing cold outside. This winter's biggest project is to replace the wood in the motor cover ..........oh what fun!, wishing i had a little bit newer boat that has no wood anywhere!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately my garage is too shallow to fit the whole boat - even if it did, my wife wouldn't take kindly to giving up her warm spot in the garage for the boat I do need to take the outdrive off and replace the impeller and transom seal this year. I guess that's something worth looking forward too

I definitely wish I had a fancy all fiberglass boat too

 

[Gregk]

Re: Winterized boat depression

We still have here 5 or 6 good weeks of fishing here, the boat won't get winterized til November.............

Yep, sometime just after thanksgiving. This my favorite time of the year to fish!!!!

i sit in my boat out in the garage a few times over the winter, just imagining that i was on the water. thats how i cope

LOL - I do this during the summer when it's parked in my driveway....have a beer...maybe smoke a cigar. It's quite relaxing.

 

[werthert]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Don't feel too bad. I just purchased my first boat mid August. She's awesome and I have learned tons... love it.

Now the military is sending me away for A YEAR.

At least you guys get next season.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Don't feel too bad. I just purchased my first boat mid August. She's awesome and I have learned tons... love it.

Now the military is sending me away for A YEAR.

At least you guys get next season.

Oh, man. Sorry to hear that! Thank you for your service, though. Come back safe & go fishing.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Don't feel too bad. I just purchased my first boat mid August. She's awesome and I have learned tons... love it.

Now the military is sending me away for A YEAR.

At least you guys get next season.

I'll keep an eye on your boat for you next season

 

[Mr. Florida]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Rucaradio, I used to live up by you in Geauga county. Ever do any boating at the Kinzua Dam?

I usually boat all winter down here. Fishing, mostly.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Were still over 100*

Looking forward to cooler 60-70 degree winters.

Do people winterize boats in AZ?

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Winterized boat depression

I have pre-winterization depression. Bought our boat Aug 28th and been out 6 times. Comes out this weekend. Probably 7+ months till it will be splashed.

 

[Beeg31]

Re: Winterized boat depression

What do you guys do to deal with the depression of a boating season come to an end?

Start waxing the skis. Just finished winterizing and now she's ready for the next one of these.

 

[steddy]

Re: Winterized boat depression

Start waxing the skis. Just finished winterizing and now she's ready for the next one of these.

Cool!
Cryogenic freezing!!!!!!
Has anyone else here thought of that????