Pre winterizing tips?

[mippel]

With the season coming to an end, and this is my first boat, i need some tips. I will be taking my boat in for indoor storage and witnerization soon. I will fill the tank and put in Sta-bil. I also will remove all the life jackets, tools and all the other misc. stuff that gets placed in through out the year. Also a new coat of wax. But is there anything else i need to do to get it ready? Anything to help with critters not getting in (don't know if this is an issue or not)? Or anyone have any other good tips? Thanks in advance.

 

[Pirate_40]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

Here's a few things to do

-Fog it.
-Run antifreeze through the block (if raw water cooled)
-Drain your freshwater tanks.
-Remove your batteries and bench charge them
-Change engine oil.
-Change lower unit oil.
-Open all doors and hatches in the cabin and crack open windows for air movement.
-Flip all your cushions on end
-Put a couple of containers damp away on the cabin

 

[SteveRay]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

Try a search on winterization....you will find a TON of info.

I put dryer sheets all over the boat...never had an issue but some have done the same and had issues.....different strokes for different folks

 

[shrew]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

Try a search on winterization....you will find a TON of info.

I put dryer sheets all over the boat...never had an issue but some have done the same and had issues.....different strokes for different folks

What types of issues have you heard of other's having with dryer sheets? I use them as well and have never had an issue.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

Dryer sheets make the mice nice and fluffy, and they smell like a spring meadow, too!

 

[JimKW]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

I keep mine in the garage. Prior to last year, which was the first year I had the boat, I always had mice in the garage when the weather started getting cooler. Drove the dog crazy. Last year I bought an electric rodent repellor and haven't had a mouse since. Says it uses less electricity than a light bulb.

I pay a guy to winterize mine and he does everything including changing the oils and checking everything out. If that's all I spend on the boat I'm pretty darn happy.

One thing he did tell me is if the tempature is going to drop below freezing, in the upper 20's say, and I don't have it winterized, put a 100 watt light bulb in the engine compartment overnight. Not a bad idea and I can see that giving off enough heat to keep it from freezing. I doubt it would actually freeze in the garage at 25 degrees anyway, but if it's gets down to that low I will put two 100 watt bulbs in the engine compartment in case one burns out.

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

Dryer sheets make the mice nice and fluffy, and they smell like a spring meadow, too!

Don't forget... They also remove that nasty static cling..

 

[Insteada]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

I was told to pull the fire extinguisher as well when we lock her up for the winter. That way next season when you put it in, if it's expired you notice and can replace it.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pre winterizing tips?

The two biggest things are make very sure the engine and manifolds are drained completely and the Sta-bil is run through the fuel system.

We don't want to see you posting in the Spring that your oil looks like a milk shake....