Need some help for a friend.

[BassnTruck]

His father passed away not to long ago and left behind a 50' or so house boat. Well yesterday he calls me saying it needs winterized. I just read the DonS posts on the subject. I know it is a Volvo motor (not sure much more right now as I will have to try and get up there to find the exact model.) It is an I/O and will not be pulled from the lake. I am pretty savvy when it comes to stuff like this but have not had to do this before. The stuff I read helps and I think it is an open cooling system. Since I can not remove the boat from the water what special things will need to be done? I will try to make it up there to find out the exact motor it has. I hate doing things last minute like this but he is in a bind and has no one else to help him. And calling someone to do it is not going to work right now.

I will try to post back here the # when I find it.

Thanks.

 

[ErieRon]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

Sorry to hear about the circumstances. When you go up, get the model number of the motor and outdrive, plus any serial numbers you can find. All else fails, take some pictures so it can be identified. The more info., the better. There are a lot of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will do their best to help you out.

How cold does it get through the winter where this boat is?

 

[Maclin]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

There may be other systems to worry about as well if it has a built in head or galley with running water.

 

[Dave1251]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

House boats this size can have many systems that need winterized. Does the boat have marine air, gen set, water system with a hot water heater. Marine head and holding tank. This job should be done with a knowledgeable person on all these system.

If you miss one thru hull and you can sink the boat.

 

[BassnTruck]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

It gets freezing here.

Yes it has a full bath and galley. We are going to drain the freshwater tank and heater. Not sure if it has a gray and black water tank. Will have to see when I go up. If they are not very full we were thinking just some RV antifreeze in the waste tanks. If they are full we will see about getting them emptied. There is no pump station on this lake so it will have to be hand carried out. It does have a genset but no air.

I do know it is a 4cyl. She is not fast but she putters around the lake.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

Read up on winterizing boats and then go to RV.net and read up on witerizing travel trailers. Combine the knowledge and you should be OK. A house boat is like having a floating Camper, all of both systems have to be considered...

 

[PuddleJumper]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

Genset will also have to have cooling system winterized

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need some help for a friend.

Yes it has a full bath and galley. We are going to drain the freshwater tank and heater. Not sure if it has a gray and black water tank. Will have to see when I go up.

Ayuh,... You've got to Blow out all the lines,+ fixtures connecting all that stuff Too...