It's a sad time, winterizing time. A tip I was told today and soliciting for more.

[Old Ironmaker]

The saddest day of the year without going to a funeral for most of us. I have been told I have winterizing OCD. It was part of my job at the plant. I have a 19' StarCraft Superfisherman 190 with 3 livewells. It was suggested to me that rather than fill the drain lines with plumbers anti freeze and hope it gets into the lines simply tape a Shop Vac hose onto the inlets and suck any water still in the lines. I have seen more than a few inlets lines crack because they had water left in them or the lines had a dip and water wouldn't drain. I will run the pumps first so water isn't trapped inside the pumps. Same for getting any water out of the bilge pump. A good tip I think. I was going to do it today but it was too nice out, so we had boat drinks on the deck instead, should have gone Smallmouth fishing, Erie was like glass and 65F. I usually wait until we get a Erie Lake Effect storm blowing at 50 MPH.

Any more tips Guys and Gals?

 

[JimS123]

Lake Erie has been sending us lake effect rain for the past 10 freakin days. We're 9.5" of rain over the normal average total.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I hear you Jim. Today was the first dry day in a week at least. This winterizing may have to wait until winter but I can't chance that. I'd rather be snowed on than rained on anyday.

 

[JimS123]

Yes, snow is wonderful. It stops the grass from growing.

I winterized the last boat during the rain. Outboards are easy and its nice having a garage to do it in...

 

[roffey]

all I can say is

 

[Old Ironmaker]

all I can say is

Mine is indoors too. Some of our pet rodents are as well.

 

[dingbat]

The best tip I can give is to fix your drainage problems (no low spots) so there is no need to winterize the plumbing systems.

I have five drains, a livewell, baitwell and a wash down pump. Takes me less than 30 seconds to winterize. Pull the trigger on the washdown allowing the system to gravity drain. Unscrew and dump the filter cup and I?m done.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

The best tip I can give is to fix your drainage problems (no low spots) so there is no need to winterize the plumbing systems.

I have five drains, a livewell, baitwell and a wash down pump. Takes me less than 30 seconds to winterize. Pull the trigger on the washdown allowing the system to gravity drain. Unscrew and dump the filter cup and I’m done.

All my feed and drains for the 3 livewells are buried, no where that I can see them to tell if there is a dip. The best tip for the livewells I have gotten this year is to feed anti freeze through a funnel and flex hose into the fill inlet on the transom with the pumps running and pet cocks open until pink fluid is coming out of the fees lines in the wells and leave the feed valves open over the winter. I didn't do it this year yet but I will antifreeze into the "ear muffs" (can't remember the proper name) with a hose to the jug this week. With the outboard running hold the jug upside down and puncture the bottom with a knife to vent the jug. Pink will run out the bottom end. I rigged a hose with the jug cap cut to take a hose and taped up. It's in my boat stuff box ready for next year. You know 100% that you are good to go. Of course I waited until it hit 0C to get the water out the outboards other day. Recovering from a minor surgery yesterday and am doing great so I will do it tomorrow. Can't hurt and it and it only cost $3.99 as plumbers antifreeze was on sale at Canadian Tire if any Canucks are reading this. Regular price for -40C was 17 bucks, great deal. I grabbed 10.

Off topic. If anyone out there has severe sinusitis get the surgery, I should have done it 10 years ago. Virtually zero pain, not even a sinus headache. Why I waited this long is beyond me, actually I know why, because I thought it was going to be very painful and I am a woos.