Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

[nola mike]

Last year, the boat told me when the end of the season was by grenading the outdrive. This year, it's still working, and I'm having a hard time pulling the plug on the season. We've had nice weather, the fishies are out (though not biting much for me), and...well, I don't want to be done yet. I'll be out this week again, which probably SHOULD be the last trip of the season before we start getting some cold weather. I'm draining the RWC side after every outing now, and I know I need to pull the outdrive and inspect, but maybe not quite yet. I've been keeping the fuel level a bit low, and maybe I'll at least throw some stabil in it...

 

[tkrfxr]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

If you are still using the boat, then season's not over.....

Just be prepared to winterize and drain before it's too cold. You seen to know what you are doing.

 

[oops!]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

the season last......we had a great indian summer. people thought just one more outing........wham.....we went from plus 10 to minus 20 in 24 hours.....

this spring we replaced 30 motors at the tune of 5k each.

at least drain the block and mainfolds after each use. or ill see ya in the spring........ka ching

 

[nola mike]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

at least drain the block and mainfolds after each use. or ill see ya in the spring........ka ching

hah! not with my trusty (?) 470 you won't. yeah, worried that it's going to go from "pleasant" to "i'm not going outside" in a hurry. though +10 (even if that's C') isn't exactly an indian summer 'round these parts...

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Gotta love em at least this time of year.

I'm still holdin on for another trip out. Keep tellin myself it's gonna be this weekend but something keeps coming up. I'm a plumber and the heating season is killing the fishing. Drained the exchanger and ps cooler, but can be on the water in a couple of hours notice.

Hopefully next weekend!

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

My fishing trip last weekend was ruined by 8 inches of snow, just finished winterizing and put the boat in storage this morning with freezing rain falling....almost killed myself trying to skate around the driveway. Guess I waited a little to long. But then again had it been 50 and sunny, my procrastination would have paid off.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

The above is why procrastination can have it's headaches. In this area, we had an non-typical run of nice weather, up until a week or so ago it was in the 50's. Not usual at all. Now all of a sudden we have a foot of snow on the ground, ice storms over the weekend, and more cold, freezing rain and snow on the way. I gotta work on my boat outside, and I'd much rather do the work on a nice day than during a sleet storm.
At the very least care must be taken to drain water- the temperature this week is going down into the teens, and that's too cold for my comfort.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Maybe all of us here in Minneapolis should pitch in and rent a heated shop for the winter.....lol.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

We've been winterized already for 1.5 months and there is close to 6 months to go until it's splashed again.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Maybe all of us here in Minneapolis should pitch in and rent a heated shop for the winter.....lol.

While I agree 100% with that idea.....I think my wife wouldn't. I'd even offer to bring my kid's pool so we can pretend fish, and we wouldn't need ice for the cooler!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Went for my last run Saturday testing a U4 prop... 29 F is flipping ridiculous!

I winterized Sunday and sadly put the boat into storage yesterday...

Winter does suck! At least for boating...

I'm thankful I have iboats to keep my imagination on boating till spring.

Peace out.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

So, as I write this Calgary is the third coldest spot on the planet. The South Pole is #2 and another spot here in Alberta is the coldest.
If you procrastinated here you don't need to worry about it anymore.

 

[642mx]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

I've been procrastinating too... but finally gave in last Sunday and took it to my inlaws for the winter (heated pole barn). I don't fully winterize, so if a nice day comes around, I can be in the water in an hour!

 

[swl]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

yeah, I've been sneaking in a few fishing trips myself, (with little luck!). when i get home I've been pulling all the hoses at the stat housing then pouring RV antifreeze everywhere. I put it dwn into the block,into the manifold, then pour into hose coming frm impeller until I see pink dripping frm the lower unit. This is after I open the block drain and get out as much water as i can. I would take out the manifold drain too, but the threads are questionable, so i put the pink stuff in there and hope for the best (on my 3L it doesn't seem to hold much water anyway). Keep our fingers crossed, and good luck fishing!!!!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Well we have gotten a foot of snow in the last couple weeks and todays high is supposed to be a cozy 18 deg. As mentioned you procrastinate here might as well not worry about it any more as it would be toast already...:redface:

 

[jkust]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Maybe all of us here in Minneapolis should pitch in and rent a heated shop for the winter.....lol.

I got on the Winterizing early this year. My block would frozen 20 times over by now I think. We went from 80 degrees on a Monday to continual below freezing on a Friday two weeks back. Best thing you can have in MN is indoor storage.

 

[nola mike]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Still going strong! Took it out last tuesday. Looking at going again maybe on Thursday--we're supposed to get close to freezing this week at night, 50 during the day. This may be it though...we'll see. Yeah, I've been pulling the heat exchanger plug to "winterize" in between uses, so no worries about freezing. Real problem is the 49' water temps, getting it in/out of the water...brr.

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

I drained the lower unit last night and I'll fill it back up sometime next week or so. Thats about all I'll do to the outboard until I get real bored this winter and fire up the heater in the garage and then go through everything else.

Oh, and I installed the battery tender. I think the whole process takes 20 minutes to do both.


Brian

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

Not to jack the thread, but I notice some OB guys in here (Bear and Briguy). I've always thought we were immune to "winterizing", so just wondering what your procedure is.

I have a fuel injected four stroke, so no fogging. Every tank since late summer has been stabilized, and the oil and lower unit oil are changed regularly.

I use the boat about once a month if the lake isn't frozen (this is rare here in NC), so it isn't in hibernation. Anything more than 4 weeks and the battery usually needs a charge. This is my 4th winter with this boat.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Anybody else procrastinating winterizing?

I'm sort of backwards!
I'm trying to get it ready to take it out!