Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

[colsoncj]

Ok, so its goina be really nice this weekend, and since I have yet to really get out and enjoy my boat since I bought it, I'm looking into droppin it in the water this weekend.

Heres the deal, this is the first inboard/outboard system I've personally owned. I've been around them, and have been working on cars/trucks/and everything else that moves for years, so I plan on doin everything myself.

Right now its winterized, obviously. What checks does everyone normally do at the first of the season?

I know the oil probably hasnt been changed recently, so I'm figuring it ought to get an oil change as well. Any good leads or methods on changing the oil? I've heard the dipstick pump is the way to go, best place to get one?

I also vaguely remember seeing water seperators on the engines, any thing that should be checked or changed there?

Drives/Transmissions. What should be checked, changed, or inspected?

Anything else I'm forgetting?

Also starting it out of the water. On some of the other boats I've had you could get adapters to garden hoses to fire them up, what options do you have for these boats?

Last thing, since I know it will drop below freezing again, I have two options... I could re-winterize it, or manage the temperatures. I think re-winterizing it would most likely be the smartest thing, but obviously more involved... Managing temperatures is just if I know its goina get cold, drop a heater or something in the engine bay to keep it from freezing. What have you guys done? Any advice? If I do re-winterize it, whats the best method to do it right?

Forgot to mention, boat is a 94 Baja 290 with 454 Carb'd Mercs and Bravo 1's.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

As far as re-winterizing you dont have to go the whole nine and fog cylinders and such being that you will be using it again in a month or less...heater under the cover is very doable but not full proof...if you want to rest easy just get the water out of the block...should take like 5 minutes ...just take out the drain plugs and pop off the water hose and your good to go. Just make sure you know where all the plugs are. If you winterized yourself you should already know...if not consult your manual or search here to make sure you get all the water out....once you know how to do it it only takes minutes.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

I'll search for the plugs... you'll have to forgive me, I'm really green with all this. I guess one should probably reply as if you're explaining it to kid!

Also, since I dont know the history on the boat, what about all the other questions regarding checks....

 

[boat1010]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

I take it that you were not the one to winterize the boat. USUALLY part of winterizing the boat is changing the oil in the motor. But you should be able to tell just by looking at the oil on the dipstick. And yes sucking it out from the dipstick is probably the best. You can get the kits from iboats. I would check to make sure there is oil in the stern drive. Take out the top plug and there should be a little oil there. if not you might have to take out the lower one to make sure some comes out. Make sure all the hoses are on. Water pump and that all the drain plugs are in the motor. Battery charged and hooked up. Some places put antifreeze in the motor so you might want to get a set of "muffs" and start it at home first. You can get them from iboats also. They just go over the holes on the lower unit and suck the water into the engine. Not sure what the temps get down to where you are but it is best to winterize it again. Depending on the heater, remember there are gas fumes in there. and a blown fuse could cost you a motor. I'm sure I have missed some things but am sure someone else will chime in and fill in the blanks.. Good luck.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

excellent... I'm thinking re-winterizing will be best. There is antifreeze in the blocks.

Are there good local places to get the oil pump and muffs? I'm planning on doing it tomorrow and cant wait on the shipping

 

[boat1010]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Wal-Mart might. But any place that does any boat parts should. They are a very common item. And again I would sure think they changed the oil. If not I would still think it would be fine to run it. You figure the hours that a car runs in 3,000 miles is quite a bit more that probably was put on the boat last year. Just check the dip stick and see if it looks good. I just use a pump that hooks to a drill to pump out my oil. But usually you do that when the oil is warm...So trying to do it with a cold motor probably isn't going to be too easy.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Sounds like the best thing would be get some muffs, fire it up, warm it up, change the oil. then re-winterize if I do it while the threat of freezing is still around.

Still curious on the transmissions and drives... where to check, what to check, and if I should change out the fluid.

Also is there anything else I should be checking, greasing, etc...

 

[boat1010]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

In the lower unit is where the shifting occurs. And Zerk fittings. There is usually a couple on the back by the lower unit. Mine is right where the lower unit is attached to the boat. It is for the Gimbel bearing. If you pull the lower plug on your stern drive and water comes out or it is milky then change the oil.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

I think with an investment like that, you should have someone walk you through all the maintenance procedures the first time, in person.
There is a lot to check, and the specific setup and rigging of your boat is really hard to cover without being there.

I would find a boat mechanic and offer him a couple hundred to come out and go over the boat with you. You don't want to miss anything or foul it up.

Sounds like you bought the boat in "winterized" condition, or so they told you.
What was done and what wasn't?
Oil
water pumps
batteries and wiring
holding tanks
lower units
greasing
was it even drained?

 

[boat1010]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

I am guessing that I didn't think as far as you did ROSCOE. But you are right. There are things that we could miss and could cost a lot of money. It isn't something that you would really want to rush into. And I am guessing that if you have a boat mechanic check it out you would be able "hopefully" if it wasn't winterized correctly go back to the seller. That is what is so good about this site. There are lots of people looking out for your best interest.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Well, I do know that the batteries are fine. I've been keepin tabs on them. The engines are full of antifreeze. The lower units are not drained.

I dont know of any boat mechanics around the area... But I'll see if I could do some digging. Thats why I started posting on the site... I figured with enough help, I could get it all figured out. Thanks thus far for all the help, and any more is appreciated!

What I'm goina start with is getting all the fluids checked or changed. Then just take it from there. Any future pointers are definately appreciated!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

i think there's to much to list.
my suggestion is first go look at the winterization/summerization thread in the sticky... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430, read 5, 6 and 7.

while there go to #9 and see if they don't have your service manual available.
you'll likely need 2, one for the engines and 1 for the drive. in these manuals you will find the oem's recommended procedure for winterization and bringing it back into service in the following year. there are also maint. schedules that should be adhered to. these schedules are in the s/m.

read, read, read on your set up. for sure facts can be found in the service manuals. anything else, take with a grain of salt and be sure what someone is telling you is a fact.

unless you know for a fact yourself someone else did something for it maint. wise. i would assume that it's not been done and you'll have to approach it yourself...
basically your gonna have some work ahead of you till you know where you stand with what and what has not been done for your rig..

he has a b1. i think shifting takes place in the upper. but don't take what i say as a fact. i barely know my mc-1 let alone a b1. go look it up in the bravo service manual and find out what is really true..

ps, my take on an early or late season (extended season) is to drain the water out of the system after yer done with it. air don't freeze. i did early last year and got caught. went out early april for a couple days. then had crummy weather including multiple overnight freezing temps for a month... didn't get out again till early may..

 

[grego]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Some of the simple things are sometimes overlooked. always lower the lower unit, for sure, if stored outside. a magnetic block heater is cheap, use one on oil pan and lower end. you do not have to drain oil in lower end, unless there is water in oil.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

My main point is that your rig may have drain valves, plugs, etc, that we can't tell you where they are.
Don't want to miss one that will subsequently cause damage.

Check fuel,
separating filters,
oil,
gearlube,
seals,
linkages.


Some people use light bulbs, or portable heaters in the engine compartments, to keep things warm between outings.

Above all, be safe, don't want to cause a spark that could ignite gas fumes.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Thanks to all so much for the help. I know I have a lot of learning and reading to do, and no problem there. I've conquered many other things before, I managed to teach myself how to rebuild motors when I was 16.... years ago.

I know the big thing to help me out is getting the manuals. I'll do some looking and keep reading. Thanks again to everyone for the help, and keep it coming!

 

[themaniam1]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Re-winterize if you think that it will be substantially below freezing for long periods of time. That will be your call. When I de-winterize my boat for early spring boating, I plan on just pulling the plugs while it still dips into the upper 20s but nothing else. It will take a very long and cold temps to freeze the block solid. Usually the daytime temps are enough to keep that from happening. I also store it with the camper cover on because that really gets the inside warm. I also will prop open the engine compartment so the heat can get in.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Well, I managed to get a little work done and spend a crapload of money doin it.

I got the power steering fluid, engine oil, drive fluid, and trim tab fluids checked and the engines fired up. Checked shifting and steering. Lubed the drive shafts. Lubed the trailer bearings, tongue, and checked the brake fluid. Found two trailer tires are under rated for the weight, and 1 of the two that are rated barely high enough has dry rot, so time for 4 new tires... Did get a drill pump for the oil, the oil, oil filters, and fuel filters purchased. Replaced a missing bearing buddy cap on the trailer. Emptied out and inventoried all the storage and interior. Found I'm missing the stern nav light, so need one of those. Also need some more mooring lines and two more bumpers. Put 100 gallons of fuel in it... fuel gauge worked at the gas station when i checked it, but later in the day I think it quit working, got to check into that. Still need to lube the gimbals, but I think they take a special grease, so gotta pick that up. Figured while i was at it, just get a devoted marine grease gun too. Also got part of the interior cleaned up, but still have plenty of more cleaning to do. Also found the drive trim and trim tab indicators arent working, so gotta look into that. I think on the trim tabs the just need new cables, but I have no idea how the indication works on the drives...

Going to get back to her next weekend and try and get everything finished up. Its currently not winterized, but with the lows in the mid 40s for the next week I'm not worried.

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Well... learned how to winterize it and got it done before some freezing temps about a month back...

Also had a drive service done and got to watch the techs do it. Asked a LOT of questions and learned a BUNCH! Great bunch of guys who were very eager to teach and show me and share lots of experience! Taught me to do a drive service, lube everything, how to check for transom rot, how to pull the engines, how to change the couplers, how to tear down a transom assembly, how to fix the speedometer, how to work on the trim tabs and a bunch of other little stuff. Best service money I've ever spent!

Got a few more little things to do to her now and it'll be boating time!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Well... learned how to winterize it and got it done before some freezing temps about a month back...

Also had a drive service done and got to watch the techs do it. Asked a LOT of questions and learned a BUNCH! Great bunch of guys who were very eager to teach and show me and share lots of experience! Taught me to do a drive service, lube everything, how to check for transom rot, how to pull the engines, how to change the couplers, how to tear down a transom assembly, how to fix the speedometer, how to work on the trim tabs and a bunch of other little stuff. Best service money I've ever spent!

Got a few more little things to do to her now and it'll be boating time!

Wow! Where do YOU live? I'd put those guys on a retainer!

 

[colsoncj]

Re: Early Spring Boating - Re-winterize?

Live in SW MO. Great bunch of guys to work with. VERY impressed. Also let me check out thier special tools, and measure them so i can make my own.