putting boat in water after 2 winters sitting in yard

[Doggonitt]

Hi all,
It's been a while since I posted. Last year, we never made it to the ocean.
Just too busy with life. Any way, we had started to summerize the boat, (1999 32' Avanti, twin 7.4L Bravo II) we changed the seals and rings and put on the sterndrives, changed all zincs & cleaned out bilge. We did not test start the engines, so the carbs are still winterized. We will get to that this year. We left the outdrives on over this past winter because the boat was never used. My questions are before we test start this year, should we do anything to the outdrives, since it had all been done last year? Also, the gas in the boat is about 2 years old. I had always added Pri G to it. We had put new gas filters on last year, but again we never used it. Also the oil was changed last spring.
New impellers were put in, would those dry out after sitting through the summer and winter? Thanks all for any wise info.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: putting boat in water after 2 winters sitting in yard

The impellers should be fine.
My concern is the 2 year old fuel.

If the engines were winterized properly i say try and fire them up.
Burn out that old fuel and fill her up!

 

[excalibur-oc]

Re: putting boat in water after 2 winters sitting in yard

Last fall I purchased a BL 2655 ciera sunbridge with 5.0 merc. The boat had been sitting for 2 yrs out of the water. The gas tank was full. The marina I purchased it thru recommended a carburator service as well as fuel treatment. I went ahead with the carb service and the marina mech where I have it moored now advised a bottle of Octane boost and "starbrite"?? fuel treatment. I went ahead with that as well as a new fuel filter.
I have had the boat out twice and except with a big hesitation when I apply full throttle from dead slow the fuel does not seem to be adversly affecting the boat.

Once I do run thru the tank I am seriously considering another new filter.

Ex

 

[sethjon]

Re: putting boat in water after 2 winters sitting in yard

If the gas is bad you will probably smell the difference. Its also possible that the gas might be a little syrupy. If you have any doubts drain it. 2 years is a long time. It might also have moisture in it.

 

[wkb2460]

Re: putting boat in water after 2 winters sitting in yard

Purchase some "Seafoam" from your local marine or auto parts store.
I used it in a boat that sat for two years. The mechanics at my local marina swear by it. It will treat the gas and clean out the fuel system

 

[bruceb58]

Re: putting boat in water after 2 winters sitting in yard

Forget the Seafoam. It won't do anything to old stale gas and I really question it for new gas as well. The only thing it can possibly do is absorb a little water because it has Isopropyl Alcohol in it. The 2 remaining ingredients, naphtha and oil, are not going to help stale gas.