Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

[gregintexas]

Owning my first boat and now encountering dealings with the local boat dealers, I can't help but wonder if the whole "winterization" thing is a bit of a scam. I called several dealers and the gist of it is, they remove a few drain plugs, fog the engine, and want $100-200 for their services. Say What!!! This does not sound like rocket science to me.<br /><br />I have worked on car engines since I was a kid and have some idea of what is involved in general mechanical servicing. Seems to me that the dealers like to propagate the winterization process as something more than what it actually is.<br />And the real kicker is they leave the drain plugs out and hoses unhooked so I have to return for "summerization" for another $100. Hey, what about "springization", "high waterization" or "fall but not really winterization"???<br />Why can't I just do this stuff myself. Texas rarely seems true freezing temps anyway.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Greg, you apparently don't understand the liability the dealer has if his service dept. messes up or a block does not drain properly and if you need help in the future he must make a profit on the services that he provides otherwise he won't be there in the future. Are you sure you need a boat they are a expensive toy--Bob

 

[gregintexas]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Bob-Actually I do understand dealer liability and supporting local businesses so they will be around.<br />My point was that for the money, it didn't seem that pulling a handful of drain plugs and spraying oil into a carb is a major piece of mechanical work. And leaving everything disconnected to force you to come back just so they can screw in drain plugs seems pointless. In fact, I asked a local guy point blank why I couldn't insert drain plugs myself, and he seemed at a loss for words.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Then do it yourself. It's not a big deal, but time yourself to see just how long it takes to start the boat, warm up the engine, rig the flushing tank, get to all the fresh water stuff, ect. Besides, that's too much money to spend on a Bayliner anyways......

 

[bayman]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

For some it might be a great service because those people specialize in other things. Those who have experience with marine engines or have the time to spend on learning the necessities often just do it themselves.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Having worked at about a dozen different places, no two have ever approached winterizing the same. Some do the bare minimum, some go way overboard. Most fall somewhere inbetween. Prices vary just as much and the amount paid usually coincides with the amount of work actually done. Shop around and compare. Just a side note, bandaids are real cheap! Have a trained health professional put it on you and you'll be paying a whole lot more. Training and facilities cost money. And some boats are a whole lot harder to winterize than others. We're not here to perform charity, we need to make money. If you can do it yourself, more power to ya. We replaced three longblocks from people that thouoght they could do it themselves, too. Get yourself an appropriate service manual if you decide to do it yourself. Doing your own work can save you a lot of money, but it can also COST you a lot of money. Your decision.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Originally posted by gregintexas:<br /> I have worked on car engines since I was a kid and have some idea of what is involved in general mechanical servicing.<br /><br />Why can't I just do this stuff myself.

You can. I, for one, have always done it myself with 100% success. And it seems to me that the majority of the people who frequent this board do the same.<br /><br />As has already been suggested, just buy a service manual, a few special tools, and follow the procedures. If you do everything right, you'll save a ton of money over the coming years. And in the off chance you do something wrong, you'll know exactly who to blame when spring results in a cracked engine block or outdrive housing.

 

[Surffx]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Sorry for the Hijack, but I do have a winterization question. I heard/read somewhere that you should drain the water out of your spedo tube because of freezing. Is that a little overboard or necessary?<br /><br />Aside from that, I myself have done the winterization process with no problems for three years (my speedo still works)in a place where it often reaches 20 degress at night. I understand it takes time and it is a risk...but for now its one I am willing to take.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Greg, There is a marina owner in Canada who has a step-by-step winterization procedure. You can read the post at www*brownsmarina*com/techtips.html

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Price of a job has NO relation to the quality or amount of work done. Lets get that piece of baloney out in the open. ---------The good dealers where I boat charge LESS than the JERKS! If you are screwing up parts on a boat, you need more to cover your ***. The boat yard who is always telling people this and that needs changing while still under warrenty is USUALLY A BIG THIEF. Don't use him! All our boats run for years with NO BROKEN parts. And then the problem gives plenty of warning. You have to check with LOTS of other boat owners before picking a PERMANENT marina.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

There really isn't any rocket science to it. As long as you have a service manual for your drivetrain, and you know to basically unhook the hoses and open the drainplugs as well as change your outdrive lube, you are okay. The shops are in it to make money, and they have a lot of overhead they have to pay for. You are not just paying to get your boat winterized, you are paying for the insurance, the energy bills, the wages of the supporting staff, the property taxes, you name it. The business probably only makes 10 or 20 bucks profit off of that job, if that. I do it myself because I like to do that sort of thing, plus I don't have the overhead a shop does.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Your paying for the knowledge and the peace of mind if it is something you are ignorant about. It's not the act of unscrewing all the plugs etc that you are paying for...that is only costing you $10...the knowledge of which plugs to remove is what is costing you the other $90.<br /><br />I work on computers on the side. The simple act of replacing a CPU chip will cost you $20-$50 + parts. This procedure will take all of 5 minutes. The knowledge of what cpu is compatable...what precations must be taken to not blow out the entire motherboard and the gaurentee that it wont break for the next X years it what most of the charge is for.<br /><br />For some, the $100 is worth it...for others, who have the knowlege, it is not.<br /><br />-JMW

 

[swist]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Sorry for the Hijack, but I do have a winterization question. I heard/read somewhere that you should drain the water out of your spedo tube because of freezing. Is that a little overboard or necessary?

It isn't necessary unless it's broken to begin with. There is air in 99.9 % of the speedo tube - it is a dead end pressure-wise and the water at the pitot can't enter the tube for more than a couple of millimeters - enough to compress the air in the tube and that's what the speedo translates into MPH.<br /><br />If there is water in the tube, there is a leak somewhere.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Greg, you are right, it is not rocket science to winterize a boat. It is the assurance of knowing that next summer when it becomes lake time again, that your boat will be crack free! Most places can do most of the stuff in about an hours time.<br />I pay for mine to get done, just for that reason, next year if my block or gear case is cracked....guess who is paying for it? The place I go to charges $125 and that includes the summerization, All of the plugs and clapms they took out are in a baggy that they left in the boat. I don't have to pay again next year, it is included in the winteration price. It is just a price I am willing to pay!

 

[treedancer]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

What it boils down to is how much is your time worth? If you think you can do it go for it.Some people don’t have the time to do it.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Winterization is a neat and fun activity. Pulling battery's, changing the impeller, lower gear case lube, changing the oil, some drain the water out, some pump it full of anti-freeze, draining the water tank, blowing out the speedo tube, winderizing the head, cleaning, waxing, removing electronics, greasing all the fittings, trailer maintainance, jack stands on the trailer, fogging the engine, removing the canvas, checking the dates on the flares, inspect the life jackets, checking out the first aid kit, I remove the seats, drying all the lines, and anchor locker, fill her up with gas and stabil, some take off the lower unit (on IO's) and check the gimbal bearing, give her a kiss, and close the doors on the barn. Then pull out the catalogs and dream about upgrades. <br /><br />FYI: this is not intended to be a comprehensive list but just the off the top of my head. Some do less some do more. I do a comprehensive job so I can make a list of things that I can save for over the winter, as every boat needs something. Mine isn't really a list - more like a novel.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

It's no pcs of mind when the marina has the local part time kids winterizing your boat.<br /><br />Purchase a manual and do it yourself, it is quite easy to do.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Major Woods has a good point. Two times each year the boatyayd's most likely to have some "flunkies" on the payroll, winterizing and launching seasons. Last year I had a couple of boneheads using my freshly oiled swim platform as a work platform to sand and paint the bow section of a big sailboat that was right up behind me, what a mess, but hey, what do these kids making 5 bucks an hour know or care. One marina I used to be at had like 8 engines one spring, cracked, from "kids" doing the winterization. If you think the marina's gonna buy you a new engine or outdrive cause it's suddenly no good next spring, that's funny, ever read a contract? Responsible for nothing, and more of the same! Do it yourself. period.

 

[stevens]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

I guess practices vary but, over here, winterization is not something taken lightly upon.<br /><br />I bought my boat new and it came with a 5 year full warranty (as all boats do by law over here). As part of the warranty, I need to be able to document that winterization and servicing is handled properly.<br /><br />Hence, the annual $1500-$2000 I spend (for hauling/cleaning/winterization/servicing/indoor storage/bottom painting/waxing/oiling of the teak deck/launching) is money well spent. And, I know the work is being done by a qualified mechanic, whom I know by name and whom I know to care.

 

[jmorgan1]

Re: Winterization at Dealer Sounds Like a Scam

Even if there is some water in the speedo tube, it is such flexible rubber that it wont break when it freezes. Mine actually has a low spot about 6' into the boat that always has some water in it. Gets 40 below here and never a problem in 5 years.<br />Jim