1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

[SolomonMan]

All,
I am not new to boating but I am new to Pontoons and I picked up a 1990 Tracker Party Barge with a same year 40 HP Johnson. It needs a little TLC but for its age is pretty solid boat which handles the issue that my family has expanded the last 4 years and the old boat is not large enough.

I live in a suburb of the Toledo,Ohio area so we do on occasion have some severe winter weather not to mention we get snow regularly plus we do have hard freezes...Our weather is not extreme but its not the Bahamas.

Unfortunately, Until I sell my old boat in the spring I will have to store this pontoon outside as my garage is full of other "Toys".

So currently on my list I know the following to winterize;

Engine;
1) drain the lower units of the outboard oil
2) fog the cylinders with Oil
3) clean/inspect any filters etc so spring start is easier
4) General clean the inside of Engine Cowl etc.
5) Cover the Top of Motor to keep Bees etc out.

Boat;
1) Put on the Mooring cover and arrange so water drains away/out.
2) Pull batteries and top up charge and bring in doors (garage) and store on wood platform.
3) Drain fuel....(What about the injection oil?

What else comes to mind for a typical Pontoon Prep for Winter?

Also one concern I have is my seating. Over half of my seating (Upholstery) is not even a year old. What should I clean with and how should I protect?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

You have most of the items covered but lets tweak the sequence a bit.
1) Drain lower unit and check for water. Chocolate milk says water intrusion so you might pull the lower unit and repair over the winter.
2) If lower is ok, refill. Replace the drain and fill plug seals.
3) No need to drain the fuel. Treat the fuel with Stabil, SeaFoam or other fuel system treatment, and run the engine long enough to get the treated fuel into the engine fuel system.
4) Fog the engine.
5) No need to worry about the injection oil. It won't freeze.
6) Filters and plugs can be dealt with in the spring. Since you are fogging the engine, you would start the engine on the old plugs. Why muck up the new ones. Install them after the initial spring startup.
7) Do whatever cleaning and external protection you like.
8) Store the engine straight down so it drains and water cannot collect in the prop hub and freeze.
9) If bugs/critters are an issue, put a heavy plastic back over the lower unit and duct tape it to eliminate entry by these pests.
10) Do whatever you need to do to "tent" the boat. Water is one issue but heavy snow is another. That will collapse most covers in a heartbeat so build a strong tent support system. Some folks use PVC pipe for this and then tarp the entire boat.

 

[SolomonMan]

Re: 1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

Thanks for the help!

I will probably use PVC Pipe to reinforce the mooring cover as we can get considerable snowfall here in Ohio.

I have never thought about the plugs getting fouled out but that's a good point!

Again thanks for the help,
Chris

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: 1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

if you have a sink, dont forget to drain the water supply tank. I would remove any 2 way radios also.

 

[ahicks]

Re: 1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

Fill the oil injection tank to help prevent moisture collecting? As any air in the tank expands and contracts, the inbound air is often moist. Potentially, that moisture could collect on the walls/top of the tank, and eventually run down, then collect at the bottom of the tank? Prevented easily by avoiding air in the tank during extended storage....

 

[MinUph]

Re: 1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

With todays fuels I drain the gas out of the system. I've seen this crap jell up in a matter of weeks. Also I spray the inside of engine wiring with WD40 to keep all moisture away from it. After cleaning up any old oil or dirt that is.

 

[SolomonMan]

Re: 1990 Tracker Party Barge....Winterizing....

All,
Thanks for the help!

No Sink so nothing to worry about there.

I changed the lower unit and she was clean no foam, no sludge, no water....I have changed my fair share of older outboards - 50-60's and have seen "water" before.

I cleaned all the upholstery, swept the deck (leaves, sand, etc.) and cleaned up from last owner...

I am purchasing a new winter cover as mine has a few holes/rips....I will clean the old one up for a spare/summer time use one.

Currently the boat is at least covered from the leaves/crazy fall Ohio weather with a very decent tarp.

Battery took a charge and is charged up but I will probably replace in spring as its old....Probably put it in my popup...

I still need to drain fuel, top up oil, and fog engine.....I not sure the best approach on this as I now think of things and I have replace the lower unit oil and the boat is out of the water....Probably should of thought this through more. Any suggestions?

So its noted I plan on replacing fuel filter, plugs, filters....basically assuming last owner did nothing and I will know going forward where things are at and can be maintained.

Again thanks for all the help!
Chris